Friday Veepstakes

The "free-for-all" edition.  Not many thoughts on Vices this week, curious to see what readers are thinking in terms of runningmates for the candidates.  There's been lots of support for Richardson and Sebelius here before, would love to hear some fresh ideas as well.

As always, this is based on the notion that the two candidates do not run as a merged ticket.  Let's have at it...

Comments

[Bilbo]

Sam Nunn

[Johan]

If Clinton gets the nod, she'll need a black man on the ticket. Deval Patrick could possibly be persuaded...

[Nate]

What about prominent Clinton supporters?

Evan Bayh, who Joe Andrew alluded to.

Wes Clarke, could shore up foreign policy/military cred

Ed Rendell, naw I wouldn't like him, but would be an interesting pick

Who am I missing?

[Alicia]

I've read a lot out there about Joe Biden or Michael Bloomberg being possibilities.

[Dan]

Let's assume, for purposes of this discussion, that Obama gets the nomination.

I think Bayh would be a great idea.

As would Richardson, or Sibelius, or Kaine.

Forget about Rendell or Bloomberg. It's going to be a hard enough sell (in some places) to have an African-American at the head of the ticket; adding a Jew to the VP slot doesn't help matters! (I say this as a Jew myself, by the way, so I know whereof I speak.)

Biden would be interesting, though I wonder if that would undercut Obama's change message (since Biden has been around for a long time...).

If by some bizarre twist of fate Clinton were to get the nomination, that I would suggest either Karl Rove or Rev. Wright as her running mates (the two individuals who have most aided her campaign). Ok, that was snarky of me.

[Jon]

Call me crazy, but I agree with Chris Matthews on this one.

Ed Rendell is the perfect running mate.

For Barack Obama.

[JP]

For Obama - Bob Casey. Help shore up PA.

[stevie314159]

Well, if Obama wants to get those Clinton voters back, I REALLY don't think Richardson is it.

Sebelius would help get much of that women's vote back, but I'm not sure how much she helps with the Bubba vote.

Maybe Strickland?

[Dan_in_upstate_NY]

I have to disagree, stevie--after all, one of Clinton's major blocs of support has been Hispanics, and Richardson can certainly do a lot to help attract that group (which will be key to winning states such as NM, CO, and FL, as well as combatting McCain's perceived strengths among Hispanics).

[Supergp]

Richardson is still the choice for Obama, IMHO, but if he wants a woman, Napolitano wouldn't be that bad a choice. I think putting her on the ticket puts AZ into play, for starters, and helps bring the woman vote back.

[Jimmy]

Russ Feingold would be a fantastic running mate for either candidate on the left. On the right? John McCain's dream ticket is with Hillary.

[Guarantee Virginia]

Tim Kaine or Jim Webb as Obama's VP.

[JMF]

I'm pleased to see someone mention Virginia Governor Tim Kaine as a possible VP for Obama. Mr. Kaine was an early Obama endorser and has been a loyal surrogate. He is an articulate and charismatic speaker, and as a very popular governor he presents the credible potential of delivering the State of Virginia for Obama, breaking the GOP monopoly on Southern states. Mr. Kaine is Catholic and was a missionary in Latin America, which would help Obama with Catholics in key states like Ohio. Though lacking in formal foreign ploicy credentials, his status as a former missionary indicates he has a well informed understanding of the world beyond the U.S. He and Obama seem to be on the same wavelength generally, and I believe this is perhaps more important to Obama than what gaps may exist in Mr. Kaine's resume. Mr. Kaine also speaks Spanish fluently, which would help Obama with the Hispanic vote. And let's face it: What does a black man from Chicago need in a Veep? A Southern white man.

[Will]

How about Edwards? I assume he can help Obama on his "white working class" voters. Not sure what to do with the "senior" problem.

And Edwards already has nationwide popularity (and so is Richardson though).

[Carpediva Hussein]

Amen, Dan. (or Mazel Tov!)

As a black woman, I feel positive that a woman, a Hispanic, or a Jew is just not a possibility: it's too much change on the ticket. There are some folks out there that will be brought into the Obama fold by the "reassurance" of a nice, solid white guy on the ticket, and I think the campaign can't and won't ignore that or the chance to get those votes. It's already hard enough for a black man to become President- why make it harder?

Given that, my gut says Kaine. (I thought Casey, but think his pro-life stance might hurt his chances there.) However, I hadn't considered the possiblity of a Clinton supporter as mollification, so maybe someone like Bayh would be an option.

Both Strickland and Rendell seem like sycophantic, idiotic HRC automatons to me, so I can't picture either of them. (I keep seeing Strickland nodding like a moron during her "Shame on you, Barack Obama" tirade. As Jon Stewart said, it looked like, "Sure, Mrs. C! Whatever you say, Mrs. C! Can I be your VP, Mrs. C!")

[TheSteve]

Even though Sebelius is my pony in this race, I have to say that Russ Feingold would be a solid choice for Obama with his big reform cred and to help with the Jewish community.
For McCain, and this may sound crazy, I think Jeb Bush would be a solid call. He's currently having serious trouble raising money on the GOP side, and W was the biggest primary fundraiser in history before Obama. Jeb would shore up some goodwill for McCain among the crazy right, as well as help him big in Florida. Granted, I don't really think any choice of running mate will end up helping him this election.

[Lynne B]

Sam Nunn or David Boren

[Mark]

Mark Warner, Jim Webb, or Chuck Hagel(!) for Obama's VP. (And Gary Hart for Dir. of Homeland Security, Colin "The Second Time's the Charm" Powell for Sec. of State, John Edwards for Secretary of Labor, Mike Bloomberg as Sec. of the Treasury, Hillary at Health and Human Services (or as a possible Supreme Court nominee), Bill Richardson as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., and Sam Nunn as Sec. of Defense.)

[Alicia]

Jeb Bush, I love it! Just in case Dubya wasn't enough for people :) What a winning team!

[CrankyKate]

@Carpediva - it hurts me but I agree - Obama needs a white guy on the ticket. I worry that will push Clinton supporters away, but I think a ticket that looks like a cheesy diversity fair poster will push even more people away who might be on the fence for McCain.

I'm seriously in love w/ the idea of Webb the post-partisan southern veteran, though I like Kaine too & didn't know about his missionary work. I too see Strickland as a nodding yes-man, but I was impressed awhile back to hear Rendell say that the supporters of whoever loses get 10 days to pout, and then they have to get out there and work their heart out for the nominee. He might bring Clinton folks back into the fold, and his penchant for truth-telling-as-a-gaffe fits well with Obama's new politics. I remember a couple of weeks ago though, that someone in this forum from PA said he's not as popular there as he once was, and might not help deliver the state.

Mr. Super: is Chuck Hagel or any other R a realistic possibility? I love the idea, but I wonder if the party would ever get behind it. Are the logistical party-control risks too high? Are there other Rs out there that would be in play if they agreed to become Ds?

[billscher]

While Webb is my first choice for Obama, allow me to suggest Sen. Feingold as an out-of-the-box choice. The knee-jerk reaction is that he is too liberal, but he comes across very mainstream, Midwestern middle-of-the-road. He is excellent at framing liberal positions as simple common sense. He adds Washington experience without being seen as "of Washington," so he bolsters Obama's reformist message. He was also against the war from the start, and brings Foreign Relations & Intelligence cmte experience. As the other half of McCain-Feingold, his criticisms of McCain could have extra sting.

[Joe]

Wes Clark would help the military end of things, which is important. Richardson would help with the Hispanics.

I tend to think that they'll have to add experience to the mix, just to kill that argument.

It seems like part of the strategy this year is to play on fear. I think that's best countered by highlighting fears of a war with Iran. Then, the more fear the drum up, the less people will want a Republican to lead them into unnecessary war...

[AntonioMaceo]

Yeah, I think Obama has to go with a white guy and a clinton supporter too, like Bayh. That being said I like Casey.

[Sensible Person]

Bloomberg sounded interesting for a VP pick at first (I like the guy), but I think he'd be a bad pick for campaign purposes, and not because he's Jewish. In short, he comes across as a rich intellectual elitist, which would not be terribly good for Obama - I think weather the silly elitist thing sticks depends largely on his VP pick.

Richardson wouldn't be the worst pick, but he's not as great as many people might think, and First of all, Obama doesn't have as much of a "Hispanic Problem" as is often thought... I mean, heck, he's polled better than Clinton against McCain in New Mexico! Also, Richardson isn't that great at generating energy. unfortunately, Carville's nonsense might wind up being an issue.

Kalthleen Sebelius, on the other hand, is starting to look like a better and better option. There IS a risk that it would look like an "affirmative action ticket" to some, but Sebelius is more than just a token female candidate. Any too term Democratic Governor of Kansas is either a DINO or something special, and Sebelius is the later. She appeals to the same message of civility in Politics as Obama, but does it in a slightly different way, which complements Obama's perfectly. She'd brings some great Rural and Midwestern Credibility to the ticket, which, in combination with Obama's strength in the Midwest, could see some democratic pick-ups in the region. Also, an Obama-Sebelius ticket would have the biggest, widest ranging grassroots network in the country.

Some other one's I like are Webb, (Warner would be better, but He's running for Senate already...) and Strickland (The guy's style doesn't complement Obama's very well, though)

[Anon]

Obama needs someone who fits all of these criteria, in order of importance:
1. Experience, especially national security experience.
2. White
3. From a swing state

Unfortunately, nobody satisfies 1 and 3. None of the OH, MI, or PA Dems have a lot of foreign policy experience. Bob Graham of FL does, but I haven't heard much talk of him in the past few years.

Sam Nunn fits the first two. So do Joe Biden and Wes Clark.

Webb is not all that experienced, though I guess being undersecretary of the Navy counts for something. Richardson has a great resume, but he'll really only bring in New Mexico. Plus he'll alienate a lot of Clinton loyalists.

Chuck Hegel would actually be a very good choice. He's not from a swing state, but the shock of having a unity ticket would bring over a lot of independents. I don't think the Dems would mind all that much. Hagel has been very independent from Bush, and just want so badly to win this thing that they'll put up with a Republican VP if it'll give them a lock on the win.

If Hillary's the nominee, she'll need Obama as VP to prevent party civil war.

[Sensible Person]

Actually, I'd argue that Obama needs to NOT make the pick on the basis of perceived experience. In short, he has the ability and experience needed to do the job well, and would be conceding to the false pretense that he lacks "experience" if he did that.

It is, however, part of why someone like Sebelius would help. Sebelius is someone who appeals to the older, more rural, moderate sort of voter who might be concerned about Obama's "experience," but still doesn't turn off his more intellectual grassroots devotees. It's a nice balance.

Also, Anon, Obama can go after a much wider selection of swing states than just the Big 3 from 2004. He's gonna win Iowa. New Mexico Colorado, and Nevada, states where he's favored, would be enought to put him over the top when added to the Kerry Coalition. I also think Florida, which has been trending Republican, is more trouble than it's worth for Obama to try to win, especially via pandering building on His midwestern and western (swing REGION) strength would be better.

[Sensible Person]

Obama needs to NOT pick someone based on a perception of expirience. That's conceding the arguement he doesn't have it. Sebelius is helpful because she appeals to older, more traditional, rural voters who might be worried by the "experience" thing without turning off his grassroots support.

[Joe]

I wonder if there's any way to poll people to find out who the people who are borderline supporters for Obama would prefer to see picked?

Or don't those polls ever go public? I've never seen one that divided people's VP picks by looking at how strongly they supported the candidate.

[Hank]

I understand the appeal that Senator Webb hold for some people, but I would hate to see Obama take another Democrat out of the Senate, especially in a state like Virginia, where Webb barely won. Is there another Democrat who would be a likely winner for the Senate seat in 2010?

Clinton's picking Gore for VP and Bentsen for Treasury Secretary had a direct effect on the Democrats losing the Senate in 1994.

[Eastern Highlands]

It has to be someone who has a strong connection to a statewide or regional population base in the Eastern U.S. and
It has to be someone who has at least stayed neutral in the divisive Presidential battle.
Party cohesion is not going to be easily pulled back together. Obama will have to make sincere efforts to reach larger segments of white voters in small towns and among seniors.
My crystal ball predicts Bob Graham. If Obama is forced by top party officials (Pelosi/Clyburn) to pick someone from the opposing team, I would go with Rendell.

[suekzoo]

I think Ed Rendell is a potential liability for Obama since the youtube popped up showing his praising Farrakhan.

[Pascal]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Bill Bradley yet. He would make a great running mate for Obama.

[RS]

I personally like the apparently-popular Governor Sibelius. She's certainly not a token female, having won re-election in KS with 58% of the vote - with only 27% registered Dems! (from Wikipedia) She may put Kansas in play, and fits in with Senator Obama's 50-state strategy.

Senator Hagel would be good too. Nebraska may not sound like a swing state, but it has part-district-based EV allocation, and SUSA's 50-state GE poll had Senator Obama winning a couple districts.

I also agree that the VP pick should not fill a publicly-perceived need, like "lack of experience." Just feeds a wrong perception.

[Dana]

To help America with our venture into new territory with an AA nominee, Obama needs a veep who is:

1) a white male
2) preferably Southern
3) with experience
4) has stayed out of the primary battle
5) name recognition
6) beloved by the democratic party

Al Gore.

And all we'd have to do is convince him.

[Truth]

First, I think Obama needs to start announcing his cabinet as quickly as possible. Obama has holes and I think he needs to shore them up now. I’ve always thought not making a big deal about the cabinet pre-General Election was a big mistake.

John Edwards has to be his VP. Despite Obama's talk about the economy, middle class & health care, I think these are Obama's biggest deficits. As a Clinton supporter, somebody like John Edwards as a strong VP (like Cheney, but the inverse of his evil) would ease my concerns about Obama's heavy on rhetoric, light on details plan in those areas.

Of course Al Gore as Secretary of Energy, assuming he can be talked into it. I think giving Al Gore a bit of autonomy in this position might be the key to luring him in. To go from VP to President (he won) to Cabinet is an ego blow, but I think Gore is the type of man to look past that nonsense.

Secretary of State: Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Carter. It probably wouldn't be appealing to Carter and he can probably achieve just as much without the title. So call me crazy here but .... Jesse Jackson as the runner up. Carter could just as easily be Secretary of HUD

Secretary of Defense: Colin Powell without question. Bush & Tenet raped him and I would think he would want to redeem himself. Why not Secretary of State? I want a vice-commander in chief to have his attitude which is: I'm not going to war if we don't have to and even more important, if we have to then we are going in to win fast with overwhelming numbers and actually have a plan for peace just as detailed as the plan for war. There are serious threats out there so pretending they are just imaginary is naive.

Dept. of Treasury: Ron Paul. Talk about lining up fiscally conservative Republicans. I also happen to think Ron Paul would do a great job here. Possibly even keep Obama honest on spending.

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: John McCain. I would even announce this one right away. The way to do this with the crossing the aisles attitude would be: John McCain takes offense at being offered this position while running for President. Obama can respond with “Why take offense? I would gladly take a position in your cabinet such as Sec. of State.”

Dept. of Health & Human Services: Hillary Clinton, self explanatory

Dept. of Commerce: Evan Bayh. I like his commitment to small business. Small Business is America.

Dept. of Labor: Ralph Nader. Edwards is actually better, but he is VP. Nader is more consumer than labor, so I’m waffling on this one.

Dept. of Justice: Deval Patrick. I would need more research into that, but his stand on the issues sound promising. I love his death penalty stance. However, it might be best to not announce this position with too much fanfare because it might give far-right Republicans a rallying point.

Dept. of Transportation: Non-American. Entice a European or Japanese transportation leader (right, Will?)

Dept. of Education: Kathleen Sebelius. It is obvious education is not just a side project for her.

Dept. of Interior: Oscar de la Hoya. Hispanic and female vote solved. Of course I’m kidding.

Press Secretary: Keith Olbermann. This is a joke again. But if this guy can’t sound like he stalks Obama, nobody can.

Dept. of Homeland Security: First spending cut. This cabinet position turned the Dept. of Defense into Dept. of Offense. Turn back the clock.

Bill Clinton can play a big role outside the cabinet with the Clinton Global Initiative which I think needs more praise than it is getting.

Bill Richardson would be a horrible choice for anything except back to the UN. He isn’t just not liked by Clinton supporters, he is despised. Sure way to lose the election.

[suekzoo]

Truth,

I agree with you about Obama starting to announce proposed cabinet appointments sooner rather than later. I think he needs to clearly have the nomination first, though, even it if seems inevitable today.

VP - I don't think Edwards is interested, and also doesn't bring much to the ticket. He was not a help to Kerry. I think Obama needs a strong domestic policy type and a Clinton supporter would be a big plus in the "unity" department. Evan Bayh might just be the perfect option.

That frees Edwards for Dept. of Labor, which is a spot he is well-suited for!

Secy of State - I just don't see Carter going there. I see him more in a "special envoy" role, but not with a cabinet title.

McCain is never ever going to agree with accepting a cabinet spot until after he loses in November. Even then, he's a ?? But Chuck Hagel could be available, and I think it would be a smart move for Obama to find a spot for him.

Agreed with your spot for Hillary! I have thought that is a perfect spot for her for a long time.

And Homeland Security is a big bloat that doesn't accomplish much!! Get FEMA out from under it!

[Truth]

suekzoo,
Are you sure Edwards isn't interested? That is what future VPs always say. I thought Edwards ran circles around Cheney in the debates. I think he outdid Obama & Clinton in many of the debates. Edwards is quick on his feet, something Obama is not. I actually thought they got the Kerry/Edwards ticket backwards.

That said, Edwards in the Labor spot is great as I couldn't help myself on the original post. Evan Bayh's support of small business might turn a lot of Republicans his way. Not with the oligarchy, but that is just 1% of the vote anyway.

We need a successful Sec. of State. I agree Carter would probably refuse, but he is the best. Jesse Jackson has a knack of working with our enemies, but that might be his outsider status. Making him an insider might blunt his edge. This position is too important for it not to have a star here. Joe Biden might do.

It is lame to have a hispanic on the ticket just to shore up that vote, but Obama has a problem here as minorities tend to hate other minorities since the inception of the USA. I despise ethnicity being part of a resume, but Obama will have a hard time defeating McCain so he needs to be smart on these matters. I still say Oscar de la Hoya, and we can all call him Token.

[Truth]

suekzoo,
Chuck Hagel could fit in as Sevretary of Defense (still think Colin is tha anwer), State or VA.

It is odd, but thinking about cabinet positions I'm seeing great records. Records better than any of the 3 left. Obama actually has the worst record of the 3 and has a decent chance of winning. American voters really don't care enough to actually research candidates. Obama's economic plan is pretty pathetic. He needs a savior in that area if he wants to be viable.

[Joe]

> Dept. of Homeland Security: First spending cut. This cabinet position turned the Dept. of Defense into Dept. of Offense. Turn back the clock.

Amen and amen to that!

I think you have a lot of good ideas in the other posts, though I don't know how many of them will work out. Of course, that may not be the point. We'll see.

Senate to cabinet seems like a step down, too, but if they want to take it, well, by all means.

[suekzoo]

Truth,

Edwards has said more than once that he is not interested in VP. I don't really think he is being coy, I think he'd be more interested in a cabinet job. Besides, putting him back on the ticket as the VP nominee for a second election cyle in a row has a kind of "recycled" quality to it.

[Truth]

Laura,.you basically provided a fluff piece about how great he is with no real examples. If we want to use fluff pieces, here is another view of Obama’s rise to power from multiple, reputable sources:

-----
1996 Illinois Senate Race

Three years later, a congressman from the South Side of Chicago was convicted of having sex with a minor. A Democratic state senator from his district, Alice L. Palmer, decided to run for the seat. Carol Anne Harwell, Mr. Obama’s first campaign manager, said Ms. Palmer invited Mr. Obama, then 35, to run for her seat.

But after losing in the primary, Ms. Palmer had second thoughts. A delegation of her supporters asked Mr. Obama to step aside. He not only declined, but his campaign staff challenged the signatures on Ms. Palmer’s campaign petitions and kept her off the ballot. It was nothing personal: They did the same thing to every other Democrat in the race.

“He knocked off the incumbent, so that right there gave him some notoriety,” said Ron Davis, who served as Mr. Obama’s precinct coordinator. “And he ran unopposed — which for a rookie is unheard of.”
NYT 7/30/07

-----
1996-2002 Illinois Senate (6 years of Republican control with little accomplished by Obama)

Mr. Hendon, who says he is writing a book on electoral politics called “Backstabbers,” said ethics reform would have passed with or without Mr. Obama because of scandals that preceded it.
NYT 7/30/07

A fellow Democrat suddenly seethed with anger. "You got a lot of nerve to talk about being responsible," said Sen. Rickey Hendon, accusing Obama of voting to close the child welfare office.
LA Times 1/24/08

-----
2000 House Race
In his losing 2000 Democratic primary campaign in Illinois's First District, Obama lost to Bobby Rush by a margin of 2 to 1.

-----
2002-2004 Illinois Senate (Democrats take Senate and Emil Jones, Jr. becomes Democratic Majority Leader, befriends Obama, and then kicked to the side)

“He said to me, ‘You’re now the Senate president,’ ” Mr. Jones recalled. “ ‘You have a lot of power.’ I said, ‘I do?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘Tell me what kind of power I have.’ He said, ‘You have the power to make a U.S. senator.’ I said, ‘I do?’ He said, ‘You do.’ I said, ‘If I’ve got that kind of power, do you know of anyone that I can make?’ He said, ‘Yeah. Me.’ ”
NYT 7/30/07

And when Obama wanted a promotion to the U.S. Senate, Jones provided critical support that gave the little-known legislator legitimacy, keeping him from being instantly trampled by the front-runners.
CBS 3/31/08

Obama apparently didn't think much of Jones. In his memoir "Dreams from My Father," Obama dismisses him as "an old ward heeler" who had little clout left after backing the wrong candidate.
CBS 3/31/08

--------
2004 Obama prepares for US Senate Race

State Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, laughingly accuses Jones of a little "bill-jacking" -- taking issues that other senators had been working on and giving them to Obama. Trotter, for instance, said he had hoped to be named chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee but the job went to Obama instead.
CNN 3/31/08

Mr. Obama did not bring revolution to Springfield in his eight years in the Senate, the longest chapter in his short public life. But he turned out to be practical and shrewd, a politician capable of playing hardball to win election (he squeezed every opponent out of his first race), a legislator with a sharp eye for an opportunity, a strategist willing to compromise to accomplish things.
NYT 7/30/07

His critics say Mr. Obama could have accomplished much more if he had been in less of a hurry to leave the Statehouse behind. Steven J. Rauschenberger, a longtime Republican senator who stepped down this year, said: “He is a very bright but very ambitious person who has always had his eyes on the prize, and it wasn’t Springfield. If he deserves to be president, it is not because he was a great legislator.”
NYT 7/30/07

-----
2004 Senate Race – Democrat Primary
He [Obama] also was the beneficiary of the most inglorious campaign implosion in Illinois political history, when multimillionaire Blair Hull plummeted from front-runner status amid revelations that an ex-wife had alleged in divorce papers that he had physically and verbally abused her.
Chicago Tribune 5/17/04

-----
2004 Senate Race
Jack Ryan, 44, a wealthy former investment banker, had been running against Democrat Barack Obama for the seat being vacated by retiring GOP Sen. Peter Fitzgerald -- a potentially key contest in the battle for control of the evenly divided Senate.

Ryan's fall came fast. On Thursday, an aide said Ryan was "assessing his options" about whether to continue his election bid amid allegations that he visited sex clubs with his then-wife, actress Jeri Ryan.

Republican officials acknowledged Friday that any Republican who jumps into the race now would face an uphill battle.
CNN 6/25/04

The state GOP offered Keyes its nomination last week after a string of potential Republican candidates, including former Chicago Bears coach and player Mike Ditka, turned down entreaties to run ... Keyes, who also has run two unsuccessful Senate campaigns in Maryland,
CNN 8/9/04

----
Obama is just another politician that knows the word “change” wins elections. I don’t necessarily have a problem with Obama being a shrewd politician, although you have to admit he has committed some extreme things to rise to power. But to pretend he is some “above the fray” candidate is just nonsense.

[Kasturba]

Truth,

I am not sure this is the best forum for all this. I totally agree that Obama is a politician. But I find it surprising that you do not mention any of Clinton's unsavory past. Her list is incredibly long with documented lapses of ethics. A lot of the stuff you level against Obama amounts to this: he is shrewd and has used many opportunities when they came. Yes, of course. You don't get to run for President if you aren't a shrewd politician.

Something that has received very little coverage in the primaries is the Clinton's very long past. Why do you think the Democratic party did not just line up 100% behind Clinton when she first came along? Some did. But equally potent, many did not. They know that the Clintons have serious baggage that could lose them the generals and definitely hurt downballot elections.

Clinton supporters in the primaries act like they don't remember the 90s. But unfortunately many other people in the country do remember the waste of tax payer dollars on all the scandals. Not to mention that the Republicans will remind those who have forgotten.

[Kasturba]

Truth,

I am not sure this is the best forum for all this. I totally agree that Obama is a politician. But I find it surprising that you do not mention any of Clinton's unsavory past. Her list is incredibly long with documented lapses of ethics. A lot of the stuff you level against Obama amounts to this: he is shrewd and has used many opportunities when they came. Yes, of course. You don't get to run for President if you aren't a shrewd politician.

Something that has received very little coverage in the primaries is the Clinton's very long past. Why do you think the Democratic party did not just line up 100% behind Clinton when she first came along? Some did. But equally potent, many did not. They know that the Clintons have serious baggage that could lose them the generals and definitely hurt downballot elections.

Clinton supporters in the primaries act like they don't remember the 90s. But unfortunately many other people in the country do remember the waste of tax payer dollars on all the scandals. Not to mention that the Republicans will remind those who have forgotten.

[Joe]

> But to pretend he is some “above the fray” candidate is just nonsense.

Umm, wouldn't that be one of the things that makes him a "shrewd politician"? :)

Is there any proof that the signatures challenged were actually legitimate? It DID happen in Chicago.

[Blame]

For Obama a woman vice makes a lot of sence. A lot of those who backed Hillary were women backing a woman. I can't help but think that there is a feminist vote out there that includes republicans who would vote for just about any woman. If it was a down to earth woman with a history of pushing for things they cared about then more so.

I don't think anyone can give Obama the redneck vote because they would see a vice as nothing more than an ornament. Women are different, they know that it is getting results that counts, not standing at the front. A strong woman vice, plus a promise to listen to her will pull in a lot of votes.

Tell me more about Kalthleen Sebelius.

[Joe]

Yeah, I have no problem seeing a woman as VP. I don't feel that Hillary would help him in the VP slot, but anywhere else is fine.

I might worry about him losing older, more 'conservative' voters, but those may already be a lost cause.

I've seen strong female turnout in most polls, so if it helps him get support, go for it!