Clark would lose his credibility (of which he has a great deal) if he bailed just to get a nice job.  Plus, I've heard from a knowledgeable source that he's got a good shot at being Hillary's VP if she makes it all the way.

for one candidate and then jump to another.  I very much doubt this.

He's pledged himself to Hillary, and put all his apples in her basket.  He will do what he can to help Hillary, and make a big push towards Obama only after he wins.  Again, it'll be tough, but possible.

I could see how this rumor could get started, however.  There certainly are a LOT of Clark fans, and with Obama's momentum, maybe some of his supporters are nervous he won't be in major contention for the nomination.  Thus starts the rumor.

Do you have any reliable sources on this statement?  I seriously doubt it because Clark has no need to make a big push to anyone.  He's made public comments that indicate, even after he's advised all the candidates at one time or another, he feels Obama is not the one with the best judgement to take on our very serious foreign policy and global issues.  Why in the world would he then push to join Obama as VP?  Clark has no need to fulfill an ego just to be anyone's VP.

This rumor is a bunch of malarky.  

Clark would be on anyone's short list for Veep, regardless of who he supports.  Just because he's on Obama's list doesn't mean Obama expects him to switch allegiance to seal the deal.

Clark is probably on every Democratic candidates' short list of Veep nominees because with his mixture of military and diplomatic experience he's a perfect ticket "balancer" for everyone except maybe Richardson and Biden, who can claim impressive foreign policy credentials on their own.

Clark is probably near the top for Clinton, especially after his strong support (he's probably top 3).  He may be on Obama's list, but I'd be people like Jim Webb are much higher.

At least until Democratic control of the Senate is assured.  At the moment, Jim Webb's playing jersey bears the number "51."  Kaine can appoint a Democrat, but only until the next election.  The risk that we would loose the seat is too great.  No Democratic President wants to deal with a Republican Senate.

is a Republican.  I seriously doubt that Kaine would allow that to happen.

with Webb running for Veep and Kaine appointing himself to fill the Senate vacancy.  I thought this failed for the same reason (Bill Bolling).

Still, it's worth remembering that Kaine and Obama are very close.

He could pick someone who would merely be a place-holder until he leaves the Governor's mansion. I think he should appoint Doug Wilder. Because of his age, Wilder would decline to run for re-election and Kaine could run for the open seat.

and, given the size of Doug Wilder's ego, I wouldn't count on anything resembling "quiet".  This is the same man who has dallied for several statewide campaigns now seeing how many times candidates would kiss his ring before he condescended to make a last minute endorsement.

I can, however, see a US Senate vacancy as one way out of the waste of money and goodwill that will be the Moran-Deeds primary fight in 2009.

You all really think Tim Kaine is out reguarly busting his rump in Iowa for Kaine just because Obama is "a good friend?"  He's playing for #2.  Cabinet position at the absolute minimum.  

The VP rumor is eminating from people who know such things...

I wouldn't say he's "busting his rump." Tom Daschle or Gen. Clark are better examples of someone busting their rump for a candidate. I just think Obama's going to pick someone with a longer resume than someone like Kaine.

I think just being rumored to be on Obama's short-list is Kaine's reward for endorsing him so early. That was Tom Vilsack's reward in 2004 for helping Kerry win Iowa. Vilsack never really had a chance at being Kerry's runningmate. But by throwing his name out there it raised Vilsack's profile significantly in preperation for a White House run of his own in 2008.

Neither has strengths to complement the other, particularly foreign policy, military, or global networks.  They'd get creamed on this resume gap.

Really. No one. People may vote against a presidential candidate who makes a spectacularly bad VP pick, but no one is going to push the button for Number Two, except perhaps Number Two and his/her spouse.

Balance only matters to political junkies who need something to talk about. Al Gore brought no balance to Bill Clinton's ticket, and yet they did well enough.

Kaine fits in Obama's comfort zone, as a working partner and potential successor. I suspect that will count just as much as "balance" when the time comes for the nominee to make a decision, whoever that nominee may be.

Clark has too much integrity to jump ship like the alleged rumor is suggesting.  I do think he would be a great V.P., for any of our potential nominees, except, as one of the comments written above, for Richardson and Biden.  

The rumor I heard a while back was that if Democratic Representative John Lewis, GA, decided to make a run for the presidency, the General would have run on a Lewis-Clark ticket, promising to find a route to the White House.

Of course, my rumor may not be as correct as the scenario where a straight-up guy like Wesley Clark would leave Hillary for Barack after both Clintons had supported him in the past.

that Obama's campaign dangled the carrot.  That does not mean that Clark is likely to take the bait.  If Clinton drops out, the calculation obviously changes, but at this point the primary race is very much up for grabs.

Based on Clark's expressed support for Clinton I see him as the most likely VP candidate (and yes, I think there probably was some sort of quid pro quo in exchange for support -- this is not to say that Clark's sentiments regarding Clinton are insincere).  Regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination, I hope to see Clark back in public service as a high ranking federal official.  I think he would make an outstanding Secretary of State.

What are they, afraid of Clark's influence?  Trying to get him off the playing field?  Not gonna happen.

And here's why:  If you read Clark's A Time to Lead, you'll learn that one of his major criteria for successful leadership is performance -- a history of getting it done.  I'm admittedly mindreading here, but as a long-standing Clark fan dating from the Draft Clark days and one who still tries to read everything he writes and hear everything he says and has traveled all over the country to see him and meet fellow Clarkies, I'm confident that he would find Obama's record of performance too thin to jump ship.

Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO

If Obama wins the nomination, Clark can still be a potential Obama VP, because support for Clinton's ended candidacy becomes a moot point.  In fact, what better way to unite the separate factions after what could be a bloody primary fight?

Sure you could make the argument that Obama should pick an early supporter, but as much as we love Tim Kaine, he doesn't add much to the ticket, other than winning Virginia (which may not be a problem for us this time anyway).  In light of what Kaine wants to do with pre-K and now the $1.65B bond for college improvements, he'd be a great Secretary of Education.

Anyhow, I hope Obama wins, and I hope Obama picks Clark as his running mate.

I agree why does Clark have to leave the Clinton camp.  If Obama gets the nod I think Clark would be an ideal running mate.  Would be a great tonic to take away any bitterness from Clinton supporters perhaps.  And how much better foreign policy credentials could a tandom get?  I think they are perfect compliments.  There is no rule that the VP and the President have to be chums they just have to work together and campaign together... there is no love lost b/w Gore and Clinton.  In my mind that is a dream matchup for November and hope for it everyday.  Obama/Clark 08 it has such a nice ring to it.