Let's talk Vice President (Hillary Group)

[MSMITH33156]

What do you look for in a candidate?

I think #1 is they must be qualified to actually be President. That's a given.

But beyond that, do you look more at balancing the weaknesses of the Presidential candidate? I think Biden was good in Obama's first run for that, to have a seasoned politician. I think it allayed some of Obama's "not ready" concerns.

I think geographical balance matters. Hillary being from New York, someone from the south or midwest would be appealing. Have we ever had a major candidate from the Pacific Northwest? I think it is an oft forgotten part of the country. And there are a lot of great, liberal options there.

I'm not getting into specific candidates, but feel free to.

[Iliyah]

1. I have a crush on the identical twins . . .

[BlueCaliDem]

29. Me, too. :-)

[Buzz Clik]

2. I want someone old and unrealistic. Someone who has had a less than ordinary political career.

Mitch McConnell.

[exboyfil]

3. Isn't it a given it will be Julian Castro

He has been groomed for it as far as I can tell.

If not him then someone who would help in Florida. I see him getting a second home in the Sunshine state if he is the V.P. pick. If she wins Florida then the only path for the GOP would be through Pennsylvania - a very tough nut to crack.

[MSMITH33156]

5. I'm from Florida

the Democratic Party there is such a mess. It is a slightly lean right state, but we should do much better there they we do.

I can't think of a single, qualified vice presidential candidate from Florida, largely because we keep losing there, and running horrendous candidates. There hasn't been a Democratic Governor in Florida since 1998, and the best we could offer up for the last election was a Republican turned Democrat. It's really unfortunate.

But to your suggestion of Castro, I think him running as Hillary's VP might turn Florida into a landslide if it is against Trump.

Cuban-Americans are the only minority demographic that I know of that votes Republican, and heavily so. If you have an open anti-Latino racist Republican against a Democratic ticket with a Latino on it, at the very least, that might lower the margin among Cuban-Americans that Republicans need to win Florida state-wide elections.

Also, it would be bait for Trump. He won't be able to contain himself and will eventually say something racist, ask for Castro's birth certificate...something.

[Aristus]

4. If she tabs Julian Castro,

She will win in a landslide that would make Mt. St. Helen look like a sandcastle crumbling at high tide...

[Haveadream]

21. :)

[Aristus]

33. Welcome to DU, haveadream!

[BlueCaliDem]

30. BOOM! Der it iz!

to you, Aristus.

[Aristus]

34. And to you, BlueCaliDem!

[Stuckinthebush]

6. Could Castro bring Texas?

Might be possible.

That would be a coup!

[MSMITH33156]

11. Texas is probably a bridge too far

It's way too red. But I would be interested in Arizona. Percentage-wise, Obama lost by 9%, but that is actually a little over 200,00 votes.

But of note, he only won the Latino vote 74-25. While that is a blowout, if it is:

1) Castro as VP.
2) Trump as the Republican Nominee.

then we have an opportunity. Latinos represented 18% of the vote in 2012 in Arizona. If we can boost that a little (and demographics do favor a boost, since this is a group that is growing), and greatly increase the percentage of votes to the Dem, which should be doable with a Trump vs. Castro dynamic, I think we can flip it.

[Stuckinthebush]

14. Great point about Arizona

Yes, Castro would be an incredible plus for AZ. I like it.

[BlueCaliDem]

32. It's red because too many Latinos don't register to vote. That will change with Julian Castro on the

ticket with the possibility that he'll have a good chance to become our 46th president of the United States (after Hillary's two terms, of course), and the Democratic Party will shatter yet another ceiling.

Romney only got 23% of the Latino vote the last time. Republicans need to get at least 42% of the Latino vote in 2016 to win. With Trump at the head of the ticket, Julian Castro as VP running mate, and President Obama and VP Biden out campaigning for them - no matter who Trump chooses as VP - I see, for Democrats, a landslide in the making.

[yallerdawg]

7. I'd like Elizabeth Warren!

Just to see the exploding heads !!!

[MSMITH33156]

8. Ha Ha

They would completely lose it. This is why I can't be in politics. I would do things like that out of spite.

Bernie supporters aren't the real enemy, but it would be nice to make them squirm.

[yallerdawg]

10. When I glance at GD-P and see all the 'recs'...

makes me wonder who the enemy is, and where they are?

[HillareeeHillaraah]

13. It's seemed as thought it's going to be Castro...

...but boy howdy, wouldn't it be a great show of exploding heads if she tapped Warren!

And I just loooooove the notion of an all woman ticket!

[Cha]

15. lol you're bad.. stop it.

[book_worm]

9. I still like the idea of Julian Castro...

1) He's young and she needs to generate more excitement with young people
2) He's latino, and even though we will win the latino vote overwhelmingly (especially against Trump) we want to generate huge turnout which can possible tip states like Texas (I don't discount it) and Arizona and provide added security to New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada.
3)He's a very good strong speaker and campaigner.

[gemlake]

12. Tim Kaine or Castro

Kaine is highly qualified, from an important swing state, and is fluent in Spanish.

[obamanut2012]

24. God, not Kaine -- he really is a DINO

I don't want anyone anti choice or anti LGBT even near that type of position.

[metroins]

26. She will carry Virginia

I think it's a forgone conclusion it's Castro.

[Cha]

16. Diversity is good. Julian Castro could help with that.

[marctravis]

17. Warren, Castro, Booker

I like Warren. I'm not sure she'd accept if Hillary offered though. Castro is great, but I don't know what his debate skills are like. How about Corey Booker? Just imagine if Trump picks Christie as his VP. I think Booker could handle a debate against Christie since they already have a history. Either way it needs to be a fighter.

[beachbum bob]

18. julian castro would be the natural especially with who we will be facing

trump...rubio...or cruz


castro is the real deal...

[Chichiri]

19. I really like Castro...

But I'm worried that he'll be attacked for lack of experience, like Palin. (Although I think we can trust him not to say that he can see Mexico from his house.)

[MSMITH33156]

22. Yes, although

I don't think the attack will be effective:

1) He is smart.

2) Clinton will not be running a campaign based on saying her opponent is not ready for the White House. That was the big McCain argument in 2008. That Obama was too young and inexperienced. He then picked Palin, which completely undermined his entire campaign.

3) He's only 3 years younger than Rubio, so they don't really have a leg to stand on.

[hamsterjill]

20. I'm from San Antonio, so of course, I want Castro.

But I also think that Cory Booker is a possibility.

It will be interesting.

[obamanut2012]

23. Castro

[Historic NY]

25. Castro.....

many states have large rising Latino populations, he gives them a voice. He is in the POTUS Cabinet, and is focused on national concerns. He is smart, articulate and appeals to a wide range of the population.

[enid602]

27. holder

Eric Holder. I couldnt believe it when they threw him under the bus. Shameful.

[Yavin4]

28. How about Sen. Sherrod Brown?

Helps us in Ohio and the Midwest. Helps with progressives. Good on trade.

[charlyvi]

36. Sherrod Brown would be great, but

you'd be taking him out of the Senate and electing a dem in his place would not be guaranteed. Too risky, since we need to try like hell to win the Senate (Supreme Court anyone?). Same thing with Warren, although Massachusetts would be less iffy.

[UrbScotty]

31. Castro would be great. I also like Cory Booker and Anthony Foxx.

All of them have been mayors, which is a kind of experience that I don't think we've had in any president or vice president since Coolidge.

Plus, as current Cabinet members, Foxx and Castro would be able to help with the narrative that we must continue the progress that has been made under the current administration.

[Proud Public Servant]

35. Please NOT Castro

Hillary's going to run a campaign on being more than ready to be POTUS on day one. Castro's been mayor of a city where all the executive power is actually held by a city manager (so, basically, he's been the San Antonio's version of the Queen of England) and head of an inconsequential cabinet department. Seems like a good guy, but no way should he be a heartbeat away from the presidency just yet. Given that, picking Castro will look calculating and pandering, playing right into perceptions she already has to combat.

Personally, I've long felt that Hillary's biggest problem going into this race is that she's the consummate DC insider at a moment when people loathe DC far beyond the usual bounds. So I'd wonder about the wisdom of picking another DC player (like a senator) for the ticket. She'd be way better off with a popular Dem governor, but we're not exactly overflowing with those. Before Bernie upended the race, I would have bet a bit of money on Steve Beshear, especially after KY's incredibly successful implementation of Obamacare -- but he's a bit of a blue dog, and she's going to need someone more progressive than that. Devil Patrick is certainly a possibility, but a two-northeasterner ticket is probably a bad idea. Hickenlooper, maybe?

[MSMITH33156]

37. Really interesting

I had no idea he was that light on experience. I still don't think it will be a major problem if he's bright. I really don't know much about him.

Speaking of governors, what do you think of John Bel Edwards? He's Louisiana governor, and is currently fighting with their Republican legislature to balance their budget by raising taxes. That takes some serious fortitude in a red state.

[Proud Public Servant]

39. I like The little I know about Edwards

I like Washinton state's Jay Inslee too. But their both in their first terms of their current jobs; I'm not sure they're veep material just yet. If we lose (God forbid), I'd imagine they'd both be 2020 contenders for prez.

[Politicub]

38. Biden was the perfect pick for Obama

Someone like John Lewis would make my heart swell with pride.