McCain gets the nomination.
The NYT wants Hillary to win. Badly.
So the Times (who has endoresed McCain BTW) will wait a few weeks from the election. Then the "October Surprise."
The NYT will lead out an expanded look at the Keeting 5 scandal. McCain is the only current Senator that was involved so he will naturally get the maximum scrutiny. Charges of corruption and intervention in investigations will lead to questions about McCain's character, credibility, and even honesty.
The NYT will then use the Duke Cunningham case to provide cover against the Vietnam War Hero shield. Afterall, if a bona fide war hero like the Duke can succome to corruption, then it is reasonable that McCain could also. This will also have the effect of tieing McCains name to Cunninghams (I can just see the Kos/DUers term now: McCunningham).
Then they will scrutinize every vote, every ammendment, every lobbiest contact McCain has ever made. Anything with even the hint of favouritism/corruption/impropriety will be blown out of proportion.
Naturally Hillary's scandals and corruption will NEVER be brought up (except by the Right Wing Conspiracy whose only goal will be a sexist hitjob to keep a woman from finally taking her 'rightful place' in history).The downfall to this:
If things keep going the way they are, neither Hillary nor Obama will have enough delagates to win...even after Hillary gets the DNC to allow the stolen delegates from Michigan and Florida to count. This will lead to the 800+ "super delegates" (and you know they are all closet Hillary people) to throw in with Hillary. This will instantly turn off the young and black voters that Obama has energized. They will see it as a betrayal and the white establishment keeping the blackman down. While these voters will never vote for a Republican, they will stay home and cost Hillary some 15million votes in November.
If Obama wins the nomination...game over.
As for a Clinton/Obama ticket...no way. While it would have been possible a few months ago, the Clinton's will never bring him on after daring to challenge Her. They are just to spiteful. If Obama wins, he knows Hillary is too much of a lightning rod with baggage and wants to use his excellent oratory skills to enthuse the crowds and challende the Repub...not waste time defending his running mate.
And I doubt Hillary would EVER accept the number 2 spot.
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