What about a Midwestern ticket?

[Radical Activist]

There's a lot to be said for regional balance on a Presidential ticket and a Midwestern/Southern populist ticket would be very powerful in November.

But what if Obama pulled a Clinton and picked a running mate for the same region to consolidate his strength in the Midwest?

If Obama carries his neighboring swing states of Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin that could decide the election. And of course winning Ohio would seal it up.

Who in the Midwest would be a good running mate for Obama?

As much as I want to say Feingold, I don't see it happening. Anyone else out there?

[LisaM]

1. If Obama wins, he needs to choose Hillary

Like it or not, she has racked up almost as many delegates as he and will pull in more. Why on earth wouldn't he pick her? When the two of them came out to debate together, people loved it.

[Muttocracy]

3. "why on earth wouldn't he"

because he's always talking about new politics, not going back in time, not going for partisan politics.

And what the heck would he do with Bill C. Do you think Bill would be 2nd spouse?

edit to add

also, if he's the nominee would she really bring in people who would otherwise vote for McCain or not vote at all?

[Radical Activist]

6. What does she bring to the ticket?

He'll carry New York anyway. If he's worried about women voters then he can pick a woman from a swing state that won't energize the Republican base to vote against her like they will with Hillary.

[JVS]

12. No way.

There are way too many drawbacks she brings to the ticket.

[stahbrett]

16. Half of the country dislikes her (eom)

[susankh4]

27. Agreed!

And if she wins she needs him. This is the natural consequence of pitting tow minorities against one another in the primary. Either one will perciece injustice if their candidate is not on the ticket.

The Dems risk losing massive numbers of votes without both of them. Hillary's voters will turn to McCain. Baracks will simply stay home.

The party will be assunder if both of them are not on the ticket. You can take that to the bank.

[RoadRage]

31. I think it would be a bad decision for Obama to pick HRC

She doesn't help him out much with additional voters.. most dems would vote for Obama over McCain anyway. However, adding her could help him lose some of the valuable Indy's & Repubs we need to get a majority.

Any scandal that could come up would taint his presidency.. that could be said for ANY VP, but with Clinton (and Bill) it just seems more likely IMO.

I do think Clinton could benifit by adding Obama as a VP (although I hope he would turn it down), but I don't see Obama as getting as much benifit from Hillary.

[Sanity Claws]

2. That sounds like a one-way ticket

One way to losing.
I think Obama may have to balance his ticket with a woman. A lot of democrats were pulling for Hillary -- I think you've noticed that. I think he may want to keep those supporters by having a woman as his Veep, IMHO.

[Radical Activist]

5. There are women in the Midwest to choose from.

Including statewide office holders in Missouri and Kansas who supported him in the primary.

Or do you think it has to be Hillary to get women on board?

[Sanity Claws]

7. Does not have to be Hillary

but I think if he had Hillary, it would help him. However, Hillary may not be interested.
I'd love Senator Feinstein or maybe Governor Gregoire of Washington. How about that Kansas governor (I can't remember her name)?

[Radical Activist]

8. I don't see what Hillary has to gain

from being Vice President. The same for Obama. She already has more power and national recognition than the office of VP can offer. I never thought seeing them on a ticket together was likely no matter who wins the nomination.

[Sanity Claws]

11. She might negotiate a role with him.

If she is able to negotiate a certain role, she may be interested. Right now, she is just 1 of 100. She could negotiate a more significant role for herself as VP.
I could see them on the ticket together, either way. I know they would have some animosity to get over but politics does make strange bedfellows, much stranger than these two.

[Radical Activist]

34. I have no doubt

that Hillary and Barack could put aside their differences and run together. Their own ambitions will keep them apart more than any personal differences. They've both been in politics long enough to not take things personally and be more civil than 90% of their supporters on DU.

I was just looking up Claire McCaskill in MO. Her positions on the Armed Services and Homeland Security committees could help. Obama may want someone with a stronger military of foreign policy background but she seems like a strong choice. MO would be an important state to pick up too. She endorsed him in the primary.

[rpannier]

10. I don't think it will be Feinstein or Sebellius

If it's Feinstein then Arnold gets to pick her replacement and that will be a republikkan

If Sebellius then Kansas will have a republikkan governor

[Sanity Claws]

14. Good points

Who else would be suitable?
I like Governor Gregoire.
Washington State has two female Senators, but I don't think either one would be right. Patty Murray is a lightweight and not ready for the scrutiny of a national campaign. Cantwell is relatively inexperienced and also not up to the scrutiny and pressure of a national campaign.

[MadBadger]

15. Feinstein? Why wouldnt you think of the better Senator in that state?

[Sanity Claws]

18. I had a senior moment

I should have thought of her first -- I used to have a boxer dog whom I loved dearly.

[XemaSab]

28. Gregoire is really new, no?

And I think DiFi likes the senate just fine, she has more power there than she would as VP. There's also the corporate factor and having a "Muslim" :eyes: and a Jew on the same ticket could go really well, or notsowell. :P

[LisaM]

29. That Kansas governor would be a TERRIBLE choice

Did you hear her awful speech after the state of the union? It certainly didn't sound as if it was made on behalf of the Democratic party.

[Radical Activist]

30. I didn't hear it.

What was so bad? I don't know much about her other than people suggesting she could be the VP nominee.

Someone would have to convince me that having her on the ticket would win Kansas. But since Barack was born there I guess its possible. She might also help in Missouri if the people on the MO side of Kansas City know about her and like her.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. Obama won the KS caucuses 3 to 1

But as a Kansan, I am going to be selfish and hope he does not pick our governor for his vp. We like her and she is doing a great job as Dem governor in a very red state.

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. She's an awesome governor

One speech does not define her.

[Voltaire99]

24. We can win without Hillary supporters.

That's the message of the numbers in the last few weeks.

Clintonism's dead, and good riddance!

[Muttocracy]

4. I think region is not very relevant.

It's not like the VP brings special earmarks back just to their state. I think fewer and fewer Americans identify themselves with a particular region. For that matter, to be from northern VA vs. western VA, or upstate vs. downstate NY, or urban south vs. rural south... those have more difference than state to state.

What Obama needs is an experience balance - someone with more military and/or foreign policy credentials, particularly in light of the likely GOP nom.

[Radical Activist]

9. You may be right

That's why I keep thinking he'll pick Jim Webb. The fact that he used to be a Republican increases his crossover appeal as well.

[Muttocracy]

17. I wonder how well they know each other? n/t

[JVS]

13. Whoever he selects should have plenty of experience.

[Barack_America]

19. Actually, not too much...

Otherwise it undermines his "Change trumps Experience" theme. Having a too experienced running mate might actually weaken him vs. McCain.

It might also be smart to pick a Governor over a Senator.

Hmmm, now I'm starting to rethink my original choice of Biden. Perhaps Kaine might be the better choice after all.

[goodhue]

20. Maybe McCaskill?

[thatsrightimirish]

21. Military experience would be good

Hugh Shelton who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And of course Clark. But an interesting choice would be Gene Taylor from Mississippi. Even though he is probably one of the most conservative democrats in congress he would help us with the white vote and to bring back Reagan democrats. He's also the chair of the armed services committee in the house.

[Radical Activist]

22. I wonder

if Obama would have a chance at carrying MS even with Gene Taylor on the ticket.

I don't know much about Shelton. I'll have to look him up.

[thoughtcrime1984]

23. Clark!

I don't care that he's with Hil right now. He would probably accept VP under Obama, don't you think?

[Bongo Prophet]

25. Yes, on wes - brings military experience, Arkansas native, blue collar, and even Fox viewers(!)

Plus, being from Clinton camp, it could be seen as a healing move.
This really attacks McCain's strength - a SACEUR trumps a lot of posing, and he was also RIGHT on Iraq.

I agree with poster above who notes that the country is getting less regionalized all the time. Now, TV recognition os far more powerful, and he has been on FOX for years, so the older mod/right 60+ demo is comfy with him.

He is also a brilliant mind and teacher.
I really can't think of a better match.

[Radical Activist]

26. The fact that Clark backs Hillary is a plus.

Its a way to reach out to Hillary and her supporters and show party unity. I'm not convinced his ties to Arkansas are strong enough to carry the state, but military background is good.

[book_worm]

32. possible MW running mates for Obama: Sebilius (KS), Feingold (WI), Dashle (SD),

Gov. Chet Culver (IA), Bayh (IN), Strickland (OH)Doyle (Wi-gov)

[Radical Activist]

33. Daschle would be interesting.

He brings lots of experience to the table. People get hard on Daschle but I still appreciate what a perfect antidote his calm, rational style was to Newt Gingrich when he first became majority leader. He was also a very early Obama supporter. Being from SD doesn't help though. It has few electoral votes and he may or may not be able to carry the state.

I don't know much about Strickland but he sounds like a good choice with experience in Washington and as a Governor. He would almost guarantee Ohio, and thus the election, for Obama. I wonder how liberal or conservative he was in Congress though?

Chet Culver doesn't have enough experience. Bayh wouldn't bring Indiana and would piss off a lot of people in the party. I don't think either of them would be smart choices.

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. Claire McCaskill