Obama's VP?

I think that Hilary is back in the picture. Long shot, sure, but Obama has been more than coy in recent weeks. His appearances and visits with Tim Kaine and Evan Baye have been designed to create buzz about the VP pick and it's been very successful. The chattering class has been giving their very important opinions about each and how they might help Obama.

This is called controlling the message. Obama's team has been incredibly gifted at controlling the cable news cycle, drowning out any message that McCain wants to get out. It is impossible to overstate how effective this tactic has been. Leaking out cancelled events and meeting times, campaign events juggled to suggest breaking news, and all this without overt manipulation. Obama is demonstrating that soft power can be extremely effective.

Which got me thinking. Conventional wisdom is that an Obama/Clinton ticket can't work, that neither trusts the other completely. What if the CW is wrong? Can you imagine if the VP pick is kept under wraps until the convention? Now imagine that the pick will be announced at the convention - in prime time. Ratings would be unbelievable. And if Obama and Clinton walk out on stage together to make this announcement, it would be an incredible political moment.

Now, there are many downsides to this ticket, no doubt. Count me as one who distrusts the Clintons immensely, but if Obama and Clinton can mend their fences and come together, it could be an unbeatable ticket.