Since John Edwards is out of the way, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama are making nice. Each is running for President and Vice President, simultaneously. Since Mr. Ewards is no longer a factor, they don't have to worry about the possibility of him coming in second and not willing to be a VP candidate again.
I hope that Edwards will not just go by the wayside, lay down and die. His message is important, and it should inform debate on the Democratic side. While both viable candidates pay lip-service to his message, I'm not sure either one really gets it.
Of the two left, Obama is probably the most experienced with overcoming the adversity that Edwards campaigned on. Yale may prepare you for some things, but understanding poverty is not one of them. Until you've gone without eating or worn beat-up clothes and shoes simply because you can't afford anything else, you don't know about it.
Still, idealism does not always translate into action. For day to day issues, the President has very little control. At best he or she can propose legislation and veto legislation. That's about it.
To get action, the future president will need strong support in the legislature. Clinton has been around long enough to form those alliances and create a network of legislative supporters.
It's a toss-up. I find myself torn between the idealism of Obama and the practicality of Clinton. Both qualities, in a sincere and informed incarnation, have been missing for the past 7 years.
I'm hoping that one of the two will present themself as both in the coming months.
Regardless, neither has ruled out the possibility of running as a VP. And polls have shown that ticket with either of them as President with the other as VP would be hard to beat.
So they're making nice. They both realize that either one could make history and that the two of them could make history together.
The Republicans are going to continue to be brutal, but I'm expecting a more congenial tone on the Democratic side. Attacks don't work so well in a one-on-one race. And neither wants to throw away the chance to be the first black or woman Vice President.
It's six of one and half a dozen of the other from where I sit.
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