An honest assessment of possible Dem VP Choices
Senator Hillary Clinton (NY)
Pros: Ran highly competitive presidential campaign, and controls hundreds of delegates in the national convention. She’s also competitive in demographics that Obama struggles with (poor white people who might just be a teensy bit racist). Also, she’d bring Bill Clinton back into the limelight, which would guarantee that SNL will be funny again for at least 4 more years.
Cons: Kinda hard to run on change when you’re bringing the old president back…who has kind of tragically gone from “endearing Democratic party statesman”, to “whiny little baby”. Also, tens of thousands of Democrats voted against her for a reason.
Gov. Bill Richardson (NM)
Pros: Initial winner of the highly coveted Matt Brown Endorsement, Bill is a popular executive of a critical swing state. He has foreign policy experience, energy experience, legislative experience, executive experience, baseball experience, and now, beard-growing experience. He’ll also shatter the glass ceiling for “Hispanic people with very gringo names”, which has been keeping me down for years.
Cons: He’s not a great campaigner. Also, according to James Carville, Richardson has "Jesus-Betraying Experience". Good luck winning a red state with *that* around your neck.
Former Senator John Edwards (North Carolina)
Pros: He’s positive, photogenic, and popular with the base. Edwards would play right into the campaign theme of “changing Washington”, because Edwards and Obama combined would have less Washington experience than one of those Midwestern tourists who stands on the wrong side of the Metro escalator.
Cons: Wasn’t exactly a helpful addition to John Kerry’s ticket. Edwards has done the whole run for president, run for vice president thing. I’m also on the record of threatening to shoot my TV if I hear John talk about his mill-working pappy one more time. We get it John. You couldn’t go to Yale like all the other senators.
Senator Evan Bayh (Indiana)
Pros: He’s a popular, young Midwestern guy that could actually put Indiana in play, which would totally stick it to the Republicans. He was also a staunch Hillary supporter, which may help heal some old wounds. Bayh was also a popular former Gov of Indiana.
Cons: Anybody remember the last time somebody picked a young, photogenic senator from Indiana to be their running mate?
Senator Joe Biden (Delaware)
Pros: Brings experience and strong foreign policy credibility to a ticket that currently lacks both. Biden would also do wonders in helping American children with their geography, by spurring them to look a map to find out just where the hell Delaware is. Biden also emits enough hot air to completely solve our nation’s energy crisis.
Cons: Biden solving the energy crisis by blabbering does mean that we’re going to have to listen to a lot of Joe Biden. It might not be worth it.
Government Bureaucrat and Amateur Journalist Matt Brown (Ohio)
Pros: Would complete a demographic dream team. Nominating a democratic Mormon could cause tens of other Mormons to break away from decades of tradition and vote democratic as well. Matt also has the credibility to talk about issues that Ohioans really care about…football, Ohio State, and football.
Cons: Amending the constitution to make this happen may too much change for some people.
Gov Kathleen Sebelius (Kansas)
Pros: Popular leader of a very red state, which shows that she’s bipartisan. She can bring a lot of the demographic positives of Hillary Clinton, without the scary baggage. Also, her dad was a Democratic Gov. of Ohio…so that’s cool.
Cons: Likely can’t deliver Kansas, and she’s old. Hillary-supports might throw an epic temper tantrum if there is a female VP not married to Bill Clinton as well. That will make bad television.
Rock Star Bruce Springsteen (New Jersey)
Pros: Completely negates the biggest fear about Obama…that he somehow isn’t “American”. It doesn’t get more American than Thunder Road and the E St Band! Springsteen’s flavor of “heartland rock” is popular with all generations, and all over the country. Do you want to attract a crowd of 40,000 to a campaign rally in Ohio? Now you can! Public knowledge of government would skyrocket, as Americans would actually watch CSPAN. Plus, what do you think is going to go farther to repair America’s image in the world…some old dude from Virginia, or a Bruce Springsteen European tour?
Cons: There are absolutely no cons with this idea. This is the best idea I’ve ever had.
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VP Choices
Richardson seems to have it all re experience, know-how, demeanor, ethnicity, and popularity in his home state. Why isn't he catching on more as a possibility?
How 'bout that Ohio guy
The Ohio guy sounds the best. If he is unwilling to run, then Biden or Bayh, in that order.
Great post about VP options for Obama, but...
you didn't mention my choice.
Chuck Hagel.. Republican Senator from Nebraska
From... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Hagel
This is an interesting tidbit...
"On its website The Times reported that the Senator is a possible candidate in the Barack Obama administration for the cabinet position of Secretary of Defense:
Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war […] Senior advisers confirmed that Hagel, a highly decorated Vietnam war veteran and one of McCain’s closest friends in the Senate, was considered an ideal candidate for defense secretary.[22]
Senator Obama was quoted in the same article, when asked about Hagel as a potential cabinet member: "Chuck Hagel is a great friend of mine and I respect him very much."[22] Hagel is also rumored to be a possible Obama pick for the Vice-Presidential candidacy in his 2008 presidential election ticket[23] and has said that he would consider serving if asked.[24]"
Not likely to happen, but I think it could turn Obama's 60/40 victory in November to 70/30.
I dunno about that..
I'm surprised by your choice Chris...I guess I had assumed you were a pretty liberal guy. Hagel does like Obama, and has spoken out a lot against the Iraq war, but if you look at the rest of his voting record...surprise! You'll find he's a Republican!
I feel like having your running mate disagree on your entire domestic platform may create some awkward moments on the campaign trail (although you're right, I think it would win).
Obviously, my little write-up was *supposed* to be more funny than serious. I think Richardson, Tim Kaine, or Bayh would be fine choices. Joe Biden, I think, has a unique ability to say stupid things at a rate unrivaled by nearly any other politician.
I was seriously confused about Hagel.
I have no idea what I was thinking, but his views on domestic matters are nearly 180 degree opposite of mine. Thanks for providing a reason to check into this.
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Chuck_Hagel.htm
His views give me shivers.
not much
But Biden says some pretty smart things things in between while waiting to do the dumbs things. He has also got some chutzpah...but I don't think he'll help at the polls much.
I heard him speak when I was young...he's much better now. He thought he was Kennedy in 1978.
Did someone say Sebelius is old at 60? Jeesh! She looks pretty good...guess I'm oldish now.... I do not think that's an old candidate.
Bayh is Sominex...for me, he seems to have his own personal background hum whenever he speaks. I don't dislike him, though.
singlepie