Democratic insiders are working feverishly to find an acceptable resolution of the conflict that now divides the party faithful. To see the wounds that bitterly fought, hotly contested primaries leave, Democrats need look no further than the Republicans. The fact is that Republican Presidential presumptive nominee Senator John McCain has yet to recover from the deep political wounds that remain from the 2000 Republican Primary (much less those inflicted anew in 2008).
No matter what they say about coming together, no one really doubts the serious implications from contentious intra-party fights. Some disheartened supporters for one candidate or the other may actually threaten to cross party lines to inflict political retribution by voting for the other party’s nominee. However, the more likely risk is that key disenfranchised groups lose their zeal for participation in the general election once their first choice loses.
In the real world of general elections, rallying the base is as important as wooing marginal independent voters. Democrats and Republicans know this. As a result, both candidly fear that the stage has been set for at least one of their core groups to sit it out in November 2008 - just when they need them the most.
Already, Republicans fear that social conservatives and immigration activists will not be excited about Senator McCain. Democrats fear diminished enthusiasm from either African-Americans or women, depending on the who loses the Democratic Presidential Primary.
Republicans do have the hope (as fool hearted as it is) that there is a magical Vice Presidential candidate who can energize the right, secure the south, and deliver diversity without jeopardizing electability. For Democrats, the candidacies have become so personality driven that many believe that anything other than their choice (either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton) will never be good enough.
Of course, this does not stop political insiders from trying. Some of the possibilities are interesting. For example, there are rumors of deals floating in backrooms of Washington, D.C. of a “managed exit” strategy for the losing Democratic candidate which does not involve the losing candidate joining the Presidential ticket as the political runner up. Probably the most intriguing suggestion involves a “quadfecta”
(like a trifecta - except four candidates) of sorts for Democratic voters.
The lynchpin of this ultimate political deal is Democratic Majority Leader - Senator Harry Reid. Currently, he manages the Majority Conference in the United States Senate. However, in recent years, he has had some significant health issues. More significantly, many Senate Democrats have become openly frustrated with his inability to more effectively control the Senate where Democrats hold a clear voting majority.
If Senator Reid announced that he was stepping down as the Senate Majority Leader, then there would be a rather powerful and prestigious opening for either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama that does not involve the Vice Presidential slot.
Significantly, with twenty-two Senate Republican seats at play in 2008 (five of which involve vacancies due to retirements), the next Democratic Senate Majority Leader could actually have some real power to move an agenda in the U. S. Senate. Hence, it is a plum that would get sweeter thus increasing its appeal as a meaningful plan “B.” (Of course, this is exactly the kind of deal that Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean could facilitate.)
Putting all the pieces together, the ticket would be (assuming Senator Obama’s commanding delegate lead holds up): President – Illinois Senator Barack Obama; Vice-President - New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (or some other Latino equivalent); House Speaker - San Francisco Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi; Senate Majority Leader – New York Senator Hillary Clinton.
Under this scenario, everyone gets something. African-Americans get the first nomination of a major political party. The important latino community (which everyone agrees is necessary to any successful general election strategy) gets the nomination for the Vice President of the United States. Women get control of the entire legislative branch of the federal government with the top jobs in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
It would be tantamount to the “dream ticket.” The only question would be the “dream ticket” for whom? - Democrats, Republicans, or both. (Of course, the dreams of some can be the nightmares of others.)