Now that Hillary Clinton is basically out of the running for Obama's running mate, the contest boils down to who is most electable/most qualified to be VP?Yesterday, Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick, D-Mich and the leader of the Congressional Black Caucus, said that former Sens. John Edwards and Sam Nunn are on the list of potential running mates, and others such as Al Gore, John Murtha and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland are mentioned also.
Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, met Wednesday with Obama VP Search Committee members Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder. A former Clinton supporter, he offered Clinton's name but said he mentioned others, too. Those included Edwards, Sens. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, Gore, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.
Balancing the ticket is an important consideration in order to appeal to Clinton Democrats, moderate Republicans, and the all important unaffiliated voting public. The VP candidate Obama ultimately chooses will probably have a greater effect on the voter's minds than some previous presidential candidates.
And another thing to consider is that the odds are fairly good that whoever is selected will probably be the Democratic nominee in the 2016 campaign, assuming that Obama wins in November and goes on to a second term as an incumbent in 2012.
So the VP candidate choice will almost certainly have long-term implications for our party and our nation.
I'm glad they're not taking this decision lightly.
7 comments:
If 2016 is a factor, then Sam Nunn is out. Born September 8, 1938, he is only a couple of years younger that McCain.
oldswede
Yeah, but I think that's a less important factor than experience and elect-ability. It's not unknown for a President to ask his VP to step down before their re-election effort. Didn't Ford drop Rockefeller in '76? (although word is, Nelson wanted off the ticket because Ford was a control freak)
If Nunn is the "magic bullet" that'll help get Barack in the White House, then I'm all for him. But like I said, I'm glad they're taking some time to make a decision. I'm sure getting a VP for McCain is a lot tougher; very few people are anxious to leap aboard that sinking ship!
Where is Richardson on that list?
I think he's on there; the list I quoted is nowheres near complete by any means. And I get the feeling Richardson would be happy to be on the ticket. He'd certainly help with the Hispanic vote.
But he has to lose the beard. It looks a bit goofy.
(Looking at Bob's icon) Hmmmmmmmm.....
Heh heh...I'm not running for anything.
He also brings more practical experience having worked in the Clinton White House.
Post a Comment