Obama Campaigning With Potential VPs Today In Virginia

[BeyondGeography]

With the general election campaign now officially in full swing, Barack Obama is heading today to Virginia, a red state that has been trending Democratic in recent years -- and he's campaigning with two people who might just be on the VP short list.

Obama will be appearing with Congressman Rick Boucher, former Governor and current Senate candidate Mark Warner, plus Governor Tim Kaine and Senator Jim Webb. Both Kaine and Webb's names have been mentioned in press coverage as possible running mates.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/obama_campaigning_with_potenti.php

[Colobo]

1. Obama/Webb is powerful.

[BeyondGeography]

2. He will/must get serious consideration

If he survives the vetting process and the chemistry is right with Obama, Webb could be the man.

[karynnj]

10. Given his issues with women in the military years, his selection would rub

salt into wounds. Not to mention he came very close to being a SBVT in 2004 with his disgusting op-ed.

[BeyondGeography]

12. It's a problem

Then again, McCain called his wife an unmentionable and didn't blink when he was asked if he could "beat the bitch." Thanks for the low bar there, John.

How do Webb and Kerry get along, anyway? If there's an issue there, that's a killer for Webb. Obama would die before he did anything to wound Kerry.

[karynnj]

14. Kerry endorsed Webb in the primaries

It is possible that Webb might not have won without that endorsement and the money Kerry raised. I suspect the relationship between them is ok - Kerry is not the type to let personal grievances dictate his actions. (He forgave Nixon and shook his hand, though with an incredulous look on his face, in the 1990s) Kerry is motivated to form coalitions to pass things.

My comments were why I thought that I would not want to see him President - the question you need to ask here - though only Obama will make the choice. What I listed were things I thought of as character flaws and positions on issues that I disagreed with. There are enough of both that - unless he was the only one Obama could win with (or the one with the best chance). As a Democrat, I will not forgive his op-ed, but given that only Obama's vote counts here - if Obama picks him he's the VP. What mystifies me is that why good Democrats like Kerry get trashed for not making things happen that are beyond their power, Webb is defied as he creates a pretty mediocre record. How many threads demanding Kerry be kicked out of the party would there be if he and Webb had "traded records" in the years since Webb was there?

[Boz]

4. Webb wants to fight to make law for the new Democratic President

Hes not interested in VP.

I like Webb, hes gonna be a damn good democrat force in his own right, hes just not Obama's VP

[Tippy]

11. Webb is not good he owes his former party to much....

He has not yet proven himself.

[MyNameGoesHere]

3. WTH? People here would actually favor a populist moderate

over a left liberal for VP? I don't get it.

[disndat]

5. Forget about a balanced ticket.

Obama's team is strong enough and McCain's team is weak enough. He owes Richardson the most, besides he needs the hispanic voters. On the other hand, Edwards would be best for many reasons.

[karynnj]

9. Edwards said after 2004 that he didn't like being VP

In 2007, he was proud of not using Kerry's slogan. To me, this indicates that he is not suited to be a vp, as he fails to get that the key thing he needed to do was to echo the Presidential candidate - not second guess the man who got about 3 times more votes than he did.

[JimGinPA]

6. I Like Mark Warner A Lot...

It's too bad he's in a senate run.

[SoxFan]

7. Obama '08! Warner'16!

[Barack_America]

8. Obama/Kaine! Obama/Kaine! Obama/Kaine!

This is my ticket!

[Sulawesi]

13. Mark Warner is the real deal...

I've met him and discussed real issues (public funding of science). He is a successful business man, was a super governor who reached across the aisle. I would be ecstatic with an Obama/Warner ticket.