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Posted: June 3, 2008 8:03 PM
As Obama Races toward Nomination, Clinton Hints at VP spot
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Just three days ago, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s supporters and surrogates threatened to keep the epic Democratic nominating battle going later into the summer, possibly as far as the party convention in August.

But on Tuesday morning, the Associated Press was crafting a new story line. First it reported that Clinton would concede defeat in the five-month battle later in the day when Sen. Barack Obama won enough delegates to claim the nomination.

The Clinton camp quickly shot down the story. But at 1:23 p.m., the AP followed up its earlier assertion with a report that Obama would “effectively clinch” the 2,118 delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination by day’s end.

The AP’s call was based on a tally of pledged delegates, super delegates who have declared their preference, and another 18 super delegates who confirmed their intentions to the AP. It also assumed that Obama would get five delegates with a minimal showing in South Dakota and Montana.

One key note to remember is all super delegates can express a preference, but remain uncommitted until they vote at this summer’s convention, meaning Obama will remain only the presumptive nominee until then.

But even as Obama closed in on the final number, analysts began assessing her chances as a vice presidential candidate with Obama and the potential viability of a Clinton run in the future.

Charlie Cook, writing in his blog for the National Journal, said her long-term political future may be decided by how she handles the coming days.

“After the final primaries in Montana and South Dakota, and with the issues involving Florida and Michigan resolved by the Democratic National Committee, the Clinton ‘stand and fight’ arguments take on a shrillness and a futility that would put the Clintons’ standing in the party in very grave danger,” he wrote.

On Tuesday, Clinton told other New York lawmakers on a conference call that she was willing to become Obama’s vice presidential nominee if it would help the party beat Sen. John McCain, several participants in the call told the AP.

“I am open to it,” Clinton reportedly said, stressing she would only consider it if it would help the party’s prospects in November. Her direct quote was described by two lawmakers who spoke on condition of anonymity to the AP.

There are those within the party who want nothing more than an Obama-Clinton ticket. In March, VoteBoth.com, which is registered to a Democratic consultant in Virginia, was established to promote such a “unity ticket.” Signs for the site were posted near the DNC rules committee meeting on Saturday.

But after giving the Democratic front-runner a friendly nod Sunday in her Puerto Rico victory speech (something she has skipped following recent wins), Clinton repeated her assertion that she won the popular vote — even though Obama was not on the ballot in Michigan.

“It is still not clear whether she is signaling valediction or murder-suicide,” the Economist reported. “If she makes good on her threat to continue the rules challenge, even after the last votes are tallied in Montana and South Dakota on Tuesday, the party is in trouble.”

The Clintons have planted vice-presidential-discussion seeds before — but then it was with Obama on the bottom of the ticket. That didn’t sit well with him at the time.

Of course, the ultimate running-mate decision will be left to the nominee — whoever he or (increasingly less likely) she turns out to be.