She's the girl who never leaves him alone, the "stage-five clinger" from Wedding Crashers. The one he loves to date but never wants to get serious with, and every time he tries to get rid of her, she threatens to spread nasty rumors about him. She's the girl his mom wants him to marry, his grandmother admires and his factory-working dad thinks is smart, but not smart enough to feel threatened by. She's Hillary Clinton.
Barack Obama has a tough decision to make in choosing his running mate, and although recent reports suggest he has no intentions to choose the most powerful female political figure in U.S. history to stand by him, maybe he should think twice.
Even though Obama has recently tried to distance himself from having to select Hillary, a July 10 US News & World Report poll found 55 percent of registered democrats are in favor of a "dream ticket."
What's worse is that more than a month after Hillary suspended her campaign, more than 30 percent of her supporters say they aren't backing Barack.
His fundraising numbers are down while John McCain reported his highest ever for June.
Much has been said of change, experience and leadership during this election. Barack Obama has the unique opportunity to incorporate those three traits in his historic presidential bid by putting Hillary on the ballot.
She represents millions of blue-collar white voters and even more women. Her recent defeat humanizes her. Her knowledge of important issues like health care and her experience as a senator give her the credibility to be chosen.
Some argue that certain Americans won't vote for an Obama-Clinton ticket simply because of Hillary Clinton; I agree. But do you really think those same people will vote for the first black president who they've heard is an unpatriotic Muslim?
Others will claim Obama deserves to choose his own vice president. But whose campaign is this, Barack Obama's or the 35 million democrats who voted during the primaries, including the half who voted for Hillary Clinton?
And then there's Bill.
Some people think if Hillary Clinton were the vice president, Bill Clinton would be lurking around the White House sneaking up to Barack and whispering political policy poison into his ears.
Give me a break; he can't possibly be worse than Karl Rove.
Come on, didn't that calculated kiss on the cheek in Unity, N.H. leave you wanting more? Think of all the amazing press that dream ticket would get. Headlines like "Hillary and Obama together again" and "Obama and Hillary dance at rally." The photo-ops would be endless as they campaigned together in matching suits.
This election is Barack Obama's to lose, but in order to bring about the change he preaches, he needs to win. Even though Obama may not like Hillary, 18 million Americans do.
Barack, are you sure you know what the Clintons are capable of?
You know what they say: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Barack Obama chose correctly in speaking out against the Iraq War, so let's hope he uses the same judgment with his next important decision.
On June 7, 2008, Hillary Clinton suspended her presidential campaign.
"Although we weren't able to shatter this highest, hardest glass ceiling this time," she told supporters. "Thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it."
It'd be a shame to watch her strongest supporters shatter Obama's campaign.
Kevin Cirilli is a freshman majoring in political science and broadcast journalism and is The Daily Collegian's Wednesday columnist. His e-mail is knc5063@psu.edu.
