BOCA RATON, Fla.--When we first mentioned the possibility on March 5, it seemed impossible. For months, many Democrats simply laughed it off. She'd never accept, some said. He'd never offer, others replied. But near the end of his town hall at B’nai Torah synagogue this afternoon here in Boca Raton, Barack Obama dropped his strongest hint yet that he'd consider asking Hillary Clinton to--gasp!--join his ticket.

It came in response to a question from a man named Mike, a "50 year" resident of Pompano Beach. "I want to know if you'd consider everybody who is a possible help to you as a running mate," he said. "Even if his or her spouse is an occasional pain in the butt." Obama laughed. No names necessary; he seemed to get the drift. "Ah," he said. "I'm... well, look." Pause. Smile. Applause. "Look, look, look," he said, quieting the crowd. "We've got more work to do. Two more weeks to go. So I don't want to jump the gun." Then, suddenly, he warmed to the idea:

I can tell you this. My goal is to have the best possible government. And that means me winning. So, I'm very practical in my thinking. I'm a practical guy. One of my heroes is Abraham Lincoln. Awhile back, there was a wonderful book written by Doris Kearns Goodwin called 'Team of Rivals,' in which she talked about how Lincoln basically pulled all the people he'd been running against into his Cabinet. Because whatever personal feelings there were, the issue was, 'How can we get the country through this time of crisis?' I think that has to be the approach one takes to the vice president and the Cabinet.

If the "Lincoln in 'Team of Rivals'" reference sounds familiar, that's because it is. In a much-discussed London Times op-ed from May 4, prominent libertarian-conservative writer Andrew Sullivan made exactly the same comparison in support of a Democratic dream ticket. "There's... a way for Obama to explain this choice in a way that does not violate — and in fact strengthens — his core message," he wrote. "His model in this should be Abraham Lincoln. What Lincoln did, as Doris Kearns Goodwin explained in her brilliant book, "Team Of Rivals," was to bring his most bitter opponents into his cabinet in order to maintain national and party unity at a time of crisis. Obama — who is a green legislator from Illinois, just as Lincoln was — could signal to his own supporters in picking Clinton that he isn't capitulating to old politics, he is demonstrating his capacity to reach out and engage and co-opt his rivals and opponents." Incidentally, Sullivan is widely recognized as the mainstream blogosphere's most vocal Obama cheerleader--and Clinton's most vociferous critic. Obama is aware of his work. That the Illinois senator would describe his vice-presidential selection process by spouting the same argument as Sullivan--and citing the same book--strikes me as sign that Clinton is (at the very least) under consideration.

Even if no names were named.   

P.S. It's also worth noting that Obama didn't stop at Democrats--he's open to asking Republican rivals to join his team, too. "You know, my attitude is that whoever is the best person for the job is the person I want," he said. "If I really thought that John McCain was the absolute best person for the Department of the Homeland Security, I would put him in there." At this, an audience member shouted "No!"--but Obama didn't budge. "No, I would, if I thought that he was the best," he said. "Now, I'm not saying I do. I'm just saying that's got to be the approach that you take because part of the change that I'm looking for is to make sure that we're reminded of what we have in common as Americans."

Still, something tells us Tom Tancredo won't be serving as immigration czar anytime soon. 

UPDATE, May 23:  Yesterday in Boca, Obama hinted that he was open to the idea of Clinton as No. 2. Now some residents of Hillaryland are demanding it. Via Politico, CNN is reporting that there are "formal talks" underway to devise an exit strategy--and that Clinton sources say there would be a "civil war" if she wasn't offered the gig. Obama's David Axelrod, Bill Burton and Robert Gibbs all deny the report, but Clinton fundraising chief had this to say to TPM's Greg Sargent:

"There's a desire on the part of the party to come together under any circumstances, and Hillary and her supporters will do everything in their power to help Obama win, should he become the nominee, whether or not she's on the ticket," Nemazee said to me this morning. "But there's a risk that if she isn't invited on the ticket, Hillary's political and financial supporters may not feel compelled to be as integrated and involved in the Obama campaign in order to provide the maximum support that he'll need to prevail in November."

Developing, as they say...