Well, if we take age into consideration, Edwards should be the first one to serve, since in 2016, Barack will be the same age that John is this year. We'd be able to enjoy the special gifts of both leaders in their prime years. What could be better for America?
Would any of Barack Obama's current supporters be required to give up anything, in the long run? No, not at all. They'd still get Barack Obama, the first black American to serve as President of the United States, as long as they can expect to be around for the next 10 years or so. Indeed, if Barack were spend the next 8 years as John's VP, he would be virtually guaranteed to become America's first black President.
Would he lose anything in his ability to lead? Hardly. There is not a better high-profile position he could occupy for the next 8 years than as the eloquent VP of the John Edwards administration. The way I see it, Barack Obama future as President would be virtually guaranteed if he were to accept a position on the Edwards ticket. The celebration could begin in Novermer 2008.
But how about doing it the other way around? Well, I'm quite sure that there is absolutely no way the Democratic Party hierarchy would accept Edwards on the 2008 ticket, especially because John was already on a losing ticket as a VP candidate just four years ago. Nobody gets a second chance like that. There would be a strong fear that the pairing might be perceived as 'tainted.'
I feel quite certain that if Barack were to go first, we'd have to give up on a John Edwards Presidency. Nevertheless, that is the choice we would have to make if it was quite clear that there are good reasons why we must have Obama now, instead of later. Is there anything that we believe Obama could achieve that John Edwards could not achieve [with Barack at his side]? I don't see it.
THE REPUBLICAN NEMESIS
All this to say that, if John is able to make a surprise showing today and in the next few weeks, then Barack Obama may have a chance to become a hero of the Democratic Party by agreeing to serve as John Edward's VP even if he has more delegates than Edwards as we go into the convention. With such a dramatic move, he would guarantee his future as President of the United States and guarantee that the Democratic party will enjoy Majority Party status for perhaps a couple of generations.
If John goes first, we get them both. If Barack has to go first, then we lose Big Time...
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