Obama-Graham

[Perky]

Bob Graham would be a better choice than Nunn if you are going to pick an elder statesman, because he has gravitas, executive experience and puts Florida in the Dem's back pocket.
He certainly would be better than Hagel.


There are only two republicans that ought to be entertained as possibilities. Bill Cohen and (don't choke) Tom Ridge.

[Rowdyboy]

1. I back you 100% on Graham...Perfect choice.....

But you can keep your talk of Cohen and ESPECIALLY Ridge. I have no interest in conferring legitimacy on these criminals and I refuse to believe Obama will betray us by running with a Republican.

on edit: Graham fills in all the spaces for Obama on defense, intelligence, experience, social issues, civil rights and helping in Florida. Plus he offers little threat of running in 8 years. What more could be asked?

[JCMach1]

4. Graham would be an outstanding choice

[caledesi]

13. I agree! NT

[Perky]

5. The only way to keep Florida in play would be with Crist

[Rowdyboy]

9. You really think Florida is unwinnable for the Dems?

I have no special expertise in Florida politics but I'm a bit surprised when you say that a state Al Gore won in 2000 is totally unattainable in 2008. I would think a popular former governor and senator might be a good pick to help at least make it a contest, especially considering the other attributes Graham brings to the table and the weakness of McCain and the Republicans this year.

[OmahaBlueDog]

14. I lived in Florida for 20 years; I won't say unwinnable, but tough

The state leans Republican at a state politics level, Christ is wildly popular, and the Dems are still pissed over the delegate debacle.

[saltpoint]

2. Cohen is an evolved being. I could stomach him before Hagel.

Hagel was refreshing on Iraq but my god the rest of that voting record is Yuck City.

Graham would be damned effective. Intelligence Committee, plus serious influence in Florida. It would be an interesting choice also because Obama is perceived as lagging a bit in the older voter population and Bob Graham might assuage many fears among those voters.

Graham is a sound choice for political strategy.

I'm real cool to Tom Ridge. My Spidey sense tingles whenever he's on the tube. Something ain't right with that guy.

[Perky]

3. I am not saying I like Ridge but

he is a moderate, pro-choice catholic from Erie, PA with a Bronze Star fromn Vietnam. and (snarf snarf) he has Homeland Security experience. On paper at least he would be a smarter choice than Hagel and has no political ambition left apparently... and oh yeah he is a McCain Advisor. which would make him pretty much unassailable to the republican hackery

[saltpoint]

10. "...unassailble to the republican hackery." I love that phrase.

'Hackery' as a noun is just perfect for the GOP. Throw in the media whores who support them as well.

Beautiful.

Pennsylvania is a must-hold for us. Those national elections are always a bit too close for comfort in Pennsylvania if you ask me.

Maybe Ridge will stay out of politics by now and just sell screw drivers at Home Depot.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. Bob Graham is PERFECT for so many reasons...

Aside from being a very sweet man (I've met him several times when I worked on the Hill), he was against the war, and he was RIGHT!!! He was RIGHT on EVERYTHING!! Ignored by his own party, he begged senators from his own committee to read the NIE. He was one of the very few who tried to get the Senate to realize that the intelligence being fed to the M$M and the public was FALSE!!! He was one of only few who actually read the NIE!!!

A hugely popular governor and senator who has foreign policy experience. His views on Iraq, Afghanistan are more in line with Obama's. He may help Obama compete in FL!!!

He's perfect! I wouldn't pick anyone else.

[JaneQPublic]

12. His foreign policy experience should be utilized...

if not as VP then somewhere else in the Obama administration.

I was very impressed with Graham when he ran for president in 2004.

But he is 71.

[Stop Cornyn]

7. Is Graham too old? No Reptileican is under serious consideration; it'll be Kaine or McCaskill

[TwilightGardener]

8. Oooollllddd. And keeps a diary of everything, updated every fifteen minutes, from

what DUers have told me--presumably that would include bowel movements and sex with his wife. Er, no thanks. The other GOPers--have they done anything to help Obama get elected, or stated that they support him? Odd choices.

[Captain Hilts]

11. Nunn is a terrible choice and it upsets me no end that Obama gives him so much time...

Nunn was always among the most conservative of Dems and personally started derailing any ideas Bill Clinton might have had about a progressive presidency.