Hillary Clinton’s refusal to quit the White House race has driven speculation that she is angling to become vice president, Senate majority leader, or even the Democratic presidential nominee in 2012.
Others say that Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have cheated political death so many times they are genetically incapable of acknowledging a defeat that most observers now consider inevitable. Under this scenario, Clinton will continue to battle rival Democrat Barack Obama at least until the primaries end June 3 and possibly until her party’s convention in late August.
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Finally, there are those who believe that Clinton has privately come to grips with the likelihood that she cannot win the nomination. According to this theory, Clinton is planning to exit the race on a winning note after carrying West Virginia today and Kentucky next week.
Hank Sheinkopf, one of Bill Clinton’s former campaign strategists, said remaining in the race to rack up delegates in West Virginia and Kentucky will give Clinton bargaining power.
“She has a campaign that has to be paid off and she wants to maintain herself as an important factor in the Democratic party,” Sheinkopf said.
Sheinkopf believes Clinton has decided to “put up a brave face until you can figure out what your best move is.”
Democratic strategist Tad Devine, who is unaffiliated with either candidate, said Clinton’s decision to stay in the race and collect a few more wins will benefit her, even if she is not the nominee.
“I think the practical politics of demonstrating strength and continuing to build a reputation as a fighter for the working people is very good for her,” Devine said.
But few expect Clinton to campaign enthusiastically for Obama unless she can be assured of a consolation prize. One of the biggest would be a spot on the ticket as Obama’s running mate, a position that Clinton considered beneath her a mere six months ago.
Still, there are reports that Obama’s wife, Michelle, would veto any proposal to put Clinton on the ticket. And a Clinton vice presidency might alienate some Obama backers who view his candidacy as a chance to end the Democratic Party’s Clinton era. Besides, a Vice President Clinton might prove distracting to Obama, who could feel compelled to keep a wary eye on his fiercely ambitious understudy.
For now, it appears that Clinton will set her own timetable.
“It’s still close, even if the math is tough, and there is no reason she has to pull out until he has won, which he hasn’t done yet,” said Democratic strategist Susan Estrich. “When and if he does, she will pull out gracefully.”
