Obama and Clinton 2008 ?

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama appeared together in Unity, New Hampshire today in and effort to mend fences and to display that there is unity in the Party. It was a very polished and well coordinated appearance with all the right imagery and words being spoken. There was a somewhat self-depreciating Hillary and a gracious Barack standing together and working the mostly bussed in crowd. To the cynic it may have all appeared to be just a little too rehearsed and contrived but I believe that we may have just witnessed a new turn in this election.

Obama is still looking for a running mate and today may have very well have been a dress rehearsal for Clinton. They looked good together. The crowd liked them together. They said the right things together. Barack looked and sounded presidential. Hillary spoke glowingly of his strengths and she attacked McCain. She looked and sounded like a running mate. 

Several weeks ago I would have said that Obama would be crazy to have her as a running mate but after today I'm not so sure of that. Obama needs the 18 million people that supported Clinton to vote for him. Right now he only has 6 out 10 of her supporters in his camp. He needs her access to old Democratic money as much as she needs his help paying off her debts. Lets face it Bill Clinton is a great campaigner. The Clinton's can bring in lots of voters that may otherwise stay home in November. Yes, Bill Clinton comes with some baggage but we already know about it and for the most part never cared that much about it. We did vote him in twice. I also believe that Bill will not get in the way after the election either. He could continue to be the elder statesman of the party and a general goodwill ambassador, a role he is already playing.

What will Barack Obama do? I don't know but if today was a rehearsal for Hillary she aced it.