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U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill As Obama's VP?

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Sorry for repeat - first post didn't work properly

I would like to get your opinions on Barack Obama selecting U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill from Missouri as his running mate this fall.


I realize that her state is a neighboring state of Illinois where Obama is from; however, Missouri is a battleground state too.  It usually goes Republican.


Also keep in mind that she is a woman; a very well like woman.  I’ve seen her many times on the political pundit talk shows taking on the toughest of them all.  


She is a loyal supporter of Barack Obama.  She could bring back the women voters that support Hillary and help us win over Missouri voters.


Please take a look at her life story, visit her website and discuss her merits.  

Claire McCaskill is a 4th-generation Missourian who has spent her entire life in the Show-Me State. Born in Rolla and raised in Lebanon and Columbia, Claire has never forgotten her roots. Claire's first home was Houston, Missouri, where her father William worked at the McCaskill feed mill. Later, the family moved to Lebanon, hometown of Claire's mother, Betty Anne, where her mother's family ran the corner drugstore in town.

The day after graduation, Claire left town for a job bussing tables at Lodge of the Four Seasons at Lake of the Ozarks. Waitressing for six years helped Claire work her way through college and law school at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Claire clerked for the Missouri Court of Appeals in Kansas City and then got a job as an assistant prosecutor in Kansas City, where she was a felony trial prosecutor handling sex crimes, homicides, and specializing in arson cases. In 1982, McCaskill won a seat in the State Legislature. She juggled the responsibilities of both mother and legislator and was the first woman to ever give birth while she was an active member of the Missouri Legislature.

Claire broke new ground again in 1993 when she became the first female Jackson County Prosecutor, which included Kansas City. She held this position until she was sworn in as Missouri Auditor in 1999.

As State Auditor, Claire has been credited for revolutionizing the office and making it into a true watchdog for taxpayers and citizens. In 2004, Claire took on her own party establishment and became the first person to ever defeat a sitting Missouri governor in a primary election.

In November of 2006, Claire became the first woman elected to the United States Senate from Missouri, Claire sits on five Senate Committees, including Armed Services, Commerce, Homeland Security and Government Affairs, Aging, and Indian Affairs. Additionally, Claire was named as one of the select Senators to sit on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, formerly known as the Truman Committee.

After a busy week in Washington, Claire returns home to St. Louis to a full house. After seven years as a single mom, Claire married Joseph Shepard, a St. Louis businessman, in April 2002. They each brought children to the marriage, which created a blended family of nine: Benjamin, 32, Carl, 30, Marilyn, 28, Michael, 25, Austin, 20, Maddie, 19 and Lily, 16. Claire's 79-year old mother Betty Anne lives with the family and continues to join her on trips around Missouri.

Claire is a member of St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church in St. Louis.

SHE IS THE AMERICAN DREAM - WILL DRAW WORKING CLASS VOTERS.


Comments (16)

She laughed off the notion saying Obama would need to have his head checked to even consider her for the spot.

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All politians say things like that but if asked they'd jump for it.

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I'm unsure about Claire as a VP candidate even though I'm from Missouri and I volunteered fairly heavily in her 2006 campaign. I'll leave this choice up to Obama--although I would actually LOVE Edwards as the VP candidate.

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Edwards, while a great guy, didn't help Kerry much during 2004. I don't think he'll help Obama either. Except for this week after the loss in W. Virginia.

I think he'd be an excellent Attorney General or head of Dept of Health and Human services - to push thru Obama's Health Care plan.

I'm sure somebody will bring up the "Senator" thing and there's the usual caution because it appears Missouri has a Republican Governor, but she sounds like a good person and I've clicked "recommend" because we could use more posts introducing us to the various candidates. (IMHO)

BTW: I agree about Edwards.
He didn't really impress with his VP performance.

She sounds like a qualified candidate. However, Obama's in a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't situation as far as picking a female as his VP, and Ferraro definitely didn't help matters with her speech on how she was chosen just because she's a woman.

Exactly Ben, when trying to selfishly pick who his candidate should be, Im constantly caught in he needs someone strong on security, no, we need a woman....Its tough.

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You are right Ben -- didn't think of that

In my case tho, I look at her because I like her.

I like Claire. I really do.

But lets not fool ourselves. She's not ready for the job just yet.

Mayeb one day, she will be, but right now, i think she can be an invaluable ally of president obama in the senate.

besides, having two freshman senators on the same ticket is a really bad idea.

Ever wonder how it became your job to keep sharp knives away from your friends?

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I'm not sure that putting a woman on the ticket *other* than Clinton is a good idea (and I definitely thing putting Clinton on there is NG). It's hard to see how it wouldn't be perceived as -- and in fact be -- a slap at Sen. Clinton, and it would remove one of the more impartial and legit (therefore face-saving) reasons for not making HRC the VP candidate: asking the American public to take two huge leaps simultaneously might be a bit too much and would risk losing a number of voters.

I had always thought that our first black major office-holder would be in the VP position (which is why I was all agog about the idea of Gore/Obama early on). But - on reflection - maybe it's a lot better for the first black ... AND the first woman ... to be right at the top and showing they can do the big job! If that top point is reached, then everything below becomes open to anyone, equally.

In fact, it would probably be just as well if any first top-ticket minority (race or gender) isn't in the 'subservient' position.

The only woman Obama could run with would be Clinton. Any other woman will be viewed as pandering to the women's vote, and they'll be more insulted than placated. Unless he can get Clinton on the ticket, the last thing Obama needs is to make the general election even more groundbreaking. If the Republicans put Condi Rice in the number two slot, Obama will crawl on his knees to get Clinton to run with him. There is no other politician in America, including Obama, who can go toe to toe with Rice.

I'm surprised they haven't gotten to Leonard Peltier or perhaps Wade Churchill, but I imagine by the convention they'll have gotten their gumption lined up.

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Sorry, but Obama will pick a Republican before he picks McCaskill.

Did anyone else notice today that Obama has morphed his summit with Ahmadijenad without pre-conditions into "tough diplomacy" without specifying the level of contact. Then he accuses Bush and McCain of condemning him for wanting to "talk" to the Iranians, again without specifying the level of the talks. I doubt they'll let him get away with it. They have his old position of tape. If Obama hadn't used those same tactics on Clinton so many times, I might be more sympathetic to Obama now.

I think Obama has been preaching to the choir so long that he has no idea how his little speech today is going to be received by mainstream America after McCain and Bush and company frame it for them.

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I noticed. I was speechless when I watched his speech. He seems to have absolutely no idea the ambush is in motion.

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