The 'Dream Ticket' Lives

Just a few days ago, the notion seemed far-fetched at best. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on the same ticket (choose your name order)? Impossible. The race had turned too ugly, too personal. Hillary supporters vowed to back McCain if Obama was chosen as the nominee. Obama supporters did the same. A convention fight was assured, playing right into Republican hands.

Well, in an appearance on the CBS's "The Early Show," Hillary Clinton once again gave voice to the idea of sharing the ticket with her Democratic rival:




Readers of this column know that I think Barack Obama is the better of the two candidates, yet I confess that the idea of a shared ticket, whatever the order, is starting to make a lot of sense. While Hillary's win is not to be discounted in terms of momentum, the fact is that nothing really changed in the delegate race. There's no happy ending to this contest, I'm afraid. The future of this race involves lawsuits, acrimony, and a hardening of bitterness between the two camps. All that will damage the party, whatever talking heads like Paul Begala might say.

So who should be on top? Age before beauty? Change before experience? Flip a coin. As I've said time and time again, their political priorities are strikingly similar. They each have strengths. Together, they'd unify the party, and crush McCain. Apart, it's hard to say.

But it takes two to tango, and Clinton seems pretty set on top-billing, while Obama believes mega-merger talk is still a long way off:

"We are just focussed on winning the nomination. That is my focus. I respect Sen. Clinton. She has been a tenacious opponent. It is premature to talk about a joint ticket."

So, today's question (and feel free to elaborate in the comment section):