I'm getting away, slightly, from my favored position that Hillary will eventually be a vice-presidential nominee on the McCain ticket (provided there is actually an election), to a more nuanced question with, perhaps, a stronger foundation in reality.
I wondered today what Hillary got in exchange for her decision to suspend her campaign, endorse Obama and so on.
I don't think she's going to be given the vice-presidential slot...I don't think she wants to be veep, I don't think anybody wants Bill creeping around the White House anymore and I don't think Obama should be made to accept that the first black nominee can't pick his own VP...here's what I think she will get...
I suspect that Hillary will be named to Obama's vice-presidential search committee, or possibly put in charge of it. It would give her a say, and as long as she doesn't pull a Cheney and pick herself, it would get her back in good graces with the party and so on...give her a role to play that matters.
I suspect, further, that she'll be given some sort of cabinet-level position...god knows which one.
And I suspect that she will do a good job at both.
That said, who would she lean toward as VP material?
I really have no idea who she'd lean toward if she's dead-set on having a woman on the ticket and must be appeased. In that case, who might be some worthy candidates? What women does Hillary like, admire, work well with and so on? Or would she just pull a Cheney?
As for men, I'd guess that Bill Richardson might be a good nominee...good foreign policy experience, another minority with executive experience, progressive views with whom she seems to have a good repoire. John Edwards? Not so much, sad to say. How does Webb fare under such a scenario?
And to which cabinet position would she be best suited? Secy. of State? Or maybe she's not willing to be just a secretary...