David Gergen: The longer this goes on, the more likely Obama or Clinton will be forced into VP slot

David Gergen is just solid all the way around with his analysis. He's level-headed and frank. I love the guy!

To answer your question, I say TRUE!

I agree. There are two people on the scene today who are solid and step back and analyze and both served in administrations. One is David Gergen. The other is Leon Panetta, who doesn't talk as much on politics these days since he runs the highly regarded Panetta Institute which is a nonprofit. But both of them are exceedingl solid. When Gergen talks, I listen..and I rethink.

I can't really see either candidate offering or accepting a VP slot; they have very different styles, and each would be stifled by the limited opportunities available in the VP role. There is obviously a certain logic to a united ticket - whatever percentage of Obama / Clinton supporters that say they won't vote for the other candidate would be swayed if their pick was listed as VP - but it's still over six full months until November, and that's a long time to allow people to get over any bitterness.

If the math plays out and Obama gets the nomination then Hillary could push for a leadership role in the Senate, allowing her to fight for issues she is interested in. If the remaining contests are landslide Clinton victories then Obama can continue in the Senate for another 4-8 years and try running again. There isn't any major incentive for either to run on a shared ticket, and the party will be OK after the primaries provided the second place finisher quietly steps aside.

Ryan - I tend to agree. But still - Gergen is Gergen. ;) I just don't know if I can go against his thinking. :)

T-Steel and Joe - is there a Gergen fan club? This is a serious intellectual crush!

Maybe we need to start one. But I don't want to seem creepy, weird, and full of man-love for Gergen!

But I can't help it... LOL!

Aw - we know you well enough I think - it makes you MORE attractive to women if you love Gergen anyway - I am SURE! :)

I love Gergen, but I also like Toobin. Maybe it's something with -en/-ins in my case.

If it's necessary, it's necessary, but I'm not sure it's actually the best thing for either candidate. If Clinton is Prez, I don't see the VP office being all that great for Obama. He will be asked to help run the very sort of politics he wants to get away from and it's pretty difficult to maintain a "change the way things are done" persona if you've been right in the center of the White House for 4-8 years. And then with Obama as Prez, I think Clinton's talents would be wasted in the VP chair, running a couple projects and defending the administration on talk shows. Clinton could be a terrific leader in the Senate, perhaps majority leader even, and build a much stronger legacy and do greater good.

Still, I understand Gergen's argument.

I understand Gregen'ts argument, in the abstract, but I don't see how it could actually work.

How could Clinton partner with the man she has been teariing down without, once more, seeming to be a fake? I mean, either she meant what she said in her criticisms or she was faking it; there is no third alternative. The very fact that she's on the same ticket with him would be giving the GOP a meaty talking point.

I don't think the damage Clinton has done to Obama can be undone by anyone but Obama himself, alone. .Despite her vows to finght for the party, what could possibly be her response when the lines she's been feeding McCain (smears) are actually used by McCain?

I think Clinton has painted herself, Obama and the Democratic Party into a vey narrow corner.

Runasim - yeah - the how does it WORK thing is not easy. On the other hand, Obama's whole Yes I Can and imagine something we don't have kind of mantra does sort of play into HAVING to imagine that it COULD work - how can we imagine some serious change and not also imagine some other things we've never thought possible before?

But - like you - I'm a bit of doubter.

Except that Gergen said it. :) lol

I truly hope that a Clinton/Obama ticket, or an Obama/Cliton ticket, is not the end result of this painfully long primary.

At the beginning of the primary season I didn't want to see Clinton back in the White House, mainly because of the Bush/Clinton duopoly that would be perpetuated. Having this much political power focused in two families is unhealthy for a democracy. The performance of the Clintons on the campaign trail (the mud, the "race card", the "misrememberings") has only reinforced my opinion that the Clinton's time has passed.

Obama is someone that I truly want to vote for in the general election. I agree with much of his platform (moving towards universal health care, improving dialogue with Iran, working towards leaving Iraq, etc.). He is articulate, thoughtful and even inspiring, which is something that I haven't seen in a national politician in my lifetime (I was born in '69). I believe he represents the direction we should be going.

However, if Clinton is on the ticket, even as VP, I will vote for McCain. Yes, even with the "100 years" quote, even with him admitting that the economy is not his strong suit as we struggle through a credit crisis, even with him being the oldest elected president if he wins in November. The danger of so much power in this family, over such a long time, will make me hold my nose and vote against Clinton.

Phil - you can support Obama without the argument about what you call or see as a duopoly. I respectfully disagree with the constant parade (not from you but in the media and in the blogs) of concerns about The Family. The govenrment is far too vast, the legislative branch far too much of a rebellious adolescent and SCOTUS far too right-wing to be as concerned as people say they are.

My other problem with The Family assertions is that Bill and Hillary just do not have it together like that - people are fabricating it with wild imaginations, but what reality forms the basis - no, seriously - what reality commensurate with the concerns?

Because if the duopoly concerns get to be given the level of respect that so many give them (by which I mean, people think it is really the case), then we HAVE to also accept the concerns of Obama's LACK of The Family and what the impact of that will be.

Now which will be given the chance to seek the Presidency and who will have their arm twisted to take the VP slot? The Dems' nature and history point to Obama getting his arm twisted. Are the college campus crazies willing to accept that? (No matter what they may say, I cannot see large numbers of 'em voting for McCain in protest.)

"This is a serious intellectual crush!"

You and the others will really swoon if Obama promises to put Gergen somewhere in his Cabinet.

(I can sense the swooning already.)

Obama-Gergen 2008!

OK, enjoy your swoon-fest.

LOL Well - I don't think Gergen will ever go for VP. And I think he's beyond being the next Tony Snow. I don't know - I really don't know what would be the best use of his talents - a lot has to do with just how many parts of our functioning are in crisis. But his skill set seems pretty complete and broad.

And, for the record, I do not swoon. :) Ever.