Now that Clark is out of the question as Obama's VP candidate

[Colobo]

Who should Obama choose if he wins the nomination?

[Totally Committed]

1. I f he wins the nomination, I'd like to see him choose someone who can pull him to the left.

He's too "moderate" as of now. Bobby Kennedy, Jr., maybe (I don't see him running himself this late in the game...)

TC

[Colobo]

2. Obama/Kennedy. Sounds powerful!

[saltpoint]

11. You use the word "powerful."

And "powerful" is the right word.

God, what a ticket that would be in U.S. political history.

[Totally Committed]

22. Can you imagine?

One for the history books, allright!

I'd love to see that ticket.

TC

[bpeale]

34. most people's first response would be...

i thought he was dead! because of course they have no idea WHO his son is.

[Terri S]

7. That would be the ticket I'd love to see!

I like Obama/Feingold too

[tammywammy]

12. Just because he's not running

Doesn't mean he wouldn't be the VP candidate. Look at Cheney, he wasn't running either.

[sandnsea]

26. Now there's a dream ticket

But I don't know that Bobby would do it.

Obama is not moderate. He believes in listening to moderates, big difference. If you look at the legislation he passed in Illinois, it was progressive and aimed at the poor and clean government. He's the only one I've heard take on the Christian fundamentalists, but nobody pays any attention to that. The only thing anyone wants to talk about is his faith, and the only reason he talks about his faith is in order to contrast the right wing radicals.

[panader0]

3. I must have missed something. Why is Clark out of the question?

[woodsprite]

5. Cause it just came out that he endorses Hillary. n /t

[saltpoint]

15. He's certainly not out on appeal or qualifications, but on preference. He's

just picked his candidate and offered his endorsement of same.

[tammywammy]

4. Off topic warning

But that's an awesome picture of the Obama family in your sig line. :)


I'm still partial to the idea of Richardson as a VP.

[Adelante]

6. When did that happen?

Either explain or provide a link. Thanks.

[saltpoint]

8. Always a tough call, which makes your post a really good question.

Ideology and geography and electoral votes all come into play, but by degrees.

Maybe Bill Nelson. Not my favorite Senator among all our Democratic senators, but Florida matters and Nelson has that post-NASA gravitas that might pull in some serious votes.

Chris Dodd. If Dodd is not our nominee, I think he would be a worthy team player in an Obama White House.

Janet Napolitano would be a breath-taking choice. Western governor, and a capable soul.

I hope it wouldn't be Sam Nunn, although there he is.

Bill Bradley. Experienced, poised, and great on rebounds.

Phil Bredeson (sp?) of Tennessee.

Good question.

[tammywammy]

10. I don't think a two senator card is all that great

This would go for Hillary as well as Obama, but I'd think they'd both be better off if they chose as their running mate, someone that's not in the senate.

I mean that we're already running the up hill battle as it is, running a Senator, I think having two on a ticket is just straining it that much more.


edited: spelling :(

[saltpoint]

13. I hear you, and would favor keeping as many Senate seats safe as we can.

I'd go with Bill Bradley, if the candidate called me and said, "Crusoe, we're undecided about a veep -- so it's up to you. Your pick, your call, who's it going to be?"

I'd choose Bradley. Retired U.S. Senator. No loss of a Senate vote, and plenty to like in the nominee.

[tammywammy]

14. I think that's a wise choice

I hadn't really thought about Bradley before. Good call.

[Yupster]

20. Janet Napolitano

I think you hit a home run with that choice.

Picking a woman would help if people were disappointed Hillary didn't win. She's a Governor, competent, and from a good region of the country.

I think you picked a good one there.

Howevet, I rate Obama's chances of winning the nomination at very low, after Hillary (who in my opinion has already won it), Edwards, Biden and even Richardson.

I just don't think Obama is the longest of longshots.

[Colobo]

21. Obama's chances are much higher than Biden's and Richardson's combined.

[saltpoint]

27. The polls we're reading now are snapshots. Sometimes they capture the

essence of trends, and sometimes they appear to but miss something we can't see in the immediate frame of the picture.

Between now and December some of the candidates for both major parties will drop out. That will leave us with a different landscape with new polling and brand new snapshots to evaluate.

Perhaps some candidates will be late entries. Gore? Hart? RFK Jr?

And of course the Republicans haven't fielded any candidates so far. Maybe they have one somewhere, although I certainly have no idea who it might be.

Autumn before an election cycle is always breath-taking. There will be some serious highlights. Between now and mid-December, I believe Joe Biden climbs into strong contendtion for the nomination, and will place first or second in Iowa; or absent that, third. I believe Edwards, Obama, and Biden will decide the first three positions on caucus night, with Gov. Richardson and Sen. Clinton duking it out for 4th.

[jillan]

32. NO!!!!! you can't have her.

She is the only sane politician in Arizona -

hands off.

[saltpoint]

38. LOL!

[AlCzervik]

9. Thats a good question, wouldn't you love to see their lists?

[AtomicKitten]

16. Disappointing -- An Obama/Clark ticket would have been formidable.

[tammywammy]

18. Realistically though

If Obama wins the nomination, he could still ask Clark to be VP. I think Clark as anyone's VP is good though.

[AtomicKitten]

29. Clark would make a brilliant VP for any of the candidates

[tammywammy]

33. Oh I agree completely

Or even as a Sec of State in any administration.

[Pithy Cherub]

17. That is not the way it works politically. At all.

So what, everybody who endorses someone else is looked at with fresh eyes in the months before the convention. For all types of positions. It also goes against Obama's nature to bear grudges and not embrace those who did not embrace him before. the timing of the Clark announcement is curious because Hillary is not racking up the younger hipper crowd that spurs turn out. Clark brings experience and many supporters. I was an ardent Clarkie and retain my respect for him. Obama has even met with Clark to discuss national security. Samantha Power endorsed Clark in 2004. Oprah's endorsement of Barack greatly shook the Clintons. Gore's endorsement is the last remaining BIG get. Hillary's chances of getting that are not top tier. The League of Conservation Voters just ranked Obama the best. Hillary wants to get big endorsements now because the $$$$$ primary is likely to tell a tale as well. Obama is in the sweet spot and Clark is going to with Hillary to turn out military voters. Oprah will go around the same time - which surrogate will turn out the biggest crowds. The only two who have the power to fill stadiums are Gore, who has not endorsed, and oprah who is all in for barack and happens to have a small communications gig that might be helpful.

All of it will be water under the bridge later. Remember how Edwards sucked up to be Kerry's running mate. JFK took LBJ. Gore endorsed Dean, not his old running mate from 2000. Political alliances do not get etched in stone at that level.

[Colobo]

19. Good analysis! Thanks for clarifying this.

[LWolf]

23. Al Sharpton. n/t

[eweaver155]

24. It is too early to decide for anyone.

[coco77]

25. Hillary and Clark...

[jcrew2001]

28. Bayh or Nelson FLA ?

or a Democratic lifer with lots of experience like Richardson, but not Biden or Dodd.

[saltpoint]

30. Agree that Bayh and Nelson might be potent additions to that ticket.

Wouldn't hurt to contend for the electoral votes in those states at all.

[jcrew2001]

35. Do you think Nelson will be burned with Florida's primary

and piss off DNC people like Dean. But that may be a GOOD thing since Carville, etc hate Dean - so Nelson is doing Hillary a favor.

[saltpoint]

39. It's hard to say what ol' Bill is up to. He can't win this on points, but he

might get his name in the headlines for a strong frame of reference to the Denver convention.

He's a puzzler, that Bill Nelson.

If he's named as veep, though, the GOP gov of FL would likely replace him with a Republican.

We likely don't want to lose any votes in the Senate.

[Hieronymus]

31. Gore/Kennedy

[Capn Sunshine]

36. EDWARDS

Or Barbara Boxer. Richardson would add the experience cachet that the MSM will surely harp on.

[rucky]

37. Not sure what one has to do with the other.

Kerry won and picked his opponent.