A tale of two headlines: Veepstakes

Clinton plans to hit trail with Obama

Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton will campaign together next Friday, the first joint public event for the former rivals, as the senator from New York returns to the political scene following her defeat in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Clinton has shunned most public appearances since her departure from the race on June 7. She resurfaced Wednesday to attend services for Meet The Press host Tim Russert, and she is expected to appear at a pair of events with Obama late next week.

On Thursday night, Clinton will introduce Obama to a group of her top donors at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, a bid to smooth relations between her supporters and the presumptive Democratic nominee. She is also scheduled to speak to the National Association of Latino Elected Officials earlier in the day.

Hagel would consider Obama VP offer

"If it would occur, I would have to think about it," [Sen. Chuck] Hagel [R, Nebraska] said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I think anybody, anybody would have to consider it. Doesn't mean you'd do it, doesn't mean you'd accept it, could be too many gaps there, but you'd have to consider it."

Hagel said Friday that he and Obama also have differences.

"But what this country is going to have to do is come together next year, and the next president is going to have to bring this country together to govern with some consensus," Hagel said.

He hasn't endorsed Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumed Republican nominee, whom he calls a friend. Hagel said he hadn't thought about who to vote for in November.

Okay, look, I'm not really all that interested in the whole veepstakes thing, for Obama or McCain. In the end, I don't think it makes all that much difference one way or the other. But it seems to me that a certainty that one will vote for the nominee is the Mendoza Line of qualification criteria for being considered. Really, I think anyone who hasn't pledged by now to work his or her keester off to get the nominee elected should be dropped from whatever unofficial short list is being bandied about. I'm neutral on the question of whether or not an Obama-Clinton ticket is a good idea - having Hillary Clinton as the VP choice would have its pluses and minuses, just as any other choice would - but if that's what she wants, she's at least going about it the right way. Hagel, not so much. So please, national media, the next time Sen. Hagel talks about this, just say "That's nice, Chuck", and go about your business. Whatever his merits, he is not, and should not be, a genuine contender.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on June 21, 2008 to The making of the President