Let's get a more serious thread discussion going. People are calling for Hillary to bow out now. Do you agree? And if so, should Obama ask her to join the ticket as his VP?

Well you're opening up a can of worms, aren't ya?

I am not sure that Hillary should bow out now. I mean she probably SHOULD as she losing more and more support every day....this just moved on the AP

WASHINGTON (AP) _ HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S ONCE-IMPOSING LEAD AMONG DEMOCRATIC SUPERDELEGATES HAS ALL BUT VANISHED, AS BARACK OBAMA CONTINUES TO PICK UP SUPPORT.
FIVE OF THEM ENDORSED OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT TODAY, INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN DONALD PAYNE OF NEW JERSEY. THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS MEMBER HAD BEEN SUPPORTING CLINTON, BUT HE SAYS ``AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION,'' HE'S CONCLUDED THAT OBAMA ``CAN BEST BRING ABOUT THE CHANGE'' THAT THE COUNTRY WANTS AND NEEDS.
ON THE EVE OF THE PRIMARY SEASON, CLINTON HAD A LEAD OF MORE THAN 100 SUPERDELEGATES. TODAY, OBAMA HAS NARROWED THE GAP TO THREE AND A-HALF.
OBAMA HAS BEEN GAINING STRENGTH SINCE TUESDAY, WHEN HE SCORED A CONVINCING VICTORY IN NORTH CAROLINA'S PRIMARY AND CLINTON TOOK INDIANA BY ONLY A NARROW MARGIN.


He has been able to close large gaps in the states he's lost to Hillary. And I think in the long run Democrats are going to support the nominee - anyone who says they'll vote for McCain if they're nominee doesn't get the nod is an idiot. I mean wouldn't you then want to vote for the person who has almost an identical platform to your candidate?

There is still a lot of ignorance where Obama is concerned - and it's frustrating - but I do think he'd be a good leader.

People are so fed up with what 8 years of Republican rule has done in this country I think the Democrats would be fine with either candidate...but right now emotions are very high and supporters from each camp are getting ugly.

Now - Clinton WON'T back down, I'm pretty sure of that.

Whew(don't get in it, don't get in it, don't get in it).......

I'll just say that I'm glad I helped Hillary narrowly win IN on Tuesday.

No further comment.

I'm totally losing faith in the Democratic leadership. What should be an easy victory in November is not looking as predictable as it once was. The Republicans are probably looking forward to an Obama candidacy because as nasty as some think things have been, it ain't nothing compared to how the Republicans will attack Obama...and they don't care who it offends.

How Howard Dean can still be the Democratic leader amazes me. He hasn't shown me any leadership skills throughtout the process and with the mess in Florida and Michigan still up in the air they could possibly alienate a huge chunk of voters by November.

As for Hillary, I will be really surprised if she drops out and joins the Obama ticket.

She's not going to drop out. She's not the type - the Clintons are more do or die type people...and as we've seen they'll get ugly to get what they want.

Also - the Republicans are going to be vicious no matter who gets the nod. They'll use the Jeremiah Wright thing into the ground...as they already have tried...and play on people's fears (the Muslim thing) etc...he's (Obama) already shown amazing poise in standing against attacks thus far - the man seems unflappable!

The Clinton attacks? Well I'm guessing the Repubs will pull out all of Bill's baggage, as well as stuff on Hillary...it's going to be ugly either way because that's the only way the Republicans can win - by tearing down the other guy with falsehoods, exaggerations, fear mongering etc...

Ok - Florida and Michigan BROKE party rules. The candidates knew this - but when Hillary won both states (even though she was the ONLY candidate on the ballot in one of them) the tune changed. It's almost to a point where it won't even matter if Florida and Michigan are counted - Obama will still have the upper hand.

But the voters never had a say in breaking the party rules. Sad thing is if they had left their primaries where they were they would have had a bigger impact. And I think if the two states involved would have favored Obama, he would have tried to get their votes to count as well.

The Democrats are amazing: Who needs John McCain when you have Hillary Clinton?

We have a rare disagreement. I think Clinton would make a lousy president. She was wrong on the war and remained wrong on the war for years until announcing her candidacy. Her gas tax holiday plan is a pandering, colossal joke. She has been a pathetic chameleon the entire campaign. I used to love her -- and Bill -- and now I can barely stomach them.

I don't really care if she stays in the race or not. The campaign ended with Obama's huge win in NC and good showing in Indiana after a couple of disastrous weeks in his campaign.

I don't think an Obama/Clinton ticket is very viable, nor a very good idea. I do think, though, that Obama should work very closely with her to pick the VP and also offer her a role in picking some cabinet members should he win. She has done too well in this race for her to be written off completely.

I do agree that it is nuts for a Democrat to vote for McCain over Obama or Clinton.

Yes, many were wrong on the war, but a handful did the right thing. Obama surely had presidential ambitions in 2003 but had the courage to be on record opposing a very popular war and the intelligence and foresight to explain specifically why it was a bad idea. In my opinion, that's the difference between him and Clinton and why he will make a much better president. He had the same national political ambition but took a principled stand.

No, I wasn't suggesting that she be offered a cabinet post (or that she would take it). I was saying she should have a role in picking cabinet members.

My fear still remains that this country is too closed-minded to vote in a black president - or a woman, for that matter. I hope I'm wrong, I hope I'm underestimating my fellow countrymen - but these are the people that voted Dubya in AGAIN in '04/. Forgive me if I don't have much faith.

So, it seems that most here feel that if Obama gets the nomination, Hillary won't be offered the VP spot, or will decline if it is offered. Who do ya'll think he would ask? Who do you think he should ask?

You are right that there is a difference between being in the Senate and forced to vote and not being in the Senate. However, it is crystal clear that Obama was against the war, knew the specific reasons why the war was a bad idea, and made these points clear at a time when the country was overwhelmingly supportive of the war. Clinton voted for the war and continued to be a strong supporter until very recently. I see a very clear difference in judgment and I think Obama's campaign is correct to draw the distinction.

:kiss:

I understand it all too well -- politics.

It is my fear also, but all we can do now is see if our fears are realized. I have great pride in the Democratic Party that our top two candidates are black man and a woman. I think the entire process has been really good for the country.

Also-- I have followed this race with obsession for over a year. I do think there has been a ton of misogyny against Clinton. There's also been racism. The misogyny has been more overt. I don't think misogyny/sexism is why Clinton isn't winning, but it has been hard to watch.

Per your VP question:

I think the best VP candidates would be (in order):

Senator Webb from Virginia (conservative Dem, military/foreign policy background, antiwar, Virginia is a key swing state for Obama)

Gov. Rendell from Pennsylvania (helps with the blue-collar, Pennsylvania/Ohio vote, great campaigner for Clinton)

Sen. Evan Bayh from Indiana (helps with midwest, could bring in Clinton supporters)

Gov. Bill Richardson (helps with Latino vote and with swing states like New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, also brings lots of foreign policy experience.

Gov. Sebilius from Kansas (this would be a bold move -- a woman and a governor -- I would love to see her on the ticket but not sure she would help as much as the above four)

^^

I also have the fears about America still being too racist to vote for a black man. I mean in, was it PA?, 20% of voters polled flat out said that race was a factor (they voted for Clinton). That is scary.

Richardson has long been talked about for a VP nod (even before he was NM Gov.) but I think right now with the anti-immigrant sentiment that would be a big mistake. A cabinet position, great - but a ticket with a Black man and a Mexican I don't think will fly.

Interesting piece:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/09...00869.html