I have thought since the day that President Elect Obama selected Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State that she would replace Joe Biden as the VP nominee in 2012. I am still holding to that prediction. She would be 68 at the time of the campaign in 2016. That is not too old to run for President. Picking Clinton for VP would be a stroke of genius. Hillary has solidified her resume by being an outstanding Secretary of State. She would fortify an already strong ticket and would be the early favorite to extend Democratic control of the executive for another 4 years over a demoralized Republican party.

If Obama sticks with Biden he would be 73 in 2016 and is not nearly as strong a candidate that Clinton would be. One possibility would be a deal that Biden could stay on the ticket but would not run in 2016 in deference to Hillary.

But but but ... they've already printed up the Obama - Biden campaign stuff.

I covered that with Option 2. New bumper stickers just raise more money.

Yes but it has layers.

It's already Biden.



Jebus, Hillary people never say die

No fair.

I was NEVER a Hillary person. I went into the 2008 election thinking she'd be the nominee (we all knew she would be), and I thought I'd have to grit my teeth something fierce to make myself vote for her.

But she has impressed the hell out of me since the convention. She's been a great Secy. of St. She rawks. I'm 100% in favor of R.C.'s option No. 1: Put her on the ballot as VP. Even though I want Franken in 2016.

She made me support her, despite my previous attitude.

Hillary has said previously that she does not plan to stay on as Secretary of State for a second term. If she has any plans to run for President in 2016 (which I doubt) -- she would be in a much better position to do so outside the administration than in.

I felt/feel exactly the same way. I remember also being surprised at how much she impressed me as a senator.

I've never been able to warm up to her personally, but she is one hell of a competent woman.

There is no way POTUS would ditch Uncle Joe, he has been such a steadfast VP, and has busted his ass in the Senate and the House to negotiate deals. Uncle Joe is the jewel in the crown of the Obama administration. No way he would throw him under the bus.

Me three.

Joe is good insurance and Hilary is extremely valuable as SoS. She has done a fantastic job and helped to clean up a lot of the messes left behind by previous office holders. When Obama met with her at Feinstein's house for their make up for the sake of the party session, I suspected Obama offered her whatever spot in the cabinet she wanted. SoS was a much better use of her talents than VP. Biden's knowledge of the Senate was a valuable asset plus he made a good team player. No reasons to change horses in this race.

No President has dumped a VP from the ticket since Roosevelt in 1944 (even when they should have). It would now look odd and raise unneccessary questions on the President's judgement in picking Joe Biden in the first place.

Hillary has pissed off every single PUMA that supported her. She has been one of the most supportive members of the POTUS's administration, when you see pictures of her and Obama together you can see that they have a genuine affection for each other, they actually LIKE each other and Hillary has Obama's back NO MATTER WHAT. You wanna go after POTUS, then you have to get past SOSOTUS, good luck on that one.

I'm not opposed to the idea, but barring some majorly unexpected set of events it's not going to happen. The message that the President and his staff have been trying to send is a simple and clear one: things are getting better, and we're going to make sure that they keep improving. With the economy trending the way it is, that's a good message. Jettisoning Biden would totally undercut that. It would create the impression that the President is running scared, lead to weeks of process stories distracting from the economic focus that the President wants, and generally create a lot of drama.

I guess I am dreaming with the original post but I think the Democrats would be in a stronger position with Clinton as the presumptive nominee in 2016 vs Joe Biden and all the uncertainty about whether he would run or not. Obviously, first things first, the Dems have to win over whatever jackass comes out of this Republican cluster fuck in 2012.

Yes, I can buy the argument that Obama will play it safe and not upset the apple cart. However, the Clinton pick was certainly out of the blue in 2009 wasn't it?

Dream on and I have thought about it myself but I believe Obama is too loyal to do that to Joe. I was totally not a Clinton fan because of her ties to the family and that I felt she would be too in bed with all the corporate overlords but she has been an extremely hard-working and effective Secretary of State. I really don't think she wants the Presidency now, I could be wrong of course but she seems content with what she has achieved.

I don't see Vice-President Biden running for President either and I have no clue who will be our nominee in 2016 but I would sure like to see Elizabeth Warren on the short list. I would be extremely happy to have her be our first woman President.

There's no uncertainty. Joe Biden isn't running in 2016, if that's what you mean. Neither is Hillary. It's time for people to take her at her word. I think Hillary's bargain with the President is she will stay on at State and if there's an opening on the Supreme Court, it's hers.

I agree, I think she (Hilary) would be a wonderful choice for Justice.

It will be Biden, and I believe it is the right one. Hillary as the VP will only put the spotlight on the VP matchup, and not Pres Obama vs whomever. Although I believe Hillary could hold her own, the rock VP is Biden, and that is where it will stay.

It also still clears Hillary to resign as SOS to make her own Presidential run. I know, I know - she's said she's in it for the long haul, but hey, they've changed their minds before, right?

Yeah, that's the key right there. Right now, the Republicans are in the middle of one of the most amazing goat ropes of a campaign season in modern political history. Obama's staying cool and above the fray - as we saw in Georgia. He's doing the People's Business, governing the nation, and publicly focusing on policy every chance he gets. Meanwhile, three of the four remaining Republican candidates are busy trying to find ways to lower the level of political discourse. They've been at it for so long, and working the picks and dynamite so hard, that I honestly think they're in danger of striking mantle. The fourth candidate, meanwhile, is probably not operating on the same reality as everyone else.

Changing the VP would take the focus from the Republicans and put it on the process of Obama's campaign. At this point, he'd have to be nuts to do anything that would shift the campaign focus away from the goat rope. The longer it continues, the better he looks. Hell, I've got friends out here who are hugely conservative, birther-friendly to at least some extent, and they're saying that they don't know how they'd be able to vote for any of the three stooges.



I was more surprised that she accepted than that she was asked, to be honest. I've also got to admit that I'm not actually hoping to see her run in 2016. I'd much rather see her get nominated to SCOTUS.

How many Presidents have we had who have 2 President-level performers on the Cabinet like Hillary and Biden? Hillary is doing an awesome job at State and Biden has more responsibility than any VP in recent memory, not counting shadow-President Cheney.

Jeez, if was Hillary vs. Elizabeth Warren, I'd be in a pickle.

From your mouths to God's ears.

I can see Hilary going to the SOTUS but it wont be till after the election if its announced. NOTHING would fire up the RWNJ base than Hillery Clinton going to SCOTUS. I agree she would be an outstanding Judge, but there is no way that its going to happen before the election.

Joe Biden is not going to run in 2016. He's not Ron Paul. Now is the time that the Dems need to start nurturing the future hopefuls for that position.