The same unfounded sense of entitlement that may have cost Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) the presidential nomination could cost her the No. 2 spot on the ticket as well, according to Democratic strategists.

They note that Clinton’s defiant speech in the face of defeat Tuesday night, coupled with her continued presence in a campaign that has moved past her, could disqualify the one-time Democratic front-runner from a chance at the vice presidency.

Her speech, in which she didn’t acknowledge Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) win but emphasized the 17 million people who voted for her, was far short of what most analysts say she needed to do if she truly wants to be Obama’s running mate.

And the fact that she was still in the race Wednesday morning, with the nomination fight clearly decided, obviously rankled several Democratic leaders as well.

But Obama made it clear he is the presumptive nominee and that he’s looking forward to campaigning against presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).

His decision to move forward while ignoring Clinton and whatever leverage she has — or had, as the case may be — could cost Clinton more than the vice presidency; it could put her in the Democratic club of the invisible also-ran.

“She runs the risk of making herself irrelevant at some point, but she’s not there yet,” one strategist said. “She still has a chance to do the right thing.”

And early Wednesday morning, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean released a statement urging the remaining uncommitted superdelegates to make their decisions known by Friday.

That impatience, likely amplified by Obama supporters already wary of the Clintons, stems from a familiar complaint against the New York senator and former President Bill Clinton — that they felt all along it was Clinton’s “turn” to be the nominee and they are unwilling to let go of that belief.

One strategist who is a Clinton supporter bristled at the notion she is being ungracious, attempting to steal Obama’s thunder or even angling for leverage to be on the ticket.

“Those who so happily talk about Hillary Clinton’s chances for VP are probably the same who tried to write her epitaph in January,” the strategist said. “I’m guessing Clinton did not intend to step on Obama’s night but just wanted to thank her supporters. She deserves the chance to exit gracefully, which I think she will soon.”

Media reports at press time indicated Clinton will bow out on Friday.

The decision to select Clinton is already complicated by a nomination battle that was oftentimes bitter and included the involvement of a former president who was at best unpredictable throughout the race.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) Photo by Benjamin J. Myers

“With the animosity between the two of them [Clinton and Obama], she just gave him the back of her hand,” one strategist said of Clinton’s actions following Obama’s victory.

What’s more, several strategists doubted that Tuesday’s leak of a phone call in which Clinton indicated her openness to the VP slot was accidental. They noted traditionally it is considered poor form to be seen as campaigning for the job.

“She is not endearing herself to Obama and his team right now,” an unaffiliated Democratic strategist said. “She is also hurting her cause by putting him in a corner — she’s not giving him an acceptable public way to pick her as his No. 2 while still looking like a strong No. 1 — independent and not coerced.”

For many strategists contacted for this story and quoted only on the condition of anonymity, the reason for her behavior on election night and the day after went back to the Clintons’ long-held belief that she was owed the nomination.

Obama often referenced that sense on the stump when he first started to ratchet up his attacks on Clinton last year.

“I am not running for this office to fulfill any long-held plans or because I believe it is somehow owed to me,” Obama often said.

Another strategist who supports Clinton, but called Tuesday night’s speech self-indulgent, said the clock is ticking.

“I think she’s got 24 hours to fix this,” the strategist said. “The best way to become vice president is not to pressure anybody, it’s to do everything she can to elect Barack Obama president of the United States.”

Democratic leaders do not relish a further fight over the No. 2 slot when the fight for the No. 1 slot has already raised serious questions about divisions in the party. So leaders went out of their way Wednesday to praise Clinton to keep the existing fissures from growing bigger.