LAT: Running Mate Rumors Fly

[DeepModem Mom]

THE RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Running Mate Rumors Fly
Political observers are busy speculating about Kerry's timing, as well as the likely Democratic nominee's choice for a potential vice president.

By Mark Z. Barabak, Times Staff Writer


...Speculation abounds, vice presidential chatter being to Washington what Oscar rumors are to Hollywood. The Hotline, an online compendium of political news read religiously by campaign junkies, lists more than 60 names that have been bandied about, some more seriously than others....

***

Kerry's deliberations have drawn even more than the usual attention because of a debate among Democrats on whether he should break with tradition and pick a running mate sooner — in May or June — or wait until closer to the Democratic National Convention in late July....

***

Kerry faces a raft of political considerations as he weighs his options. Should he pick a candidate who might help capture a swing state, such as Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (whom Kerry campaigned with Sunday), or one of Florida's two U.S. senators, Bob Graham or Bill Nelson?

Or should he send a message about ideological balance by choosing someone such as Bayh or Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, from the party's centrist wing?...

(At the end of the article, an "Infobox" gives "pluses and minuses" of five "frequently mentioned" Veep candidates: Edwards, Gephardt, and Governors Richardson of N.M., Vilsack of Iowa, and Warner of Virginia.)


http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-veep28apr28,1,5075088.story?coll=la-home-politics

[loudsue]

1. I didn't see a word about Clark mentioned.....

I just cannot believe that John Kerry isn't seriously thinking about Wes Clark. I mean, it's kind of a no-brainer, given both the international AND the domestic situation.

:kick:

[Tactical Progressive]

2. It doesn't get much clearer than Wesley Clark

for this election.

[girl gone mad]

3. Clark has my vote..

as well.

I'm staying hopeful. Nobody thought Cheney would be Bush's pick, and I don't remember Lieberman being the frontrunner in the rumour mill.

[Tactical Progressive]

4. I agree with your wait and see attitude

but Clark should be on everybody's list and obviously he isn't. The Kerry campaign is responsible for that and it's troubling that they could be that tone-deaf about it.

[AnnitaR]

5. Every time I see an article that DOESN'T mention Clark

I get more hopefull that he WILL be the VP choice.

The Kerry camp seems to be playing this very close to the vest. I think that they are thrilled that Clark is running so far under the radar now. They want their choice to be a big surprise. When he picks Clark it's going to shock the hell out of a lot of people!

[JPJones]

6. Clark always made the most sense

But, apparently, saying the Kerry campaign will implode pissed off the Kerry people. However, I hope that Kerry will announce some role for Wes at the time he announces his VP, such as Sec. of State or as some type of special envoy to clean up the mess in Iraq (or to repair our relationship with our allies).

Kerry is going to hold his nose and pick Hoynes, oops, I mean Edwards, IMNSHO.

[AnnitaR]

7. Don't read to much into that whole "implode" thing...

that was a lot of hay about nothing.

If there was bad blood between the camps over that supposed statement we would NOT be seeing Wes out there; more than any of the other candidates, touting Kerry on TV and in the newspapers.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. Check out today's NY Times Op Ed

Clark has written a glowing op ed about Kerry's courage in Viet Nam. Think that says loads about the Clark/Kerry situation.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. It seems the 'liberal press'

is doing everything they can to pretend that Clark doesn't even exist. Obviously a Kerry/Clark ticket would be an unbeatable threat to the reselection of Chickenshit and Chickenhawk.

[LandOLincoln]

10. Clark who?? Guess the fact that the Librul media pretends

he doesn't exist, is proof positive that he really is a Republican, right? :evilgrin:

[Devils Advocate NZ]

11. Balance???

Or should he send a message about ideological balance by choosing someone such as Bayh or Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, from the party's centrist wing?...

So, does this mean that Kerry is meant to be seen as a representative of the left wing of the Dem party? If so, then I predict that Nader and the Greens will be picking up a lot more votes in the future (probably NOT this year though - but you never know).

[LandOLincoln]

12. Since apparently you live in New Zealand, I guess you can be forgiven

for not knowing that the Green leadership have now wised up and wouldn't touch Nadir with the proverbial ten-foot pole.

[Devils Advocate NZ]

13. That is why I listed them seperately...

Nader (if he continues to run in the future) will pick up some of the support, and the Greens will pick up the rest.

So, yes I DO know that the Greens have distanced themselves from Nader.

[dusty64]

14. Rumors is right.

I really know this is pure speculation, but I hope they are not onto something. Picking a conservative Dem is NOT a good strategy as many consider Kerry himself (of late) to be pretty centrist. He really needs to find someone who appeals to independants and Green leaning voters. I would much rather see Clark or even Edwards being considered and I hope he doesn't take one of the Democratic Governors or sitting Senators (we need them in their present positions).

[DemonFighterLives]

15. Sure hope he picks a winner

We need a real "Plus" on the ticket. Clark would be great. We need someone right now to go on the attack.
Amazing when Clark was running, I had the Freeps on another website hyperventilating over his supposed War Crimes in Kosovo. At the same time, any war crime in Iraq was just fine.