Why the GOP Needs Hillary

Barring a series of stunning upsets on Super Tuesday and beyond, John McCain seems to be the certain nominee for the GOP. Not that upsets can't happen. Every new primary brings to light public opinion polls that have proven to be widely inaccurate prior to the actual voting day. However, given the fact that Rudy is gone, and has since endorsed McCain, and the slew of other big name endorsements that McCain has received (including the Governator) it seems that the Straight Talking Express is on the path to victory. Victory in the primaries, yes, November may be a different story.

So why does John McCain need Hillary? He needs her to be the Democratic nominee because she's beatable. If Barack gets the nomination then it becomes a contest of experience versus a wave of change. Given the state of the economy and the public's disenchantment with Washington, I believe that the wave will become a tsunami and that the GOP will be swept out to sea.

On the other hand, Hillary represents old school politics and disappointment for a large block of democratic voters. Young and minority voters want Barack. If Hillary gets the nod then I believe they will stay home in November. And stay home in record numbers. Conversely if Hillary is the nominee, the GOP base will turn out in droves, not because they love McCain, which they clearly do not, but because they can't stand the thought of Hillary Clinton as President of the United States.

The GOP has always been adept at picking running mates that appeal to voters outside of the core constituency of the nominee. Big George called Ronald Reagan's fiscal ideas "voodoo economics". That didn't stop him from accepting the Veep spot. After all he became the first sitting Vice-President to win the Presidency since Martin Van Buren followed Andrew Jackson. That's a strong argument for getting in line. I wonder if Mike Huckabee has any problem with that? I doubt it. Think Barack would play second fiddle to Hillary? Not a chance. No way.