Clinton is willing to take No. 2 spot, but she doesn't have a lock on it
There is still lingering bitterness to be resolved between her camp and Obama's. And the ticket that some see as a 'dream,' others view as a nightmare.
WASHINGTON — Signaling that her campaign is at an end, Hillary Rodham Clinton told allies in Congress on Tuesday that she would be interested in serving as vice president, increasing public pressure on Barack Obama to consider her as a way to unify the Democratic Party and create a strong ticket for the fall election.
Sen. Clinton raised the issue of the No. 2 spot in a private 45-minute conference call with congressional Democrats as part of a discussion about mending rifts in the party and beating the Republicans in November, said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.), who was on the call.
"She basically has always said she'll do whatever it takes for a Democrat to be in the White House come Jan. 21," McCarthy said in an interview. "And she said, 'I would be open to accepting the vice presidential slot, if that's what Sen. Obama wanted.' "
Speaking to reporters aboard Obama's campaign plane Tuesday night, the Illinois senator's strategist, David Axelrod, batted away questions about a running mate.
"Obviously she's an incredibly formidable person," Axelrod said. "We knew that going in. She's proven it during this campaign. But it's way too early to talk about that."
Obama said last month that Clinton would be "on anybody's short list" for the vice presidency. He has already assigned aides to vet vice presidential prospects.
The prospect of a "dream ticket," as some have labeled an Obama-Clinton pairing, has been touted by some Democratic leaders as a way to compensate for the weaknesses and exploit the strengths of both candidates.
Throughout the five-month primary season, Obama has had difficulty winning the support of white blue-collar voters, while Clinton has established a loyal following among that slice of the electorate. But he has also energized new voters -- young and black -- in record numbers. Put both candidates on the same ticket, the thinking goes, and they would be assured of winning every important demographic group that leans Democratic.
"It's clear that she deserves consideration because she's won essentially half the votes," said Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-Pa.), a Clinton supporter. "It's almost evenly split. And she would bring a lot to the ticket."
Clinton is no slam-dunk for VP. The two candidates haven't exhibited much affection for each other in the course of the protracted, contentious primary race.
"You're likable enough, Hillary," Obama said during one debate.
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