Pretty Polly

Your Humble Blogger was just polled. A telephone call, asked for me by (first) name, asked only two questions: which candidate did I intend to vote for in the February fifth Democratic primary, and how likely was it that I would, in fact, vote in the primary. I told them that I was undecided, but that I would certainly vote. Such is, in fact, the case. When asked, the pollster said that the poll was funded by Barack Obama’s candidacy. I am rather glad; I am leaning, slightly, toward casting a vote for the Illinois Senator, and I would rather his camp counted YHB as undecided (as it is), rather than in his camp. If it were the Senator from New York who had called, I would have preferred that they counted me amongst the Obama supporters. Had it been John Edward’s people, I might want them to count me among their candidate’s supporters, as I do support him and his campaign, although I may well not vote for the fellow in a week’s time.

I cannot defend or even explain these inclinations. Still, there they are.

I should stop this note there, but I am reminded of something odd, in a way, about this cycle, and I am too lazy to separate it out into a new entry, and have to think up a witty title and kicker. I was reminded by local pundit Colin McEnroe that Hillary Clinton has a chance to be a truly great Senator; the combination of brains, ruthlessness, clout, home state, connections and sheer luck as well as her lightning-rod cultural significance make her the likeliest to be a Teddy Kennedy for the next quarter-century. And, in thinking of that, it occurred to me how difficult it is to imagine Senator Clinton running second on a ticket. It might make sense, on one level, but seriously, there’s no possibility of that.

Barack Obama would be, in theory, a wonderful running mate, what with the youth and the eloquence and the campaign ability and all, but it seems unlikely that he would help Hillary Clinton. The other way around is just unthinkable. Also, John Edwards has outright ruled out accepting the second slot again, and in truth it’s hard to imagine how he would be the best choice for either of the other two candidates. Yes, there are others, but let’s concentrate on the top level for now, shall we?

On the Republican side, I could imagine the Senator from Arizona choosing the Governor of Massachusetts or the Governor of Arkansas; either would bring a sort of balance to the ticket, and shore up support where he is weakest. The other way around, though, is very difficult to imagine. John McCain is too old and too set in his Senatorial ways to accept a nomination, nor would such a nomination be seen as bringing experience and gravitas to a (relatively) youthful candidate.

All of this is not particularly to speculate about who the next Vice President will be, just to point out something about the candidates, and their relationships to each other, at least in Your Humble Blogger’s mind.

Tolerabimus quod tolerare debemus,
-Vardibidian.