I must be having a low mental day. Which Senator do you mean?

It would surprise me a lot if she ran as an independent. Just as you say, it could surely throw the election to McCain, and it would burn any bridges she hasn't already burned. The smart thing for her to do at this point (in my humble, of course) is to concede graciously and position herself for another run in 2012. It will shock me if Obama offers her the VP spot.

>I wonder if it's too late for her to get on the election in November as an independent? Afterall, it worked for another Senator in his home state... :o) Now THAT would be interesting. She and Obama would split the votes and McCain would win.
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>That possibility kind-of puts more weight into the benefit of a ticket with both Obama and Hillary...
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>>>>>>Hillary's 2012 campaign is about to begin ! You go girl !!!
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>>>>>>( cf Carter/Kennedy 1976 and 1980 - got a feeling if Obama wins after 4 years there will still be 'opportunity' in both parties)
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>>>>>I think she is on the verge of launching her version of the Masada.
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>>>>Can't picture that. She and Bill would be cutting a deal with the Romans and explaining how they'd really been big fans of the Romans all along and hey, anybody got a ham sandwich ...
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>>>The script so far has followed my predictions from late february / early march, up to weaseling at least some FL delegates into into those empty spaces called "their seats". I had expected Obama to lead by slightly less margin and not foreseen the gall of giving him delegates for nothing - which clearly is nothing but a counterweight drawn from sophistication and hot air. Hil is running now against the same rubber wall wall which protected hubby back in the last century: even reconnaissance in hairy jungles while married was not malodorous...
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>>>For me the best game plan left to her seems to be to force her into VP role and hope for the alternate US de-election schema happening to more leaders than in other countries. Reasons: She is getting older and after the failure of the "planned tour de force" directly from NY seat to whithe house seat I cannot fathom another campaign going well for her. McCain reached the nomination after unsuccessful tries, but her try was partly a side-step-entry and from my POV different and not repeatable.
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>>>As Obama has positioned himself nicely he probably cannot be forced to take her on without the threat of "superdelegates changing their opinions" - She must force him officially to "recognize the numbers" behind her current position she claims will still be on the ballot for Dems in November "with her helping the Democratic Party to the best of her ability". Starting from VP or (or Prez encumbant...) is the only chance I see for her to win a prez election (as if that were the target...). So "giving it a rest" while "keeping her options open" would be the her path to follow, while the best strategy for Obama's personal welfare might include naming a vice prez early: before the convention rush takes that opportunity out of his hands.
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>>Excellent analysis. I think you're right on the money about Hillary's motives and intentions at this point, i.e. the VP slot. I agree with Charles wholeheartedly that it would be madness to give it to her, but no one should doubt her resolve when she wants something. What's interesting is the attitude doesn't seem to have changed a bit. First she acted like the presidency was her entitlement. Now she seems to feel the vice presidency is, like all she has to do is snap her fingers and Obama damn well better give it to her. I fervently hope he doesn't. She and Bill are capable of wrecking an Obama presidency all by themselves if you let them inside.