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VP speculation?
So it looks like this should be it, Obama is the nominee, maybe a few weeks of playacting as Hillary bows out. Now who will be the VP for Obama? the preception is that he needs someone to get the white bluecollar people and hispanics. Any ideas? I don;t think hillary will be on the undercard
A few suggestions:
John Edwards, the populist who fights for the working man.
Bill Richardson, competent experienced guy who can bring in the hispanic vote, but is it smart to have no white guys on a ticket
Wes Clark, bridges the gap with a Hillary supporter and brings military weight, but does he bring in the blue collars?
your thoughts?
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Comments (15)
Never going to happen. He disappeared since he bowed out and didn't even endorse either candidate. Besides, he's already been the VP on a losing ticket. His best shot in politics now is Governor of SC. Maybe. I don't think he has much life at the national level at this point.
Doubtful. There are others who can give you the military experience. He's too close to the Clintons. He was probably hoping for a Cabinet post in the DoD had Hillary won the election.
Richardson is an interesting idea -- he has a breadth of experience, is associated with the Clintons, probably would be decent. However, he is a terrible campaigner -- and there are only two things a VP has to do: stand around for the president to die, and be an exceptional campaigner to bring the ticket into the White House.
At this point, I think the most interesting speculation is something you hinted at:
Does Obama run on a ticket without a white man on it?
May 7, 2008 2:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
He should pick Nancy Pelosi
May 7, 2008 2:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pelosi already has a nice job. That will not happen. Maybe a woman on the ticket though... Sebilius? McCaskill?
I think it gets back the central casting though, you need the white male on the ticket somewhere.
Not saying it is right or wrong, but I would be surprised if there is not a white male on the ticket.
May 7, 2008 2:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if a woman, it should be a Clinton supporter to bridge the party. Just offhand, what about Patty Murray or, reaching further, Maria Cantwell. (Both Washington state senators)I'm just casually tossing their names out here.
But realistically, the first thought must be that the VP is one heartbeat away, so in that respect I don't think there's currently any woman who has the national stature and character to pull it off. Except for one: Hillary. BUT she's got all that baggage and Bill's lurking in the background, and then there's the multiple personality disorder....
So, on the other side of the gender divide: Biden. He's sharp, great foreign policy cred and excellent in debates. He did vote for the war though.
Richardson would be fantastic except he seemed so confused in the debates earlier. But he would be someone people could see as assuming the reins of power if need be. And the beard is a good look for him! I think he's more authentic than Edwards, who sometimes is just a bit slick for all his son-of-millworker talk.
May 7, 2008 4:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think he should pick Chuck Hagel
May 7, 2008 2:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
And double the security detail. Please research a little farther and reconsider.
May 7, 2008 5:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like Edwards for the VP spot. I think between Obama and Edwards we'd have a good mix of ideals and pragmatism. They both have a brain and actually use it. I suspect they'd make good sound decisions for the country in a time when they'll be facing some difficult choices.
May 7, 2008 2:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Edwards is a nice guy though. Shouldn't the VP be a bit of a bruiser for the campaign, like Ed Rendell. Someone who does not mind taking a nasty shot at the opponent. In 04 we had two nice guys running together, didn't work well. Obama is a nice guy, it sounds terrible when he does attacks, although the humorus brushoff works for him. He needs a pitbull for vp
May 7, 2008 2:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I gotta a good chuckle: Nancy Pelosi? I think she likes her position as Speaker of the House.
Richardson is a cool choice but that might be too much "change" for middle America. I still like Webb. A southern or western governor would probably do as well.
May 7, 2008 3:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
There's a whole other TPM post about Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius's chances as his VP nominee.
I'd give odds on her. She's a woman (obviously), and a Democrat who has worked successfully with a Republican state legislature. (Her deputy even switched parties to run on her ticket.)
She solidifies his Midwest appeal, and she's Catholic -- a demographic that he's had trouble penetrating.
I believe she's also pro-gun.
So she fills in a lot of the gaps in his potential electorate, while reinforcing his hands-across-the-aisle approach.
Bottom line: I cannot see Obama not picking a woman.
That said, I cannot see him picking Hillary.
May 7, 2008 4:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Patrick Murphy would be a great choice. It would help mitigate what most people consider to be the biggest strength of McCain (his past as a Vietnam vet) with the added relevence that Murphy has actual experience as an Iraq war vet fighting in the current quagmire not a quagmire from 40 year ago.
Plus, Murphy's white man/West Point/Irishness will help Obama with the demographic everybody is saying he is weakest.
May 7, 2008 6:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sebelius would be a very good choice to win back much of the feminist vote that was behind Hillary. The idea that a VP needs security and defense credentials is ridiculous. A president has a cabinet for that purpose. What is needed in a VP is executive experience, and as two-time governor, Sebelius has it.
May 7, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I want Boxer Baby...:)
May 7, 2008 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Edwards is a credible choice (but I'm more inclined to believe he'd be a top Clinton pick). Wes Clark would be a no brainer, James Webb (on the same caliber as Clark). Bill Richardson (although I worry about isolating rednecks too far over imigrant & AA voters it might be too big a divide & motivate the Repubs just to vote against that dynamic. I think a credible Woman candidate would help heal the party, but I believe it can't be Hillary because she has shown herself too willing to torpedoe Obama for her own interests. Not too sure who to reccomend in that department I've heard Kathleen Sebillius tossed around but honestly don't know enough about her.
May 7, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tom Daschle
May 7, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
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