Ask Chuck Todd

Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 3:37 PM by Domenico Montanaro

There something you want to ask NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd? Here's your chance. There will be a question-and-answer session with Todd Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. ET on Newsvine. You can submit your questions in advance here.

The Clinton campaign clearly wants to see what superdelegates think after Clinton wins by 25 to 30 points tomorrow in the West Virginia primary. It will likely be her largest victory since Arkansas, which she won, 70%-26%. Does that mean anything? And if not, how and when will she bow out?

In interviews last week, Obama did not dismiss the notion of Hillary as VP. Inside-the Beltway types may think this is a bad idea, but for rank and file Democrats, does an Obama-Clinton ticket make sense?

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Comments

I don't think Obama should choose Clinton. She and Bill would be a distraction. They would be a secondary power center in a campaign that seems to have a well designed flow chart. They'd bring in their own people and God alone knows what that would do to the harmony.

PLUS: Gov. Sellibus and Gov. Napolitano would be the second women running for Vice President and would make history if they won. A huge chunk of the historic vote that, while disappointed, would appreciate how this could set up a woman as being on the top of the ticket in 2012.

That is my thought as a democrat: Obama needs to lock down the female vote in the party and then offer Richardson something and park him in the west with Kennedy and the Southwest.

JMHO

But no, Obama can win without Clinton. Women can still make history too. And we can unify without the drama of eight more years of Hillary and Bill.

Rhoda Washington DC (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:50 PM)

Chuck - why doesn't the media report a little political advisor conventional wisdom, such as the reasons why you don't tap a running mate who would bring negatives of 54 to the ticket?

I seem to recall CW as per the Reagan effect was that 46 was good, 47 was shaky and 48 was real trouble. Given that scale, what adjective would you give 54?

And if this isn't a factor anymore, why has CW changed and what is the new CW?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:52 PM)

If she isn't on the ticket, I'm voting McCain.

--registered Democrat

Sean (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:52 PM)

Okay, so in the spirit of ignoring Hillary Clinton:

I've been thinking a lot about Obama's probable VP pick, and have run through at least 20 names, and I think that one of the following people will be his VP running mate:

Gen. Anthony Zinni -
No one packs more military and foreign policy muscle than General Anthony Zinni. In addition, he's been an outspoken Iraq War and Bush critic; he's also an old, white man with a semi-academic background, who could connect with Obama as well as a multitude of voters.

Gov. Kathleen Sibelius -
This Midwestern governor has a strong, progressive track record in a red RED state where she is incredibly popular. She has stood up against big insurance and energy companies, and has relied on progressive principles to guide her judgement and her veto pen. She's also an older, white, Catholic woman, whose demographic alone would help bringing in some of Clinton's dissenters. Gov. Sibelius has been a strong supporter of Obama's since before Feb. 5th, after she gave the DNC's response to the SOTU address.

While these two also have their weak points, they are far fewer than some other names that have been thrown around. I believe these two will be atop Obama's list.

Any other thoughts?

Matt; Valparaiso, IN (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:53 PM)

Absolutely, NO!!!!!! Obama should not consider Hillary for the VP spot. Arkansas woman for Obama

Linda, AR (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:53 PM)

Clinton + ol' politics and Obama + Change = Stupid Idea.

Carl, Kalamazoo, MI (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:54 PM)

Makes no sense at all. Her campaign tone was way too harsh and does not seem to match his. Also, her being VP might make him more of a target for assination for some zealout who want her to be Presiden.

Wayne, Newburgh, In (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:54 PM)

Congratulations Chuck on the Washington Post article today. It was well deserved. It only goes to show you that in the end, hard work, maturity, dignity and intelligence will always win over the loud mouths who are everywhere in your industry.

You kept me confident these last few months. Without you, I wouldn't have known for quite some time now that Senator Clinton's chances were pretty slim that she was going to beat Senator Obama.

My question: Why is Hillary Clinton staying in the race? Certainly she can't be running now for 2012.

Is it pride?
Is a dream she can't quite let go of at this point? Is it having a junior senator beat her that is so hard for her to accept?

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:55 PM)

Chuck Todd
does Clinton have any chance of reaching 2025.

Steve NewYork NY (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:55 PM)

I sincerely wish Hillary well in where ever she goes from here, God bless her, but she is no longer news.

Gregory Peek, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:55 PM)

The "rank and file" will vote the party line regardless of VP. Clinton on the ticket will drive away many of the crossover voters and likely some of the new voters that Obama has brought to the fold.

SL, NJ (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:56 PM)

No. Rank and file democrats like Dodd and Kennedy have already made statements that an Obama-Clinton ticket will not work. It goes aganist the core message of Obama which is turning the page to new politics and bringing unity. Clinton is old politics and has many baggages. In addition, she is divisive which is evident in her USA Today comments about hard-working White Americans. Moreover, the republicans will come out and vote in huge numbers to ensure that Clinton does not return to the white house. The clintons are good for uniting the republican base. Honestly, she has been rude to Obama and his supporters with her divisive statements. It is a bad idea.

voter (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:56 PM)

NOOOOO! She is the old, dirty politics way. We want change!

Dianne Bourbonnais, IL (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:57 PM)

Get used to saying President Barack Obama.

McCain will get his butt kicked in November.The USA doesn't need stagnant traditionalists like the McCain crowd.

Hillary and the Republicans have gift wrapped this election and the Supreme Court for Obama.

WOOT WOOT

patty,sd,ca (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:57 PM)

patty,sd,ca (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:58 PM)

Makes no sense to pick Hillary. Uncle Teddy is right. Barack need someone who shares his vision.

As to WV, who cares? Hillary will pick up a net gain of 8 or 10 delegates, not even enough to match Obama's super pickups.

cph (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:58 PM)

patty,sd,ca (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:58 PM)

No way! I'm an Obama supporter who would not vote if Hillary is on the ticket. I haven't liked or trusted the Clintons since they came on the scene years ago. In fact, I would probably be setting it out this year, except for Obama. I really like what he stands for and will support him (and only him) all the way.

SusaninIN (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:58 PM)

Bad idea Chuck. Obama will lose many, many voters who are completely turned off by Hillary & Bill. Obama would have to watch his back at all times with these two on board.

PoliticoJunkie (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 3:59 PM)

Obama is the best judge for VP; and it's his decision.

That said, how about: Edwards? Richardson? Bloomberg?

John Mehan, San Francisco, CA (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:01 PM)

Chuck I think that you should stress that many of your readers agree whole heartedly with the statement from Rhoda wash DC. that it would be an absolute disaster to run with Hillary. That he just has to pick his VP wisely. Believe it or not I think it would be funny if he picked Cloin Powell or at least made it known that he could be considered. If he picked him. I know republicans that would flip their lids to vote for that team. Ithink Hillary should have dropped out of the race when she began saying in public what her team was saying in private. That Obama could not win because Good Hardworking White People would not vote for him. Personally I thought that even though a little mean SNL was dead on the money. Chuck you are pretty cool in my book!!

Brian M. De. (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:01 PM)

I know what they think: It's over, Hillary!

They are just being polite now.

andress (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:01 PM)

What does Chuck Todd think about an Obama-Clinton ticket? Does he think this is an unstoppable ticket? or does it hurt Obama?

Lewis, Cincinnati, Ohio (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:02 PM)

no, it makes no sense, er, common sense at all! She brings way too much baggage.

I, as a democrat, do not want to need to go that route again. What? relive the '90s all over again?

susan f, Annapolis MD (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:03 PM)

NO NO NO to an Obama - Clinton Ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you imagine??? What in the world are they going to do with Bill??? Do you think that Hillary can be second place to Barack??? We haven't seen how she and Bill get out of the Race yet??? I am waiting to see Bill just loose it!!! Are you kidding?

Sen Obama is not even going to be able to trust them to campaign for him for the general!!! Are you kidding????

Katy in Michigan (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:03 PM)

176 days in the Senate--no international nor
ecominical experience, questionable personal
relationships, etc, etc, etc. This man is already
set up to lose!!! The Republicans will make mincemeat
of him with ease. Obama is not the candidate that
will beat McCain come Nov.--The DNC are idiots to
think he can. I have suppported the democratic
party all my life, both in the voting booth and
financially----NO MORE. If Obama become the nominee
I will sit this one out. His supporters had best hope
they can get away with voting twice----they are
going to need the help. All is money, speeches will not be enough----he has little to no experience
on important issues facing this country today.
Shame on you DNC members. This party has become
a farce---they prove time and time again that they can not win elections. It is time to change affilations. Get ready American, McCain will
prevail. At least he is not Bush. He seems a reasonable, likeable person, certainly has a ton of
experience, and someone who can be trusted in
international affairs. Economically, he will put
together a good team, and we as Americans will begin
to dig ourselves out of the Bush mess.
Sing OBama---sing all the way back to Ill.

Kathy (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:03 PM)

"NO" to HRC as VP. The American people have spoken and we want to take our government back. We want a new way of doing things, a new start. We want to strengthen our position as a World power again. We DO NOT want a government who tells what it will do for us; What WE need and what WE should be happy with. WE want a government that will listen and let us be a part of the solution.

The Clintons' represent the politics of the past. If Senator Obama considers HRC as a running mate, he will greatly disillusion ALL of his supporters who are ready to turn the page. How do you accomplish that if the pages are 'stuck'???

I know her supporters are crying "we will vote for McCain" which leads many of us to believe you were just voting for HRC because she is a woman. IF you were truly voting on policies, you would recognize the Dems and Repubs are as far apart as CA is from PA. There is no great decision here if you are truly voting for a change from the Bush years. I know women all over will be disappointed, but doesn't it speak volumes that many, many women across this great nation also said "no" to HRC? We also want a woman in the White House, just not this woman. We will wait for someone more respectable who really did create her own path; earned her recognition and clout by herself; and who truly does represent the strength and poise a real, strong woman can possess. I do NOT want a woman who runs on her husband's accomplishments, uses his name to get ahead and then makes a mockery of my gender. Her blatantly resorting to playing the gender card of late is a slap in the face to womens' movement!! Enough already. Give us a women we can truly be proud of!!

NO to HRC as VP!!

Woman who would NEVER vote for HRC (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:04 PM)

I have a question that maybe could be answered on FR. If you look at the total number of votes that Obama has received in the primaries, how many came from white voters vs non-white voters?

My guess would be at least 65% - 75% of his votes are from white voters. Regardless, I bet the fact that he has significantly more white votes overall would be a surprise to many who claim that it is just the AA vote that has elected him to be our next POTUS. The beauty of his campaign (and his message) is that he has support from all Americans.

Obama '08

Pat, Indiana (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:05 PM)

Chuck..if Hillary jumps on Obama's ticket, he can definitely kiss the presidency goodbye. This would NOT be the change we've been promised.

John from Chicago (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:05 PM)

Evelyn Pringle has just published her long-awaited bombshell article on Obama's criminal complicity in the Rezko/Auchi/General Mediterranean criminal enterprise.

Obama is going to jail for a VERY long time. It's all here: names, dates, places, amounts, schemes.

Obama supporters: read it and weep. Your guy is just a little punk hood.

Curtain Time For Barack Obama - Part I

http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_evelyn_p_080512_curtain_time_for_bar.htm

John Ryskamp, Berkeley, CA (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:05 PM)

Even though the Mortuary done a good job on McCain,
he's still a dead horse- a very OLD dead horse-in the
upcomming Presidential race.--------

The old grey mare (stud) just aint what he used to be.

Arizona Bill (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:05 PM)

"does an Obama-Clinton ticket make sense"?
-First Read

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hillary has too much baggage!!!!!!!!!!

Obama will be hamstrung from drawing distinctions between his, and McCains platforms, by the constant distractions of old, and new Clinton scandals. The Peter Paul vs Clinton campaign fraud case has yet to break nationally. It would be a kill so fresh for the repubs to tear into, the blood would still be running warm come election day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No More Clintons !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:05 PM)

What is your take on the use of media by the campaigns this season? Media has responded with gusto to efforts by campaigns to keep certain stories alive, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

For example, Bittergate was covered ad nauseum, in no small part due to obviously concerted efforts by team Clinton to make as many headlines about it as possible. Her comments on her rural white support, which many view as a gaffe, were barely touched on comparatively, which lead some to conclude that the Obama camp has not fanned the flames on this story.

What role do you think media has in this phenomenon? By following the news-item bait campaigns are dangling, is the Main Stream Media doing the work of campaigns for them? What ethical concerns are there? What business concerns are there if viewers begin to view media as no longer just biased, but actively on the hook to the campaigns for stories?

Fontapa, Portland, Maine (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:10 PM)

I'd love to see a strong woman on the ticket. (This excludes Hillary in my book.) However, I'm afraid he's probably going to need a white man to help with all those white male voters who may flock to McCain otherwise.

Dave in AL (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:10 PM)

No-it makes no sense.

Obama talks about change and a move on from the politics of yesterday. I can't think of anyone more yesterday than the Clintons.

Abbey, Chicago (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:10 PM)

obama should not choose hillary for vp, her business as usual attitude coupled with the fact she has taken money from every corrupt lobbyist on the planet would be counter productive to the obama campaign, not to mention her insurmountable negative ratings, actually I could go on all day about why hillary as vp won't work, john edwards would be great but I suspect he would not be interested, maybe a female that is not too far left would be good to help quiet the feminists that still think it's 1960, I suppose just about anybody would be better than hillary as far as the general election is concerned, I also believe selecting someone with military credentials would be a waste of time, the repubs are going to get all the war monger votes regardless of the dem ticket so obama needs to concentrate on the economic and social attributes of his vp pick

MK,MO (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:11 PM)

I agree Rhoda...good call

Ed, NY (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:12 PM)

No. No Clinton on the ticket. Seriously bad idea. First, there is NO one with as much baggage as she has, and second there is no one as polarizing to voters.

There are WAY better choices! Generals Zinni or Clark, Jim Webb, Amy Kloubacher.

But not Senator Clinton.

sotiredofignorance (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:13 PM)

I don't think it makes sense in that Hillary's negatives have not changed and she would still energize the GOP base and alienate some Independents. Obama needs to pick a Dem with strong national security credentials, from a big Electoral state. What is a dream ticket for us would be an administrative nightmare for Obama. We need to get back to ONE President. Not a Renegade VP like Cheney or a Co-President like Hillary apparently was to Bill. I am very hopeful that Senator Clinton will be an enthusiastic booster for Obama and work hard to bring her loyal supporters into the fold. I believe that the combination of Obama as President and Senator Clinton as Senate Majority Leader will lead to 8 years of unprecedented restoration and progress.

No need to lose this.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:14 PM)

I don't intend to ask Chuck a question over there, because all the questions I have for Chuck are Chuck-centric because my wife and I are particularly ardent Chuckfans. Our questions would trend toward the "How did you get to be so awesome?" and "What other superpowers do you have?" and "If its a boy, we're naming him Chuck Todd Smith," and "John Nash only wishes his beautiful mind could handle numbers like Chuck TODD! YEAH!" and then we'd get bounced from the site. So we won't.

Chucktown, Georgia (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:15 PM)

Obama can win without Clinton. Even without a female running mate. Chuck Hagle as a running mate would rock the political world. He has tremendous foreign policy and homeland security experience which matches well against McCain.

Mark, Salem, CT (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:18 PM)

Dang I had to get busy with work just when Chuck Todd was going to be on answering questions live. Oh well I guess I'll just have to wait for him to show up on MSNBC TV later today. I'd really like to hear his take on if Obama would be smart to pick Clinton as his VP.

Go Obama 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:20 PM)

No matter how close behind Hillary finishes behind Obama, there's only one winner. Only ONE.

The winner of the Dem nomination has the right to choose their running mate. That choice does not belong to anyone else.

I will be sick if HRC is in any way on this ticket.

Michael Chicago (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:23 PM)

Mr. Todd,

Please eaxplain to me why it is Sen. Clinton quotes an actual Associated Press article where she refers to white working class voters --and is suddenly being accused - from multiple sides - of playing the race card?

When Sen. Obama, who I might ad, was not even quoting any report –simply spoke from his heart - stated ‘typical white people’ in his interview trying to explain his relationship with Rev. Wright – was NOT accused of racist statements. Not only this - but his remarks of “small town, gun totting – bible clinging voters with antipathy toward people who are not like them” IS NOT RACIST? What is up with the double standard? It is OK for Sen. Obama to refer to small town, typical white persons, who cling to guns or their religion with antipathy toward others that are not like them –WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?? And he spoke from the heart when he said this ---he was not quoting anyone like Sen. Clinton had and she is the one accused of playing the race card?

Someone PLEASE explain to me what exactly is up with the double standard here. Has anyone who actually voted for Sen. Obama --read his books? Didn’t think so…

As a Canadian --I am seriously beginning to question to judgments of the American voter. I mean, I understand that your country voted for Bush, not once, but twice but seriously, what’s up with the decision making processes here and the accusations cast upon candidates for political convenience? It is rather disturbing to see.

O Canada (Sent Monday, May 12, 2008 4:24 PM)

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