There's a reason this idea refuses to die. At this point, it might have more to do with necessity than hope.
First, let me start off by stating that I am a Hillary supporter. Yes, I am a white man, but that is not the reason why. I simply value experience and I know she has it. I also know that it's a 2-for-1 deal with the Clintons, and I know that despite having 6 out of 8 years with a combative Congress almost literally out to lynch him, Bill Clinton provided me the best political and economic situation I could have hoped for. I want that back, and I know they will bring it back. With Barack it's a wildcard.
Hillary also just makes sense - she's been pushing the health care issues since the early 90's. She's tried and failed before - but usually failure is the best teacher. This time she'll get it done. I have more confidence in the Clintons bringing in a new technology into the economic fold than I have with Barack (Bill and Al brought/guided the Internet from research tool to profit-making machine during their presidency. As an Internet Engineer, even I didn't think the average person was going to get the Internet into their homes until 2010 when they took office.) I know Hillary can guide environmental technologies into a profitable economy as well.
I really like Barack Obama though. He brings with him a hint of heroes like Martin Luther King, Jr. Not just the personal charisma - which he excudes to an almost unnatural degree, but in the stances he's taking.
He brings a racial neutrality that neither Dr. King nor Jesse Jackson could ever have had - their policies were entirely rooted in civil rights issues - Barack's policies are convincingly widespread in economics, foreign policy, the environment, Iraq, and many other domestic issues. He has intelligently - shrewdly - left out race until now.
This one's going to be close. It looks very likely to my count that Hillary will win the popular vote (by taking fewer but bigger states) and Barack will take the normal delegate count (by taking more but smaller states). This one's definitely going down to the wire with 2 seconds left on the clock. Even if I'm wrong about Hillary taking the popular vote, it will have to be super delegates at this point who decide who takes the crown. And that will piss everyone off.
If the super-delegates pick Barack, a very good chunk of democrats won't vote. If they pick Hillary, a very good chunk of democrats won't vote. The numbers are probably more in favor of Barack than Hillary in this case - but that points as much to the continuing racial and youth divide. Policy-wise there's very little daylight between them, so we should all be able to unite behind whoever gets the nomination. The problem will be way too many hurt prides running around to do it. This is one area where the Republicans have us consistently beat - as Bill Clinton has said, "Republicans want to fall in line. Democrats want to fall in love." Will we have enough unity to overcome the Republicans? It will be very questionable at that point. In a year we should win by a landslide, it might come as close as the 2000 election.
Another Sword of Damacles hanging over the head of the party is the completely botched handling of Michigan and Florida. James Carville (who I really don't like all that much personally but often find myself agreeing with) has said if the party doesn't find a way to include Michigan and Florida, we will pay for it in the polls. He's right. Both states went for Hillary. Yes - I know Barack wasn't on the ticket in Michigan, but the numbers would have been the same if he had. Michigan is in the same mess - maybe worse - than Ohio. Almost all of our leadership - including the current and former Democratic governor, senators, and party leaders are behind Hillary. Run the election again - she'll still take 55% or more. Florida was a bit more fair in that everyone was at least on the ballot. Here again she took 50% to his 33%. I believe those numbers will hold true in a re-run. If neither state is seated in the convention, you can count us out in the General Election.
The numbers at the polls are overwhelming. More Democrats voted in the Texas primary than voted in the General Election in 2004 or 2000. For a PRIMARY! That tells you about the INCREDIBLE amount of PASSION behind these two candidates. And for all intents and purposes, Texas was split (Hillary taking the popular vote through primaries, Barack taking the delegate count through caucuses).
It's a tough call for most Democrats - which is very exciting. As exciting as Bill Clinton was - this is like "doubling your pleasure" with Hillary and Barack. The problem is (and will continue to be until the convention) choosing. I like chocolate and vanilla - why can't I have both?
[No, I will not apologize for that statement. Grow up if you're offended by it.]
The combined "Dream Team" ticket would not only eliminate the issues, but would direct all of the passion that we're seeing in the primaries into the General Election and well into the presidency. It would be a guaranteed landslide. We would get both Clintons and Barack and would truly unite the Democratic Party and ultimately, the American people. If Barack is truly committed to politics of inclusion, politics of unity, and politics of hope - he will accept a Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket.
A party divided against itself cannot stand. If we remain divided, which I believe will happen without a "Dream Team" ticket, we will yet again snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory.
(NB - Mario Cuomo has since come out with a similar position.)
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