Webb Seen as a Potential 2008 Running Mate

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Washington Post

ust 10 months into his first term in elected office, James Webb found himself on the podium for one of the most coveted speaking slots in Democratic politics.

The freshman senator from Virginia delivered the keynote address to the New Hampshire Democratic Party at its annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner a week ago, a role that in recent years has been played by current and former White House candidates John Edwards and John F. Kerry. Two years ago the speech was delivered by Sen. Evan Bayh (Ind.), who is viewed as a potential vice presidential pick next year.

Webb's role in the debate over Iraq and Iran has helped raise his profile far beyond that of the typical Senate newcomer. Webb is the only freshman Democrat to regularly attend Iraq strategy sessions in Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid's office, and his proposal to extend home leaves for U.S. troops came closer to forcing a change in administration war policy than any other Democratic bill.

His upset of Sen. George Allen (R) last year and the prominent part he has taken in the congressional debate over Iraq have led to his being mentioned as a potential ticket-mate for the party's nominee in 2008. But he has made no effort to advance that cause with the leading Democratic contender in recent weeks.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/27/AR2007102701155.html?nav=rss_print/asection

[rusty quoin]

1. It's hard to think of Webb as a freshman anything, he has done so much. He'd be a great choice. n/t

[CK_John]

2. Don't count on it. The gun in the Senate Bldg will be a big problem to get around. Too many

questions for any candidate to put him on the ticket.

[virginia mountainman]

5. Actually....

That gives him TONS of credibility on the "gun issue" in the vast majority of the nation, unlike Kerry's canned goose hunt, which was a bad joke....

Credibility on the "gun issue" is a MUST have for a Democratic candidate, too many independents are very leery of us.

But, I would hate to loose him as MY senator.

[karynnj]

28. Kerry's was not a "canned" goose hunt

He is a hunter and they went on a real hunting trip - unlike Dick Cheney. This is, in fact, one of the few things I didn't like about Kerry. In some areas, it will hurt Webb that he did this - bringing a gun into the capital is just WRONG.

[underpants]

22. Actually that locks up Va. and maybe even WV/Tenn

I say that because the NRA is basically said to OWN WV and Tenn making it off limits and an excuse for both parties to ignore them.

[itsrobert]

3. I think the Democrats would rather want to hang on to his Senate seat

Don't you?

[LostInAnomie]

4. I don't see it happening, but if it did...

... he would absolutely destroy anyone he is up against in the VP debate. Webb in one of the best toe to toe debaters I've ever seen. I've never seen him in a TV debate where he didn't crush his opponent.

[still_one]

6. Web would be a terrible choice. He is no progressive. He came from the Reagan administration

Just because you agree with him on Iraq, doesn't mean there are not other important issues

People here went ga ga over Murtha because of Iraq also, but these are pretty conservative people

Look at the whole package, critical thinking is important

[TheDebbieDee]

8. Personally, I consider Sen. Webb

as a Republican that was left behind by the neocons running his party, so he crossed the aisle and became a Democrat.

If the repuke party can ever purge itself of the neocons I wonder if Sen. Webb will cross back to being a Republican?

[still_one]

9. I think you hit the nail on the head. Right now he is talking the talk, and walking the walk

but other than Iraq I am not sure I trust him on the other issues

He was first a Democrat, then became a republican under reagan, and now is a Democrat

I know I am probably not being fair to him, and I wouldn't be surprised if my position would become more trusting of him as time goes on.

He has made some pretty courageous votes coming from Virginia, i.e. supporting abortion rights and civil unions for gays, so he definitely is not your typical ex-republican

[Zambero]

12. Webb is an EX-Republican and likely to remain so

Nobody's harder on smokers than ex-smokers. The same applies to ex-Republicans when dealing with their former cohorts. Consider this heated exchange between Webb and King George:

"How's your boy?" Bush asked, referring to Webb's son, a Marine serving in Iraq.

"I'd like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President," Webb responded

"That's not what I asked you," Bush said. "How's your boy?"

"That's between me and my boy, Mr. President," Webb said coldly, ending the conversation on the State Floor of the East Wing of the White House.

No, I don't see Webb retreating back to the dark side any time soon.

[still_one]

13. Definitely no question how he feels about this administration

As I said in my reply#8, I am probably being too harsh, and wouldn't be surprised if I came fully around to support him

[fujiyama]

7. He'd be a good pick

but we need to hold on to that senate seat.

[still_one]

10. One thing to note is that 25 republicans seats are up for re-election in the Senate

The odds are pretty good that the Democrats will take back the Senate in 2008 in a big way, whether Web was asked to be VP or not

[cali]

15. well, no.

there are 22 repuke seats up and 12 dems seats up.

Here are the repukes incumbents:

Jeff Sessions of Alabama
Saxby Chambliss of Georgia
Pat Roberts of Kansas
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
Susan Collins of Maine
Norm Coleman of Minnesota
Thad Cochran of Mississippi
John Sununu of New Hampshire
Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina
Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma
Gordon Smith of Oregon
Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
Lamar Alexander of Tennessee
John Cornyn of Texas
John Barrasso of Wyoming
Michael Enzi of Wyoming


We stand an excellent chance of picking up NH, a decent shot at MN, fair to middling shots at ME and OR. The rest? not so much.

In addition there are 5 open seats

CO- Allard retiring. good chance of a pick up by Udall.
VA- Warner retiring. excellent chance of a pick up.
WY- Craig retiring. poor chance.
NM- Dominici retiring. fair chance.
NE- Hagel retiring. poor chance.

It looks like we could pick up 5-6 seats if we're really lucky. We have a strong chance of losing LA.

We can't afford Webb running.

[bornskeptic]

16. You left out Ted Stevens in Alaska. N/T

[still_one]

21. I think the country has turned against what the republicans have done

the past seven years, and that includes in traditionally red states. 2006 was the start of a trend. We were not suppossed to even win the Senate, and we did

However, if it meant that we could take the white house if Webb ran as the VP, I think that is more important than his Senate seat because of the tremendous power that the executive branch now has

[cali]

23. I hope you're right, but I still don't see the dems taking

more than 5 Senate seats, and I see them losing one. But aside from that, I don't see a Senator choosing another Senator- particularly one with such limited government experience. Webb's service under Reagan was quite short, and he hasn't even been a Senator for a year.

[0007]

26. I think you meant to say Craig of Idaho, 'eh? Brit Hume thinks Craig

is from Iowa.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Did Webb write some stuff that was kind of objectionable to the Values Voters crowd, or

am I thinking of Scooter Libby?

[Mz Pip]

17. You're correct

He's a novelist and wrote a passage in one of his books that the values crowd found offensive. Like a war novel should have anything graphic in it. :eyes:

Mz Pip
:dem:

[gateley]

14. I've only become aware of him recently, and I like what I've seen. If he is

picked for a running mate, he wouldn't be the only Dem eyeing the WH who was once a Republican....

[Exultant Democracy]

18. Terrible choice, Webb is best where he is, and I hope he has a long career

If all goes to plan we can lock up two Democratic Senators from Virgina for the foreseeable future, if you take Webb out of the equation it is back to the drawing board.

[OHdem10]

19. Snatching Defeat from jaws of Victory is the Dem. Party

playbook.

If we do not keep strong people in the senate, nothing else
matters.

We must the hold the Senate and house--in the event we lose
the presidency.

[Le Taz Hot]

20. I don't see it.

I know he's a relatively conservative Democrat but he is a strong personality and he's got that military background. Somehow I can't see him marching to the Clinton cabal's orders.

For that matter, I can't see her V.P. as any one of the current candidates (MAYBE Richardson, hoping to get the Hispanic vote). She'll choose someone loyal to the Clinton regime.

[MilesColtrane]

25. I have always thought that she is going to pick Clarke as her running mate. n/t

[w4rma]

24. He's extremely needed in Virginia. No thanks.

If Hillary needs a good Southerner on the ticket, there are others with similar credentials and who won't be taken away from an important job that they need to do.

[Amigust]

27. Supports Domestic Spying

He's one of the blue dogs who just a few short weeks ago voted to INCREASE Bush's domestic spying power.