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Who Will Obama Pick for VP?

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Originally I thought

Submitted by Lisa on Sat, 06/07/2008 - 11:34.

Originally I thought Richardson was the no-brainer because Obama desperately needs some help in the foreign policy department, and Obama has struggled mightily with the Hispanic/Latino voters throughout the primary season

But now we see from Gallup polling that Barack is taking McCain to the cleaners with the Hispanic vote, so I think that brings a Strickland or a Webb/Clark into the picture. I would put Clinton's odds at <5%, and Bayh and Biden at <1%.

Shouldn't Sebelius be on the list? Hillary's not the only woman around.

he's gonna look for grey hair

Submitted by Ironman on Sat, 06/07/2008 - 11:56.

Don't discount Chris Dodd. he's as party establishment as they come and a buddy of the Kennedys. And he is a lefty who can talk foreign policy.

On an electoral basis, I could see Tim Kaine (young and allegedly moderate) or Ed Rendell ( he can;t win without PA) being seriously considered.  Rendell also ballasts the ticket with Clintonistas, Jews and older voters

I'd replace Webb with Bayh

Submitted by Prester John on Sat, 06/07/2008 - 12:48.

Remember, Webb worked for Reagan and was actually in the USMC, and therefore his political loyalties are suspect.   Bayh is the son of a well known Dem senator from a red state. 

Bayh or Clark with Strickland as the darkhorse.

The two liabiliies you

Submitted by Lisa on Sat, 06/07/2008 - 12:59.

The two liabiliies you suggest for Webb are what I would consider to be strengths for Obama' ticket. The real liability I see for Webb is the recurring allegations of sexism and misogyny. Obama absolutely has to pick up the female vote, and he can't afford that kind of risk.

Webb is a huge loose cannon

Submitted by Ironman on Sat, 06/07/2008 - 13:35.

who won because after "macacca" Allen had no credibility in the gaffe department

Webb VP = Crackpipe

Submitted by Patrick Ruffini on Sat, 06/07/2008 - 16:37.

1) He hates campaigning and is a terrible speaker.

2) He doesn't bring along Virginia. He's a political misfit with no real base in the state who only won because of George Allen's blunders.

3) He doesn't like taking orders and would probably resign after 8 months. I think he's said as much himself. He was Reagan's Navy Secretary for like 11 months before quitting.

Substitute Wes Clark and you have the military / Clintonista angle covered. My VP frontrunners are Clark or Bayh with Brian Schweitzer as a dark horse. 

I'm thinking Clark is likely,

Submitted by Lisa on Sat, 06/07/2008 - 16:45.

I'm thinking Clark is likely, too, if he'll accept.

Haven't heard Bayh mentioned as a short-list candidate.

I can't imagine Schweitzer getting the nod. When a Montanan makes a presidential ticket, I'll eat my hat or something hyperbolic like that.

He's going to look for a weak personality with the right look.

Submitted by aberman on Sat, 06/07/2008 - 20:12.

First, he can't do Hillary Clinton: "Ms. Clinton, you said during the primaries that Obama is not fit to lead. We're you stating the truth then or now?" Which also means no women.

Now I'm working on the assumption that he has no inner strength-- his meal ticket is his image and other than that, he's a loyal footsoldier not leader.  So he would shy away from strong personalities (exit Jim Webb), and go with people who will help him win.  That means someone with the right "look" and the right "voting record," but not someone who has the courage of his or her convictions. So no Jim Webb or - God Forbid - someone with actual leadership experience like Wesley Clark or a governor.  So who's the most conservative Democrat Senator or Congressman who isn't Joe Lieberman?

 

Evan Bayh scares the hell out of me

Submitted by Czarmangis (not verified) on Sat, 06/07/2008 - 20:53.

Simply because he is the perfect candidate in demeanor and appearance. That is all it takes for the Democrats to rush to stuff the ballot boxes. Hell, I've even felt pulled towards considering him as POTUS material in the past. Keep your eyes on this one because he may be a Dem but he sure isn't a Moonbat.

 

Tim Kaine

Submitted by Soren Dayton on Sun, 06/08/2008 - 17:04.

Think about it:

  1. Virginia. If McCain doesn't win Virginia, it is hard to find a map that works for us.
  2. Religion. Kaine is a Christian and a former missionary. Send him into SE Ohio, Southside, and the Shenandoah Valley.
  3. He is a fluent Spanish speaker. (his missionary work was in Central America)
  4. He is a Catholic, a key swing vote in this election, so important for rural, NE, and Western PA.

 

 

It looks like Chris Wallace agrees with you on Tim Kaine

Submitted by GOP_Rebel on Sun, 06/08/2008 - 19:50.

He had both potential VP-Tims (Kaine and Pawlenty) on FNS today.  Here's the transcript.

Midwestern Governor

Submitted by Rick Sincere on Mon, 06/09/2008 - 03:34.

I voted for "someone else."

Obama needs someone with executive experience to make up for his deficiencies in that area.  He needs someone who can really (not theoretically, as he claims to do himself) reach across party lines to get things done.  He needs someone who can appeal to some of those Hillary voters who feel dejected now.

That's why I predict that Obama's first choice will be Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.  She's a blue governor in a red state, and she's been elected and re-elected there.  She's recruited Republicans to join her party and her administration.  She's very "middle American" in every sense of the word.  At 60 years of age, she makes up for some of the "experience deficit" that will plague Obama in a campaign against McCain and brings that "grey hair" that stands for gravitas.

If Sebelius fails to make the ticket, Obama will turn to someone like former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, who endorsed HRC after abandoning his own White House bid; Obama's third choice will be former Indiana Governor (now Senator) Evan Bayh.

One of these three people will be Obama's running mate.

Sebelius has some downside possibility

Submitted by Ironman on Mon, 06/09/2008 - 05:59.

Her signature program in Kansas is emptying the jails to save money. This is done by letting "low risk" offenders out early. There's plenty of time for something like this to occur in the Jayhawk State.    http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/25/home.invasionb.ap/index.html

 especially as the same liberal think tanks that sold CT on early release are setting up the Kansas programs. Yep, have we forgotten this iconic figure?   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Horton

 

I also thought Sebelius

Submitted by Lisa on Mon, 06/09/2008 - 07:44.

I also thought Sebelius should be on the list.