Malevolent Beats Trite
By Mitch Berg
Clinton tops Obama in Texas, Ohio and the all-important Rhode Island vote:
Clinton won the big races in Ohio and Texas, as well as Rhode Island, to break her costly losing streak, and asserted, “This nation’s coming back and so is this campaign.” But Obama came away with a large share of delegates, too, in counting that continued Wednesday, meaning he’s got a lead that’s tough to overcome.
Democrats: Clearly, Hillary is the only candidate that truly carries the Democrat standard. You need to support her.
Liberal: Clearly, Obama is the only candidate that truly upholds liberal values. You need to support him!
Undecided Democrats: Send money to both of them!
March 5th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Republicans: hope and pray for a Clinton/Obama or an Obama/Clinton “unity ticket” as it would be equal to less than the sum of its individual parts.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Here’s why a joint ticket between Clinton and Obama would be even more beatable than if either were the nominee with someone else:
1) It doesn’t bring into play any States or regions that were battleground territory, i.e. Illinois and New York are both deep blue and not about to go for John McCain. Whereas picking the governor of a Red or Purple State would bring that State into automatic play.
2) It doesn’t bring any ideological balance to the party other than placating the gender feminists who want a woman on the ticket and the professional racialists who think its “their turn” who are basically the base of the party. Placating them doesn’t bring in any new voters, at best it stops them from bolting to vote for Cynthia McKinney leaving John McCain as the “moderate” running against two liberal Senators.
3) Both candidates are lacking when it comes to have any practical experience or record of accomplishments to the point where they’re arguing about whose one term in the Senate was more meaningful. If Obama picks Clinton, he’s picking the guy his own wife mocked for trying to claim Bill Clinton’s experience as President as her own whereas if Clinton picks Obama, she’s picking the guy that was still in Illinois three years ago. This prevents either from picking a Democrat-version of Cheney who might otherwise bring gravitas to their ticket.
4) Hillary Clinton’s high negatives won’t go away by putting her on the bottom half of the ticket and if anything would drag down Obama’s “hope and change” rhetoric. Whereas if Obama’s on the bottom of the ticket, he’ll be forced to tone done his rhetoric (his one asset) lest he upstage the actual presidential nominee by reminding voters how utterly unlikeable she is.
5) The MSM will tout how “historic” it is to have the first major party ticket consisting of a woman and a black person that voters will see this as a gimmick ticket rather than as two serious candidates. Which combined with the utter lack of experience and accomplishment of both Clinton and Obama during a time of economic uncertainty and war will make McCain look like the safe and substantive choice for a lot of independents.