Hillary Clinton Back on the Democratic Ticket? Bet On It

Sportsbook.com, the largest US-facing online bookmaker, is said to be considering offering odds on whether Hillary Clinton will be replacing Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket as Senator Barack Obama's running mate.

Gambling911.com reporter Carrie Stroup has been in communication with Sportsbook.com marketing to confirm the odds offering some time Monday or Tuesday. The Company has been offering betting on which candidate will win the November US Presidential election in addition to wagering on each state's electoral college. Sportsbook.com will provide one of the most accurate reads on voting for each state as the Election nears since the online gambling site is arguably the largest in terms of overall customer volume.

The Hillary Clinton for Joe Biden scenario has come up following news that McCain has taken a 4 point lead in some polls.

By Thursday, the online prediction markets and bookmakers had Obama and McCain neck and neck for the most part.

Sportsbook.com  still offered generous odds on Obama at press time. He was listed at -160 whereas most bookmakers had him at -115 or even odds. McCain still paid $120 for every $100 bet compared to even odds elsewhere.

"I think overall Joe Biden is well liked but the Republican party had a good point when they noted he received less votes in the primaries when he was running for President than Sarah Palin received when she was running for Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska," points out Gambling911.com Senior Editor and Political Analyst, Payton O'Brien, who has been widely quoted in such publications as Chief Executive Magazine. There O'Brien expressed just how essential it was to have Clinton involved in this process. "This is one of those rare occasions where I just don't think Obama had a choice of who he could have as his running mate. It was way too close. Millions of voters turned out for Hillary during the Primaries and a great many of these people feel that Obama has discarded these folks."

The argument has also been that Obama would not want to take a back seat to Hillary Clinton. Strategically, McCain appears to be feeding off of this perception by showing he can take a back seat to his running mate, the now very high profile Sarah Palin.

Fueling the speculation of a Joe Biden for Hillary Clinton swap, former President Bill Clinton was reported to have met with Senator Obama this week while in New York.

Palin herself told ABC News' Charles Gibson in an exclusive interview Thursday night that even she regretted Hillary not being on the ticket.

I think he's regretting not picking her now, I do. What, what determination, and grit, and even grace through some tough shots that were fired her way -- she handled those well," the Alaska governor Gibson.

Joe Biden has also gone on record as saying that Hillary Clinton may have been a better running mate choice.

Speaking at rally in New Hampshire on Wednesday, Mr Biden said: "Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice-president of the United States of America. Let's get that straight."

He continued: "She's a truly close personal friend...quite frankly, it might have been a better pick than me. But she's first rate, I mean that sincerely, she's first rate."

One scenario: Biden steps down in the wake of the Russia/Georgia hostilities. The idea being that Biden could best serve the country as Secretary of State.

That said, Payton O'Brien believes Biden will have the upper hand over Palin.

"I think he (Biden) will do very well in a debate with Sarah Palin and this could give the Democratic party more momentum," she said. "Although I believe a Clinton/Palin debate would be a ratings behemoth."

And with that said, many Clinton supporters are now looking ahead to 2012 at a Clinton/Palin showdown....for President of the United States.

One supporter had this to say:

"I am embedded with Hillary-supporting PUMAs in a forum of 5000 members. Not one of them indicates they want Hillary to be Obama's VP. In fact, they want Hillary to have nothing to do with the stench that has become the Obama campaign, and would prefer the Dems to get a big kick in the posterior this election and giver her the top spot in 2012. If the Democrat leadership is angling to get Hillary into the second spot, they better be prepared to giver her all that she asks (and she will be asking for quite a lot)."

There is still time for Hillary Clinton to replace Joe Biden on the ticket. The deadline is the first week in October.