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The Post-HRC Strategy
Now that the nominee is a virtual certainty, how does Obama move forward? He's already been hitting McCain for the last few months, building up his image as The Nominee for some time.
But that has to wait for now, or at least be farmed out to surrogates. Obama's speech last night indicates that he recognizes that before he can move on to the November contest, he must heal the rifts created in the last four months. The good news is, the steps down this road are easy.
1. Wait. He's already doing this, and the reasons are obvious--letting Clinton decide the best time to get out is the classy path, and it doesn't inflame the hardcore Clintonistas who still, for whatever reasons, think she might just pull it off. And as widely noted, losing WV and KY when she's already out of the race doesn't help Obama's chances. Let her play candidate for just a little while longer.
2. Adopt her health care plan. This part, in my mind, is crucial. Clinton's plan is almost universally (among Democrats) recognized as being more in line with the party's long-term goals for health care, even by Obama supporters. By acknowledging that Clinton got something right (and something big at that), Obama lessens the risk of further spurning Clinton's base and lets them feel that their efforts were not all for naught. This also supports his argument that he's willing to work with people once seen as the opposition, thus boosting his appeal to independents.
3. Hint broadly at an A.G. John Edwards. Less important than the above, but reinforces the Democratic Dream Team paradigm for November--if the best three chances from the entire Dem race are all seen as having a large role to play in the next administration, the reunification of the Democratic Party will appear to begin in earnest. Promising to get Gore and Richardson in on the act at some point wouldn't hurt, either.
Agree or disagree? What other steps should Obama look to take?
Comments (6)
I think #2 would come off too much like pandering. That said, I see no problem in stating a desire to create a cabinet post on health care for her, or to have her head up a task force, etc. Neither candidate's plan is going to pass as-is. The most important part of any of the Democrats' health care plan is getting is passed. I assume that almost any one here would agree that having candidate A's plan and having it pass is better than having candidate B's plan and having it fail, regardless of whether A and B are Obama, Clinton, Edwards, or some other Democrat.
May 7, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama's fated to earn a pandering charge no matter what he does from here. As an example, if he nominates a female VP candidate--any female VP candidate--he'll be accused of trying to woo back the female vote. (Likewise if he nominates a white Southerner, Richardson, etc. for their respective demographics.) Better to earn the epithet over something substantive, and something that's a primary focus of many voters this season.
There are other substantive reasons to go with Clinton's plan, at any rate. It wouldn't be hard for him to give hard facts as to why he's choosing her plan over his initial one (while, ideally, incorporating some original ideas as well).
Additionally, by conceding that another Democrat made a more forceful argument in the "marketplace of ideas" revolving around health care--one so forceful that it changed even his mind--he gets to further bolster his insistence that the Democratic Party has regained the "party of ideas" label. Comparing this to the Republican "debate" on health care--"just how DO we convince people that doing nothing is a plan?"--only wins over more independents.
May 7, 2008 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do not adopt her health care plan or her gas tax plan or any other Clinton plan. Do not offer Clinton a spot on the ticket. The best place for her is either the Supreme Court -- out of play for LIFE!!!!! Or in a "hold harmless" cabinet position (that is anything other than State or Defense.)
Do not offer John Edwards anything -- unless and until -- he delivers something worth the exchange and that must be more than his "endorsement." Edwards is worth more than AG. Find a different Cabinet dept for him.
Obama is the new leader of the Democratic Party. It will be difficult for the Clintons and die-hard supporters to go away, but they will eventually. The key is putting them in spots where they can do no harm for the next 8-9 years.
May 7, 2008 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's be honest here:
Adopting her health care plan would be dumb. First, people used to say how little difference there was between the two, so, as Ben says, it will come off as pure pandering -- something that Obama has avoided for the most part and one of his better qualities.
Taking this to the absurd level, many of Hillary's core supporters wanted her because she was a woman -- so should Obama start getting breast implants, castrate himself and start taking estrogen?
Obama need not pretend to be Hillary. Remember, many people supported him because he was so much different than Hillary.
Second: Hillary isn't qualified for the SCOTUS. She was a corporate lawyer. Hasn't sat on the bench at all. It is is joke. And let's put the kibosh on the Majority Leader ideas as well. She isn't qualified.
Here are positions you might consider Hillary for:
Senate Dem Whip. Perfect for her temperament. However, the POTUS doesn't decide those issues.
Possibly as a Secretary of Human and Health Services. Hillary wants to talk about healthcare, this is her opportunity. However, after the past month, I wouldn't blame Obama if he made the play to leave her in the Senate where she can continue to fight for the causes that interest her.
Assuming, of course, she even bothers to run for reeelction in 2012.
John Edwards: He's been pathetic since dropping out. You are not going to reward someone for not even stepping up to the plate.
Obama need not appease the Clintons. Any animosity feelings from most will die down.. except for those that couldn't be converted anyway. And John Edwards made himself irrelevant to the entire process.
May 7, 2008 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
What about send Bill Clinton as ambassador to the UN? Headquarters are in NY and it's right up his alley. Take Mayor Bloomberg as VP or some other position, and set Hillary Clinton up as Mayor of New York City and when David Patterson's term is up she can run for governor.
May 7, 2008 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mandating the purchase of health insurance is NOT... I repeat NOT.. a health care plan... It is a gift to health insurance companies.
The only realistic program is the one he has discussed, open buy-in to Medicare. Make health insurance companies compete with a well run program or go out of business.
May 7, 2008 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
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