Breaking News: Barack Obama rejects VP idea

[powergirl]

Campaigning in Casper, Wyo., Friday night for the 12 delegates to come out of Saturday's Democratic county caucuses, Sen. Barack Obama refused the notion of becoming the vice presidential candidate on this fall's party ticket.

Obama was asked by a television reporter, "Can you ever see yourself on the same ticket as Sen. Clinton?"

And the freshman Illinois senator replied: "Well, you know, I think it’s premature. You won’t see me as a vice presidential candidate -- you know, I’m running for president. We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count."

Many Democrats have long thought of Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama as a dream ticket, offering both the first serious female candidate and the first serious African American candidate for the nation's top two political offices.

Clinton surprisingly broached the idea Wednesday morning after she won the popular vote in Texas and Ohio to regain some momentum after 11 straight ...

losses, though she still lags far behind in pledged delegates. She mentioned the possibility of a joint ticket again Friday morning during a campaign appearance in Mississippi.

Last night was the first time Obama commented on the idea.

It's political protocol when presidential candidates are asked about the vice presidency to twist the question back around to the top office and avoid a direct answer. But Obama's response last night was unusually direct and dismissive.

The 46-year-old candidate is expected to do well in Wyoming today, as he has done in virtually every caucus state. Wyoming, as The Ticket noted here in detail Friday, is not the most hospitable territory for Democrats.


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/03/obam...

[leftofcool]

1. It's all about the math

when will your candidate start talking issues.......CNN, MSNBC ABC...all want to know the same thing

[samdogmom]

2. Of course, he would! n/t

Hillary is dreaming....!

[Pirate Smile]

3. Does she want to be his VP? Does she want to use her situation to make a deal to be his VP because

that would make sense BUT the idea that he would become the VP when he has a lead she will not be able to overcome is just nonsensical.

It is illogical and makes my brain scream every time I hear it mentioned. It frankly just pisses me off and makes me dislike Hillary more.

It is condescending and arrogant and insulting.

[OhioBlue]

5. exactly. n/t

[debbierlus]

4. Read the parsed words: I am not a Vice Presidential candidate and Premature

You think, if he doensn't get the nod, he will not take VP. You are kidding, right? Of course, he will take the VP slot. The language is typical parsed political words.

No, he is not campaigning for the VP spot.

This does not at all rule out a VP placement, imo.

Ruling it out in politics would be: NO, I will NOT share a ticket with her. Anything else is meaningless.

[woolldog]

6. He says flat out

"you won't see me as a vice-presidential candidate." It doesn't get much clearer than that.

Good for him.

[debbierlus]

12. Pretty arrogant. Just as bad as Hillary

He should take a VP slot, if it would help the party (as should Hillary, I am not saying who should)...instead of saying, POTUS or nothing.

Good grief. He is not even experienced or qualified to be in this position. I will never understand how the progressive community fell in love with a candidate who has domestic policies to the RIGHT of Clinton, very little experience, and runs on the bipartisan fantasy b.s. line.

Surreal.

I don't like either of them, we ran out the candidates who would truly represent us and now we are squabbling over Frick & Frack.

[woolldog]

14. Why would he want to tie that albatross

known as Bill and Hillary Clinton around his neck, when he has such a bright and promising career without them?

It would undermine everything he stands for to accept a place on her ticket, and would damage his political prospects. He'd be better off in the Senate gaining seniority.

[FarCenter]

25. Or Governor of Illinois in 2010 for executive experience

If Hillary gets in, she'll be a one term President.

Obama should do a term as Governor and work for 2012 or 2016 if he misses this nomination.

[jenmito]

7. He gave the clear message that he is NOT so open and willing to jump on Hillary's ticket as VP...

IF she happens to somehow win the nomination, maybe he WOULD (I hope not) but he's not going to say he will since he's running for president-not to be the losing candidate's VP.

[GoldieAZ49]

16. He is a politician above all else

He is not going to ailenate voters by saying "second ticket to her when I am winning? kiss my ass loser"

unlike Hillary pretending to have the lead and the power to dub him VP for votes.



It would be hypocritical of him to sign on with her.

[Alhena]

8. He should say "I would only consider it if she leads me in pledged delegates"

Don't give the party insiders an easy way out if they want to take the election from him.

[jenmito]

10. No he shouldn't. He shouldn't say he'd consider it at ALL. Because that keeps the idea

of a "dream ticket" going. (No offense).

[woolldog]

15. Exactly

[Inuca]

9. Good for him

it would be political suicide for him to do otherwise.

[Kaylee]

11. That's right Obama. We want you a President.

[Why Syzygy]

13. I want the Clintons to stay in New York.

No more DC for them.

[gulliver]

17. It won't be up to him.

If the super-delegates decide Obama or Clinton can be the VP in a dream ticket or not on the ticket at all, that will be it. The supers can, with full legitimacy, say to Obama, "You are VP on the ticket or out." They can say the same thing to Clinton.

[woolldog]

18. And if that happened he should choose "out"

No good for him can come of being on the ticket as a VP.

[Lucinda]

19. "I think it’s premature"

is not rejection.
But he's right to poo-poo it.

[surfin]

21. If he does, he lied to us and I will never vote for her

I am against the war and the bushes and clintons.

[Lucinda]

24. He likely will if it's the best route for him to go. They all say they won't in the early days

because it's the correct answer to make when you're trying to win votes.
These are extrordinary times. I expect they both will seriously consider it if the circusmtances make it necessary to do so.

[Sparkly]

20. That is not rejecting the idea. nt

[Dinger]

22. BREAKING NEWS!: That's Not Breaking News

[Hippo_Tron]

23. John Edwards said the exact same thing in 2004 until he dropped out

You NEVER say that you are willing to settle for second place while you're still in the race.

[mtnsnake]

26. You know as well as I do that he would JUMP at the opportunity if Hillary offers it to him

I still think she'll got with Wesley Clark, though.