AM New York June 4, 2008

By Matthew Sweeney, Emily Ngo and Lizzy Nielsen

msweeney@am-ny.com

9:59 PM EDT, June 3, 2008

As she inches toward stage left in the extended drama that the Democratic primaries has become, there are differing perspectives on what Sen. Hillary Clinton's next move will be.

Vice President Clinton? When talk spread leading up to Barack Obama's clinching of the Democratic nomination, those close to her let it be known that she would be open to playing second fiddle -- if it would help the party.

During a rally held last night at Baruch College in New York City, Clinton said she'd be meeting with top advisors and party leaders to decide what's next.

"I am committing to uniting our party stronger that ever so we can take back the White House this November," Clinton said.

Indirect as the concession was, it suggested that Clinton may be ripe for bargaining and still hopes to salvage something from the slugfest for the nomination. "It might be a good opportunity to work with the Democratic party and craft a really good healthcare platform that the nominee will take into the campaign and hopefully, the White House," said Basil Smikle, political analyst and former aide to Clinton's Senate campaign.

A cabinet appointment. Support for her health care proposal. These are some of the other prizes Clinton may be dealing for before she officially concedes the nomination and agrees to be an enthusiastic Obama backer, political insiders contend.

"This is certainly not the end of the road for Hillary's political career," said Costas Panagopoulos, Director of the Center for Electoral Politics and Democracy at Fordham University. "She is a competent and dedicated public servant and she would be on the short-list for any number of positions."

Not so fast, others argue.

"Losers aren't in a position to demand anything," said Keli Goff, a political analyst and author of "Party Crashing: How the Hip Hop Generation Declared Political Independence."

"There's going to be some time where the Clintons are going to have to acknowledge what they haven't had to for 20 years: that someone else beat them," Goff said. "For them it's about determining long term what role they have in this new ballgame."

Then again, maybe it's Obama who needs to extend his hand at this moment, not Clinton.

"She's the most important person in Barack Obama's life and he needs to realize that right now," said Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf.

She dominated him in the Midwest and among blue-collar, rural and Hispanic voters. Obama needs Hillary on the campaign trail, said Sheinkopf, who worked on President Bill Clinton's 1996 campaign. Already yesterday, there were reports of Republicans reaching out to Clinton supporters and the Obama campaign's interest in recruiting her fundraisers.

"Getting her out there for him is very important," Sheinkopf said.