What is the best choice for Kerry's VP?

[Nikki Stone 1]

I'm not the biggest fan of Edwards or Gephardt. If you want to talk me out of it, go ahead. I'm game. :)

[sangh0]

1. You are

You are the very best choice for Kerry's VP. With you behind, there's no chance he would lose :-)

[Nikki Stone 1]

5. Bizarre

?

[Sequoia]

2. Edwards of the Pepsi Generation

[JI7]

3. latest news suggest Bob Graham, and Bill Richardson are still possibile

latest news suggest that bob graham and bill richardson still may be possible choices. this also seems positive for wes clark because it might look like kerry will still pick someone based on foreign policy/national security issues.

[Nikki Stone 1]

7. I've heard a lot of good things about Richardson.

Nothing bad, certainly.

[AntiCoup2K4]

16. Richardson's on FAUX News even more than Holy Joe Lieberman!

And he's also repeatedly denied any interest in the job. Graham would be a reasonable choice, based on the national security thing.

[Dardi]

27. Graham would be a disaster, I think

Probably wouldn't even deliver Florida and would be a sleeping pill for the rest of the country. He just doesn't have the energy anymore.

[Catholic Sensation]

4. are your goals winning or making some kind of statement?

[Nikki Stone 1]

6. That's an excellent question.

To win is essential, I think.

To make as statement? That's something I'd love to do. Then again, I voted for Kucinich in the primary.

[Catholic Sensation]

9. i don't wish to offend the gephardt supporters here, all 3.4 of them, but

he won't bring victory. As I see it there are two democrats who could make it much easier for John Kerry to beat Bush:

- John Edwards: the guy could really help us in the south. He brings the populist attitude that John Kerry doesn't have. I believe he did the best with independents and moderate Republicans in the primaries as well. He's also closer to the center on many issues, thus allowing Kerry to move back to the left slightly to appeal to the "base."

- Hillary Clinton: since she's more moderate than John Kerry, she can appeal to groups like the DLC and New Democrat Network, while John Kerry moves himself back to his NATURAL liberal position. She also has tremendous name recognition, is a very good speaker, articulates her positions well when it isn't health care reform in 1994, and because she stood by her douchebag husband has the strength of character issue on lock more than Bush or Cheney could ever dream.

If you wish to make a statement and lose badly, Howard Dean is your man. This is nothing against the much more politically moderate Dean, but his "gaffes" would be used against the campaign. And judging by the primary results, Independents just don't like him.

If you want to make a serious statement, pick Nancy Pelosi. She's got better politics for the majority of DUers than Mrs. Clinton does, she's also an excellent speaker, and even though she doesn't look it, she's got a lot of experience.

[Nikki Stone 1]

12. Aren't Hilary's negatives really high?

I like Hilary a lot better than Edwards, but I always thought that her negatives--and her certain pummeling by the neocon media--would hurt her with the swing voters.

[JI7]

14. it's up to John Kerry to bring victory, not any vp

in the end people will mostly vote on who is at the top of the ticket.

[Bandit]

21. Only among those who would never vote Democratic anyway

Among sane people she is adored.

[jedicord]

8. Edwards

Not because I think he's the best on issues or policy. I hate to say this, but the average American citizen votes on image. Seriously, my sister voted for Bush because he's cute (yuk) and my mother-in-law voted for him because he's from Texas.

Edwards is attractive and a good speaker. He is fun to look at and listen to. Kerry has foreign policy experience, so that isn't necessary in his mind (IMO).

So, Edwards adds to what Kerry doesn't have (looks and charm), and Kerry fills out the rest.

They'll gain at least 2 Bush votes (my sister, 'cause he's cuter and my mother-in-law 'cause he's at least from the South).

[Nikki Stone 1]

10. Dubya is CUTE? (I guess the bar has been lowered in recent years)

Sadly, the reasons you give sound like good ones.

Sigh.

[JI7]

15. probably cute like chimps in a zoo

[JHBowden]

11. Probably Edwards.

I was on the Wes Clark bandwagon, but recent polls show Kerry holding his own on foreign policy. Edwards is able to connect to small town America in ways in which other candidates don't.

[doni_georgia]

13. I think Edwards is the best choice

There are a lot of people in the south who aren't happy with Bush. They are out of work, struggling, but they willnot vote for a "Yankee" over one of their own unless there is a southerner on the ticket. Sad as this is (and believe me I believe it is very sad), there is a lot of bias against northerners in the south, and Kerry needs a southerner on the ticket. I know many consider Missouri to be a southern state, but to quote my dad, "You can't get sweet tea in Missouri."

[Nikki Stone 1]

18. Looks, charm and sweet tea...

I guess these are the criteria. (I've had sweet tea, BTW. Enough to give you diabetes in one gulp.)

[Walt Starr]

17. I'd say probably Clark or Edwards

Either would be dramatic statements and either could be consistently attacking the opposition.

[dr.strangelove]

19. Its all about Electoral Math - 2 choices

Edwards or Richardson

Edwards delivers votes in some southern states. Bill Richardson delivers votes in CA, AZ, NM and Nevada. We will win CA without Richardson, so I don;t count those votes. We probably will not will NV or NM, and we will only take AZ if McCain keeps his promise not to bash Kerry. (McCain is Clintonian down there. He could have sex with Jeri Ryan on TV and he'd still win his seat)
Edwards may deliver NC and will help in AK, LA and TN.

To me its all about winning and who helps with the electoral math. If they were running against each other I'd pick Edwards, but for VP, whoever helps get Kerry in the Oval.

[Kazak]

20. Of the candidates I've heard bandied about...

Clark is the best, followed by Edwards.

[Eloriel]

22. Is there some reason this can't be in GD2004?

Where I never go because I don't want to see, let alone participate in discussions about Kerry.

[Nikki Stone 1]

23. This thread was inspired by the Gebhardt poll thread. Sorry if it offends

Kerry wasn't my first choice either, but he seems to be what we've got.

[JI7]

26. and many of us DO want to see this in the GD forum

and nobody is forcing you to open up this thread. the subject said kerry and you don't have to open it if you don't want to participate int he discussion. just as most people don't participate in all the discussions going on or evne open up all the threads based ont he subject.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. Dennis Kucinich, Nancy Pelosi, John Lewis, Barbara Boxer.

To name a few I'd like to see Kerry have the courage to name. But, we'll probably get stuck with a supposedly "safe" choice.

Of the most mentioned, Wes Clark or Bob Graham, would cause less strain on the gag reflex.

Edwards will call for an extra dose of pepto-bismol but I'll still vote for Kerry.

Gephardt, Bayh, Vilsack, and I'm rescinding my decision to vote for Kerry and I'm back to voting Green.

[Bandit]

25. I would love to see him choose Ann Lewis

:shrug: But what do I know. I only know when I hear her on any talk show or read what she has to say it is truly inspiring and makes me say yes yes yes that is what we need. She is feared among Conservative hosts and guests alike. They never win against her.

[MalachiConstant]

28. why not

wes clark for vp? smart guy, well liked, brilliant and highly respected military mind.