Everett, Wash.
Published: Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Clinton hints at V.P. interest but doesn't concede

Los Angeles Times and Associated press

 WASHINGTON -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton praised her rival warmly in a Tuesday appearance before supporters in New York in which she neither acknowledged Sen. Barack Obama's victory nor offered a concession of any sort -- although she hinted earlier in the day at interest in becoming his running mate.

"Senator Obama has inspired so many Americans to care about politics and empowered so many more to get involved. And our party and our democracy is stronger and more vibrant as a result," she told the crowd.

"In the coming days, I'll be consulting with supporters and party leaders to determine how to move forward with the best interests of our party and our country guiding my way," she said.

Earlier Tuesday, Clinton told allies in Congress that she would be interested in serving Obama as vice president, and advisers said she was withholding a formal departure from the race partly to use her remaining leverage to press for a spot on the ticket.

Clinton raised the issue of the No. 2 spot in a 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. 21st," McCarthy said. "And she said, 'I would be open to accepting the vice presidential slot, if that's what Senator Obama wanted.'"

Advisers said Clinton has made a strategic decision to not formally end her campaign, giving her leverage to negotiate with Obama on various matters including a possible vice presidential nomination for her. She also wants to press him on issues for the fall, such as health care.

Aides to the Illinois senator said he and Clinton had not spoken about the prospects of her joining the ticket.

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 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.

Clinton is no slam-dunk for V.P. The two candidates haven't exhibited much affection for one another. Another potential obstacle is Clinton's husband, the former two-term president.

"My concern is less with Hillary Clinton as vice president than with former President Bill Clinton running around the White House with a whole lot of free time on his hands," said New York State Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, an Obama supporter.

An Obama-Clinton ticket poses other complications. Voters are already being asked to set aside any prejudice and elect the first black president.

"When you're trying to break the first glass ceiling it doesn't make sense to double-pane it," said Peter Hart, a Democratic pollster. "To ask the American public to accept both an African-American and a woman seems to me to be a stretch too far."
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