Who would be the best VP choice for Barack Obama and why?

[Colobo]

Thinking ahead. :)

[DURHAM D]

1. I thought we had already agreed that Obama would be Hill's best

choice for VP.

[Selatius]

2. John Edwards, because of his economic populist message of fighting inequality in America

An Obama presidency could be a stepping stone for another populist president in the form of John Edwards. Hopefully, he can play the game as well as he talks the game, and be the next FDR for the middle class and the working poor in America.

[jenmito]

3. Nah. Wes Clark would give the ticket unbeatable foreign policy experience

Edwards has too similar a message to Obama and won't add anything.

[Superman Returns]

6. nope

He was already a VP candidate, it would make no sense for him to run for the position again. Historically I don't even think it's ever happened.

[saracat]

8. John will never play second fiddle again. Impossible choice.

and certainly not to someone with even "less' experience than himself nationally.

[Superman Returns]

4. not sure

regional balance is overrated, I did a project on it, and I believe it rarely works. The best bet is someone who compliments Obama's resume without overshadowing it. I would say maybe Mark Warner of Virginia though it would be better for him to run for Senate. Definitely not Jim Webb, not another one term Senator on the ticket, we need to hold our majority anyway. Someone outside of D.C. would be a good choice, such as the Governor of Kansas can't spell her name. General Clark in some ways would be good for the ticket but I have a feeling he may want to take control of the foreign policy debate and thus rub Obama the wrong way.

[Colobo]

5. Obama/Clark winning so far!

[Capn Sunshine]

7. I voted Richardson, but Clark would be great as well

One of those two men will end up as Secretary of State.

[Buzz Clik]

9. Jesse Helms

[Adelante]

11. This is for Obama's VP

Not Edwards' VP ;)

[draft_mario_cuomo]

14. You mean the guy who beat Helm's protege in a southern red state?

;)

[Adelante]

15. The guy who was promising voters he wouldn't vote much differently

than Jesse Helms - something like that ;)

[draft_mario_cuomo]

16. Oh. The guy who voted much differently than Helms/Faircloth/Dole?

;)

[Adelante]

19. The guy with the wife who recently said he compared to

Jesse Helms ;)

[draft_mario_cuomo]

25. On being outspoken?

;)

[Adelante]

34. Well, you got me there - Jesse Helms may have used that

vile right wing smear about the Lincoln bedroom - I just don't remember ;)

[LWolf]

10. Medea Benjamin. n/t

[Exultant Democracy]

12. Richardson. Reason one; the Ted Nugents of the world will think twice before they shoot

Reason two; the southwest would be in play like nobody's business.

Reason three; look at the Resume, he is the most qualified candidate since Hoover (this is not a joke even though Hoover turned out to be a mess he was a qualified mess and the work he is in Europe after WWI saved millions of lives easy.)

Reason four; we need to firm up our support with the Hispanic community and the only way to do that is to show that we support them.

Reason five; the expanded powers of the office of the vice president.

[BeyondGeography]

20. I chose Clark, but Richardson is a close second with me

Well stated.

[Exultant Democracy]

23. They both need to be gang pressed into the Cabinet at least,

if it come to that.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

13. Obama-Clark=2 years of political experience. Obama-Webb is a better combination

Of the choices listed I vote for Obama-Webb. Webb brings the same things to the table that Clark does (security credentials, southern background) but can't be painted as inexperienced due to his tenure as Secretary of Navy in the 1980's. The fact that he served under Reagan only increases his potential appeal to swing voters. Obama-Webb could also run on the IWR, although Obama's constant attacks on those who supported the IWR will undermine his GE chances because 70% of people were "naive and irresponsible" enough to support it.

If Clark is going to get on the ticket it will be with Clinton or Richardson. Obama-Clark would be a poor ticket and Edwards-Clark is unlikely since they apparently hate each other.

Obama-Richardson? Never going to happen. The party is not going to go for two "firsts" at the same time. That is just political reality.

People seem to be voting for the ticket they want, not the ticket that would be the strongest. ;)

[Jai4WKC08]

38. Webb doesn't have any diplomatic background

And really, he doesn't have more political experience than Clark either. If I recall correctly, Webb was Sec of the Navy less than a year when he resigned. He was an undersecretary for a while... I forget for what... but that's far less autonomy or responsibility than a Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. And a LOT less politics involved.

And the simple fact is, Clark is a MUCH more impressive speaker. Better looking too.

I think Clark is a far more likely pick for Obama than Webb. He won't be Clinton's VP for sure -- that'll probably be Vilsack, Warner, or Bayh. Some safe, controllable DLCer who won't overshadow the "experience" factor she's trying to sell.

Edit to add: Not that I think Clark would accept being VP. He could probably be talked into it, but it's not something he's interested in.

[smoogatz]

17. Obama would make an excellent VP for Al Gore.

Speaking of thinking ahead.

[Colobo]

18. It's just that Al is not running for president, and Obama is.

[smoogatz]

21. I thought we were playing pretend.

Did I miss something? The primaries are over? Obama won? Holy shit--back in late August of '07 he was running second and losing ground to Hillary.

[Colobo]

24. Relax. Obama will win and everything will be fine.

[smoogatz]

27. My point being that Gore still has plenty of time to get into the race.

Maybe he won't. I hope he does.

[Dawgs]

29. If he does I hope he picks Obama.

[smoogatz]

30. Obama would make a fine VP.

So would Wes Clark. But I'd bet $1.35 that Gore would choose Obama.

[BeyondGeography]

32. Could easily live with Gore

As for Gore/Obama, which brick wall do you want me to run through first?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

26. Is Obama still running for president?

;)

[Skink]

22. Kucinich

[Dawgs]

28. draft_mario_cuomo

:hi:

[BeyondGeography]

33. What better way to show Barack's unmatched ability to bring people together?

;)

[draft_mario_cuomo]

39. Colin Powell?

;)

[SoxFan]

31. Joe Biden

Excelent debater
Foreign policy experience
Blue collar appeal
Irish Catholic
Compelling personal story
Helps ticket in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey

[NoAmericanTaliban]

35. Sam Nunn - has experience & could help get southern votes

[Colobo]

36. So, Obama/Clark is the winning ticket according to most of you.

[Augdog20]

42. My favorite southerners would be Gore or Edwards n/t

[ginnyinWI]

37. someone older.

I don't know just who that would be. Someone with experience. Maybe Biden, although he'd probably be better as Secretary of State. Richardson could also be Sec-State. We will need an excellent one if we are going to untangle the Iraq occupation.

My favorite politicians right now are Kerry, Gore, Obama, Biden and Dodd.

[Augdog20]

40. Wesley Clark? He's so 2004. Rather, Obama needs ...

Hillary or another woman to balance the ticket. -like Nancy Pelosi
If any of those men would be the pick, I'd say Joe Biden for the foreign policy experience. People would give Obama accolades for forgiving Biden for his really moronic comments earlier this year.

[Sparkly]

41. "really moronic comments"

Oh, nevermind. :eyes: