Last week's Question of the Week asked whether Barack Obama should pick Hillary Clinton as his vice-presidential running mate. Nearly three out of four people responding thought not.

Among 1,047 responses to this unscientific survey, 778 said he should not do so, while 269 thought he should.

Some readers' responses:

n No. Hillary is too controversial, comes with too much baggage (including husband Bill) and would be like a bull in a china shop if she were that close to the president and the White House. I'm sure Barack and Hillary can find some government position that will suit her talents and ambitions, but vice president should not be it.

n Hillary may not become the first female president of the United States, but she also would make history as the first woman vice president. She is an incredibly smart, experienced and talented person who would be a tremendous asset to the country, not to mention Obama's election chances. After all, as she keeps saying, she did receive 18 million votes!

n No. If Barack Obama is going to have any chance of success against John McCain in the November election, then he must make a clean break with all previous presidential administrations and not place Hillary Clinton on the Democratic ticket as his vice-presidential running mate. Having the former First Lady and her husband involved in his campaign would alienate a very large percentage of voters who are yearning for the very change which he advocates.