Tuesday, March 04, 2008

McCain-Clinton 2008   [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

A reader takes my conspiracy theory one step further:

Don't Intrade's numbers suggest a winning strategy for McCain and Clinton is to do a unity ticket together?  I know this must have been suggested before (probably on NRO), but Intrade's making me think it's a good strategy for them.  McCain will win the Republican nomination (94.1), but Intrade suggests he won't win the Presidency (33.3).  He has little base inside his party and even what base he has is unexcited.  He can only win with independent and Democratic support, and they already have the "real deal" in Obama.  Clinton won't win the Democratic nomination (25.6) and probably can't win the Presidency (17.3).  But Clinton could agree to be McCain's VP nominee and, um, offer to heal the country together.  McCain could even agree to serve just one term (excepting "emergencies" of course).  McCain would need to turn his back on his party, but that's nothing new.  And Clinton would need to accept a lower position in a man's shadow to ultimately get ahead (but she has a long history of that).   Could they create a large enough base in the middle together to get elected?  I don't know, but their current path is to oblivion.  Clinton will have to wait 8 years to have a real shot again (in all likelihood) and McCain is probably too old to run again credibly.  If they formed a ticket, Obama would still run and another republican (or Ron Paul as independent) would probably step in an run.  This could create electoral chaos (with no clear majority winner and all the issues that presents), but this might be their only way they get in.

03/04 11:34 AMShare