Approximately 17% of Obama's backers say they will either not vote or vote for McCain if Clinton is the Democratic Nominee. Then again approximately 25% of Clinton's backers say they will either not vote or vote for McCain if Obama is the Democratic Nominee. (Exit Polls show a Strong Divide Among Democrats) Of Course - the clouds will clear and the sun will shine and angels will sing from the heavens when the candidate is finally selected. Those 25% and 17% of voters will of course change their mind and fall into line and full heartedly support the candidate whoever it is - right? Not so fast - not going into who I support but I can tell you if the other candidate is selected it would be very very hard to get me to support them. So what should we do?
The way I see it there are three options (of course I'm wrong there are a myriad of options all of which will result in the Democrats walking away with 49 states in the GE and a 80% popular vote) which can pull the party and America together.
1.) A Clinton/Obama Ticket - The die hard Clintonista's get their way and America gets 8 years to get used to Obama. Obama backs the ticket whole heartedly and convinces all his supporters that change can happen with Clinton as president. Likelyhood - slim to none.
2.) An Obama/Clinton Ticket - The die hard Clintonista's see they wont get it all and settle for the second seat. Obama recognizes he will need Clinton to bring her voters with her and decides the "baggage" is worth it. Likelyhood - barely more likely that option 1.
3.) The party coalesces around a ticket with another candidate on top and Clinton or Obama in the second seat. (Edwards/Clinton, Gore/Obama etc.) Likelyhood - Until the negativity in the past 30 days I'd have said nigh on to impossible. Now I'm not so sure it would not be the best option.
So go ahead and eviscerate me and tell me what an idiot I am and how there's no way it could be anyone but your particular candidate but while you're doing it at least think about that 17% and 25% because it's real. Those people may well be serious - I am. The only way I would support candidate "B" as the candidate is if candidate "A" was second on the ticket and gave a very very strong plea to pull together - and it would be difficult even then. Who knows perhaps one or the other of the candidates actually believes that this third candidate option is the way to win in November. In any event - Have at me.