Three is a crowd

Ever since, it has always seemed the better course of wisdom not to dismiss the possibility of rivals for the presidency ending up on the same ticket. It happened just four years ago, when John Kerry chose John Edwards as his running mate.

But with all necessary cautions, the talk of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama winding up as partners seems truly far-fetched.

I thought that was the case well before Monday, when Obama laboured to shoot down such speculation while campaigning in Mississippi. He was responding to a series of comments from both Clintons. The former president had speculated that together, his wife and Obama would be 8220;an almost unstoppable force.8221; Earlier, Hillary Clinton had remarked that she had heard people say of her and Obama, 8220;8216;I wish I could vote for both of you.8217; Well, that might be possible someday.8221;

Plainly irritated by the suggestion that he might need, or accept, a favour from his rival, Obama said Monday, 8220;I don8217;t know how somebody who8217;s in second place in delegates and popular votes is offering the vice presidency to somebody who8217;s in first place.8221;

Such vows are standard-issue rhetoric while the contest is still on. But judging from what I was told in a canvass of both the Clinton and Obama camps, there is good reason to believe this pairing will never occur. Even if the long campaign does not leave bruised personal feelings, practical considerations for both candidates argue strongly against such a deal.

For Clinton, partnering with Obama, with him on top of the ticket, would either leave her part of a defeated pair in a party that is not generous about second chances or, if they won, probably lock her out of a presidential run until 2016, when she would be 68 8212; almost John McCain8217;s age now.

Knowledgeable Democrats see at least two more-attractive options for her. One is to return to the Senate, where she is popular, well established and potentially in line to be majority leader, a position with real power. The other is to go back to New York, where Eliot Spitzer8217;s resignation from the governorship yesterday leaves a potential opening for a new candidate in 2010.

As for Obama, many of the same arguments apply 8212; with even greater force. He is less enamoured of the Senate than is Clinton, but it could provide a comfortable resting place for four or eight years. Or he could go back to Illinois and run for governor in 2010, when incumbent Democrat Rod Blagojevich would be up for a possible third term.

Obama would be a heavy favourite over Blagojevich or anyone else in a primary and over the nominee of the beleaguered Illinois GOP. And winning the governorship would provide the executive experience that may be the biggest gap in his resume.

But there is an even better reason for Obama to shun an offer from Clinton. With Bill Clinton poised to move back to the White House if his wife becomes president, the West Wing will be a miserably crowded place. There are almost always jealousies and tensions between the president8217;s staff and the vice president8217;s. But add in Bill Clinton8217;s ego and entourage, and serving there would truly be cruel and unusual punishment for Obama.