I think this is a pretty smart tactic by the Clinton camp. It smacks of compromise, which is something everybody in the Democratic party wants right now: an end to the infighting. And it also begins the murmuring of "Obama as Veep." This is kind of what happened with Edwards, I think, in the latter days of the '04 race. People liked Edwards, but there were some doubts about his experience. Everybody would have loved to have him as a veep, but he was running for President. Now Clinton gives the folks who like Obama but have doubts about his experience an easy out: support him, yes, but support him as running mate.

"What are you talking about?" ask the Clintonians. "She never said anything about who'd have the top spot!" No, she didn't, but traditionally, the VP is someone younger, someone with less experience who is being "groomed" for the Presidency. The only recent exception is Bush/Cheney. Kerry/Edwards had this relationship, as did Clinton/Gore, Dole/Kemp, Bush/Quayle, Reagan/Bush, Mondale/Ferraro, Carter/Mondale, etc. Since Hillary is 1) older, and 2) is perceived as having more experience, it's natural that most people would envision a Clinton/Obama ticket faster than an Obama/Clinton one (also partly because Clinton is seen as NEEDING Obama, and not vice-versa).

It's a clever ploy: pigeonhole him into a running for vice-president. Not sure what Obama can do to stop this. Of course, Hillary basically controls the rhetoric right now. Maybe Obama needs to drop that "superdelegate bomb" that TrailHead was promising...

I said the same thing in an post below... just not nearly as convincingly. You're absolutely right, and I'm not sure how Beam can fail to see it.

I think the superdelegate bomb may have blown up in their hands...

I just hope we look back on this as a challenge that made Obama's campaign stronger and more resilient.

Obama is savvy enough to decline any VP offer. What rational, sane person would want to be next in line behind Bill?

Shibbo,

Sorry I missed your post below. I never like to steal people's thunder. It was unintentional, I assure you. Thanks for your comments.

produces...what? Sorry. I know it's too artsy. I'm quoting Goya here, from the Capricios, The sleep of reason produces monsters; a gratuitous Hillary remark. Oh well. Explaining these things generally ruins them.

HRC has outspent Obama and lined up a lot of machine and old-labor support. You could think of her candidacy as the last hurrah of the DLC, except they never had a first hurrah, except for Bill, whom they disowned as soon as he got into trouble. HRC wishes she could have done this too, but her political future demanded forgiving him and moving on, when painting the ceiling with him and moving on would have been much more fun.

She's done well where brute force and savagery would succeed, but not otherewise. What does this say about her probable style as a president? Obama is about the fastest guy on his feet in politics. The only competition he has would be a guy you've never heard of: Fast Eddie Vrdolyak, who was so smart and so quick that he ended up putting his foot up his own ass; maybe both feet. He was living proof that at some point or other, character is a necessity.

Hilllary is a plugger and a trimmer, but she's smart. She's graceless and mean, but you can dress those weaknesses up so they make her look almost human. No speed though, and no character. Somebody better explain to me why any of this makes her a better president, or a better anything.