Monday, June 02, 2008

Clinton Campaign Capitulating?


Obama needs only forty two delegates to wrap up the nomination. Odds are tomorrow he'll pick up fifteen more from the South Dakota primary. In response to both the recent Michigan / Florida Decision by the Dems and the math it looks like the Clinton campaign is gearing down. Bill Clinton announced today that he will no longer be stumping for his wife, the campaign has asked that all volunteers submit their outstanding expense receipts for reimbursement, and finally they are dropping staff members. Sounds like the beginning of the end doesn't it?

Additionally the Telegraph reported yesterday that Clinton has been offered the Secretary of Health as a consolation prize/olive branch:

The former First Lady would get the chance to pilot Mr Obama’s reforms of the American healthcare system if she agrees to clear the path to his nomination as Democratic presidential candidate.

Senior figures in the Obama camp have told Democrat colleagues that the offer to Mrs Clinton of a cabinet post as health secretary or to steer new legislation through the Senate will be a central element of their peace overtures to the New York senator.

Here's the lay of the land as I see it. If Clinton opts to continue all of the way to the convention she loses. She'll come across as being a divider rather than a uniter and shoots herself in the foot.
Converesly if she accepts the compromise, bows out, and actively stumps for Obama she beefs up her resume and is in an excellent position to either run against McCain in 2012 or run when Obama's finished. Yes there is an age issue but she's younger than McCain and if Obama bombs she'll have that whole I told you so/Experience thing going for her. I'm guessing that she steps aside. I may not be a fan of Hillary Clinton but I do give her high marks for intelligence and shrewdness. If I'm wrong I'm wrong about her decision then it will prove that all of those negative assertions that Andrew Sullivan has been making about her are in fact 100% correct. And if thats the case then she's the last person we need running this country (excluding Pat Robertson of course).