Who do you think Obama will choose of his reported top four VP picks, according to Dem Chris Kofinis

[flpoljunkie]

The affable and well spoken Chris Kofinis is a Dem analyst who was John Edwards' Communications Director.

Who will Obama pick?

[TheDonkey]

1. I love Biden... but he should go with Kaine

shore up VA, and get the economy 100% in his column. I'd be happy with Biden too but electorally I am not sure he does more than Kaine.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Senator Reed has said he could do more for Obama serving on Armed Services Committee

Reed is also Catholic, like Kaine and Biden. Bayh is Episcopalian.

[AspenRose]

7. What you said.

He's bilingual, too.

[Barack_America]

53. Agreed. Biden is almost too talented to be wasted on the VP...

He should be out there forming policy in a more direct way, either as a Senator or in a Cabinet position. His enormous experience would go to waste in the VP slot, IMO.

[LynneSin]

66. Don't worry, they have a backup Biden to replace him in the Senate

Rumor here in Delaware is if Biden will take a position in the Obama administration if he can convince the DE Governor (which is a democrat and will be after the elections) to appoint his son Beau as the new Senator.

[PatSeg]

82. Beau, the next best thing to Biden

I'm quite sure we'll see a lot of Biden's two sons in the future.

[trueblue2007]

76. He should chose a WOMAN

1776 ---- 2008

232 years. It's time that a woman was VP /// President.

[Ino]

94. Anyone in particular... or will any uterus do? (nt)

[CTyankee]

2. Kaine. Southern, white and young (relatively).

It won't get any deep South states in our column but I think it would work, as long as their relationship is solid and Kaine vets OK.

[beachmom]

68. Kaine just approved a new coal fire plant in VA. and supports offshore drilling.

This may make him a problematic choice, unless he switches positions.

[KittyWampus]

85. We already have offshore drilling. So just saying he supports it doesn't give enough info

and as far as coal, I don't like it but understand America will have to use coal for the next several decades as we switch to Green Tech.

IMO, the issue with coal is doing our best to make extraction & burning as painless as possible :/

[beachmom]

87. Every Virginia Dem I talk to who cares about the environment is unhappy with Kaine.

I think explaining it away is not facing the fact the guy blows on the environment.

[KittyWampus]

88. Environmentalists from Vermont were unhappy with Dean. I'm just saying... not looking for a fight

:)

[Redbear]

3. Biden

He is experienced and will comfort those worried about Obama's "lack" of experience. Bidenis also yied into business interests and thats good politics.

[Barack_America]

5. Kaine. Without a doubt.

For the reasons I highlighted previously.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6345519&mesg_id=6345519

[TheDonkey]

11. I like that rundown.

[flpoljunkie]

31. Wow! There mothers are from the same town in Kansas. Talk about sympatico!

[Barack_America]

37. Indeed. You can't buy a story line like that...

Would make for some great commercials during the Olympics, no? ;)

[flpoljunkie]

38. Make that 'their' mothers are both from the same small town in Kansas, El Dorado.

[Virginia Dare]

41. Agreed, and also as I noted before..

his wife grew up in a political family, she's extremely campaign savvy and smart. She'd be a great addition.

[Barack_America]

51. Yes, her father was Governor of VA, no? nt

[Virginia Dare]

56. That's correct, a Repub actually..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Linwood_Holton_Jr.

[Barack_America]

61. But a decent Republican, from the sounds of it.

The bit about preemptively placing his children in desegregated schools was particularly interesting.

[Virginia Dare]

62. He'd be a Democrat by today's standards...

the Virginia GOP is now mostly populated by fundie right wing racist nutbags.

[beachmom]

72. Virginia Dems I talk to think he is bad on the environment, especially

since he just approved a new coal fire plant in Va. and supports offshore drilling. He still might get it, but people should know this info.

[highplainsdem]

6. None of the above.

[flpoljunkie]

8. Who then?

[Windy]

13. I know you want Hillary, but sorry, its not going to happen! We've already

had McCain and 527 ads in Michigan focusing on the claim of the Clinton campaign during the primaries that Clinton and McCain have the experience to be Commander in Chief while Obama doesn't.

Hillary and her campaign blew any shot they had a VP with the negative campaign that they ran. Unfortunately, that also includes General Clark.

[highplainsdem]

27. If we don't have an Obama/Clinton unity ticket, then we have much less chance of beating McCain in

November.

Obama would not be the first presidential nominee who realized he needed someone who'd been a strong rival on the ticket. George Bush's ridiculing Reagan for "voodoo economics" didn't stop him from becoming Reagan's VP, or that ticket from winning.

Clinton is far and away the best choice. The others don't even come close to what her inclusion on the ticket would do to unite the party and ensure a Democratic win in November. And there have been polls over months from different news organizations showing an Obama/Clinton ticket versus McCain/Romney (the most likely GOP ticket) does much better than Obama vs. McCain.

It would be incredibly foolish NOT to have her on the ticket.

[Windy]

34. It would be incredibly foolish to have Hillary and her baggage on the ticket.

She would do nothing but distract from the positive message that the campaign is trying to keep out front.

[scheming daemons]

40. Disagree strongly with your opinion

Clinton (and especially her husband) has too much baggage.

[paulk]

111. "unity" for many of Obama's hardliners

is just another slogan, apparently.

[kstewart33]

9. I'm hoping it's Hagel.

If he's serious about ending bloodletting partisan politics, he should pick a Repub who is also strong on foreign policy, national security, and is a war hero. That's Hagel.

I know the Clintonites would scream bloody murder, but it would put some real action behind all the rhetoric.

[flpoljunkie]

14. Reports are that Hagel may serve as Obama's Sec Def.

[awoke_in_2003]

19. He is also a republican

who is strongly anti-choice.

[Merlot]

23. I'm not a "Clintonite" and I would scream too

A Democrat who some like to label as inexperienced because of his age picks a repub as his VP? That makes Dems look very week.

No. No. And No.

[PBS Poll-435]

44. Not just the "Clintonites..."

Overwheming Democratic-wave year and what do you want to do?

Put a Republican on the ticket.

:puke:

[Mz Pip]

50. I have a big problem with Hagel

Other than the war, he's just too conservative. His voting record is closer to McCain's than to Obama's. He's anti-choice which is a huge deal breaker for me. Someone who is one heartbeat away should be more alligned with the president on big issues.


Sec of Defense is fine.

I wish there were more moderate Republicans out there. Maybe in time there will be. If the GOP continues to suffer huge defeats, maybe they will become more centrist. We shall see.

[slick8790]

59. Anti-choice, anti-gay rights, anti-environment, pro-big oil, pro-drug war, pro-free trade

Hagel? Fuck hagel. He agrees with us on one issue and will work to subvert us on every other. He's a conservative, plain and simple. And I will not vote to put another conservative a heartbeat away from the presidency. We have an extraordinary amount of good dems to put on the ticket. Why a republican who is against us 90% of the time?

[newmajority]

74. I'm no Clintonite, not by a long shot. But I will not vote for a Repuke VP on a Democratic ticket

And certainly NEVER a criminal scumbag who was a major proliferator of electronic election fraud. :grr:

Hagel on the ticket = game over. Not for this election, but for the Democratic party. And that means the country is permanently fucked as well.

[TwilightGardener]

75. I would have no problem with Hagel, except that it would be very hard to

imagine him campaigning and debating for the Dem platform as a GOPer--too many potential difficulties and land-mines (although I think in terms of actual governance, he'd be a loyal and competent VP and wouldn't subvert Obama or fuck Dems over). Reed and Biden offer much the same benefits but are much safer choices.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

84. Be silly.

[saltpoint]

90. I agree with others on DU about Hagel, and they often list two key points:

Hagel was refreshing on Iraq but very unrefreshing on most of the rest of his voting record.

For me, personally, that second point is a strong disqualifying factor.

Democratic delegates in Denver will be more enthusiastic, as will Democratic voters in November, with a Democratic on the ticket.

[truebrit71]

10. None of the above.

Biden too much baggage
Bayh too conservative
The other two are unknown (to me)

[flpoljunkie]

15. Obama does not need to have a 'known' VP.

[truebrit71]

35. I think he does...

...

[flpoljunkie]

46. Obviously, I disagree.

[truebrit71]

57. Whomever he picks will be the presumptive nominee in 2016...

...we would therefore need to "know" them, no?

[Nafsllib]

86. I disagree

Remember that we will lose Obama in the Senate. Now it's likely the Democratic Governor of Illinois will pick a Democrat to fill the seat but I think you should balance the ticket with a Democratic Governor or Congressman not another Senator.

The Veep will not need to be someone we "know" for the 2016 election. They will become very known while serving in the Obama administration. Making them the logical choice to be the Democratic nominee in 2016.

[truebrit71]

97. I don't think we need another Senator either....but yes they will have to be "known" now...

...Obama still needs someone to shore up the waverers about his Military cred..and I can think of only one, four-star general, democrat, from the south that fits that bill....

[geek tragedy]

12. I'll take "governors of swing states who face term

limits" for $600, Alex.

[TheDonkey]

17. Kaine would also be tee'd up for a run after Obama's 8 years. hmmmm

[Virginia Dare]

42. Tim Kaine/Mark Warner?.....n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

20. Agreed...

or Wes Clark. We need to leave our other democratic senators where they are- no telling who will replace them.

[Nafsllib]

25. I prefer

I would prefer to have Jim Webb, I think he'd be a great for keeping a Democrat in the white house in 2016. However he's stated that he's not interested even if offered and I agree that he should stay in the Senate for now.

My second preference would be Bill Richardson. I'm not exactly sure why he seems to have fallen off the Veep radar btu he's a perfect candidate. Richardson is facing term limits (Which Kaine isn't), he can help out with the hispanic community, and secure NM as a blue state.

Of the choices given, Kaine is the best option.

[flpoljunkie]

32. Governors in Virginia are limited to only one term.

[Nafsllib]

80. Thanks

Thanks for the clarification

[thewiseguy]

16. There wont be two senators on one ticket

[Robbins]

18. My Take

Biden,Kaine,and Reed are all good choices.Bayh Is terrible.He would hurt Obama with the Democratic
Base.Biden would be my choice for his expercence on Foreign Policy,and he would be willing to go
be the attack dog against Mccain.Biden I believe was raised In PA so that wouldn't hurt.Kaine would
also be a strong choice.It would reinforce the chance message.Not only would he help Obama win In
Virginia but would be helpful In the the midwest especilly here In Missouri.Reed would be a good attack dog for Obama but my belief Is he Is not as good a choice as Biden or Kaine.

[SOS]

21. Jim Webb

Sorry to see he's not on the list.

[flpoljunkie]

26. Webb took himself out of consideration for the VP job a couple of weeks ago.

[SoonerPride]

22. Kaine. In the voting booth many LIV will check Kaine thinking it is McCain

Obama/Kaine

v

McCain/Romney

We'll get 1/4 percent of morans on the name confusion alone.

You think I'm kidding.

[flpoljunkie]

28. No, I don't think you're kidding.

[saltpoint]

24. If this is an accurate list, I wonder where Richardson and Sebelius

are, for example, but playing along, I'd be happy with 3 of the 4. Bayh is not my absolutely favorite Democratic Senator, although yes, I'd take him over the Puke candidates who've run against him in Indiana.

I think all the other 3 would be very strong. I lean toward Biden from long-standing loyalty to him but Kaine would be refreshing to Obama's emphases on personal service of many kinds to one's country, and makes Virginia very comepetitive.

[flpoljunkie]

29. Gov. Kaine come on board very early in support of Obama's candidacy.

It's also kinda fun to say 'OBAMA/KAINE!'

[saltpoint]

30. True. He was one of the originals. I think his chances are very, very good.

[mvd]

33. I have this feeling it will be Biden or Kaine

I prefer Kaine but don't think either one would be a disaster for Obama.

[flpoljunkie]

36. I would prefer Senator Dodd to Senator Biden. Biden's history is that of a loose cannon.

[mvd]

64. That is my concern about Biden, yes

In the attack dog role, he'd really have to watch himself.

[Virginia Dare]

39. Kaine, Biden for Sec. State...

also Tim Kaine's wife Anne Holton is the daughter of a former Virginia governor, very politically astute, and a great lady in her own right. She'll be a great addition to the campaign. I like that team.

[Alter Ego]

43. It'll be Kaine.

He's pretty popular in Virginia, and unlike many other picks might actually help to deliver the state (even though the myth of 'balancing the ticket' has been well-debunked). He's smart, but taciturn, meaning he won't detract from Obama's star quality, and I have confidence he could run circles around any potential McCain picks.

[my3boyz]

45. Oh goodness...hard to choose between Kaine and Biden..I guess Kaine because

he would be considered outside of Washington. He was one of Barack's first supporters (meaning by someone in politics). He is from Virginia where Obama has a good chance of winning. If he does choose Kaine I'm sure Biden will end up being Secretary of State or something like that. I think Biden would be awesome to slap down McCain. However, his long time in the senate would give the Republicans plenty of votes to twist the way they want to.

[flpoljunkie]

48. I cannot see Biden playing 'second fiddle' as VP. His ego is too big.

[JackORoses]

47. Did you know that Kaine was born in Minnesota, grew up in Missouri, and is the Governor of Virginia?

Sounds like the King of Swing to me.

[flpoljunkie]

49. No, I did not know his complete history. Sounds great!

[Virginia Dare]

58. Plus, he's a liberal Catholic....

so he might be attractive to some Kennedy-type New Englanders too.

[Douglas Carpenter]

52. please not slytherin, please not slytherin, please not slytherin, PLEASE NOT BAYH!

I really do not like that man, although his father was certainly a great Senator in his day.

To put it bluntly Evan Bayh IS A NEOCON!

Bayh As Veep? But He Co-Chaired Neocon Committee For The Liberation Of Iraq With McCain!

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/bayh_as_veep_he_cochaired_wing.php

[Barack_America]

55. Meh. Bayh is the gratuitous Hillary supporter shout-out.

He's not a serious consideration.

[Douglas Carpenter]

63. actually he is unfortunatley in VERY serious consideration

In fact be leads in the speculating on both Rasmussen Markets and Intrade Prediction Markets

Intrade Prediction Market is now speculating a 19.8% chance Sen. Bayh will be selected.

Sen. Biden is number two with Intrade speculating a 13.4% chance he will be selected

http://www.intrade.com/jsp/intrade/contractSearch/

Sen. Bayh also leads on Rasmussen Markets at 19.0%, followed by Sen. Biden at 13.0%

http://markets.rasmussenreports.com/aav2/trading/tradingHTML.jsp?selConID=68206

[Cosmocat]

65. I am going to say this one more time ...

People need to wrap their heads around Bayh potentially being BO's pick ...

And, I know people in this little slice of heaven can't even begin to comprehend this, but he is in fact a VERY good pick ...

[Douglas Carpenter]

67. there is a strategic argument for Bayh ...but he is still a neocon ideologue

when it comes to foreign policy matters. I have trouble believing that the foreign policy realist who advise Sen. Obama on foreign policy issues would not strongly object to a foreign policy neoconservative beling placed on the ticket.

Still, I do agree that it is all too possible that Evan Bayh could very well be the Vice Presidential nominee.

[flpoljunkie]

78. Bayh was honoray Co-Chair of the Commitee to Liberate Iraq with Lieberman. McCain was Co-Chair .

[Barack_America]

69. They're also trading Gore.

Therefore, not to be taken seriously, IMO.

[Douglas Carpenter]

73. in the name of humanity and for the sake of the peace of the world, I pray to God you are right

BTW: Gore is trading at around a 3.0% possibility on the futures markes which means that it is not considered very likely.

Unfortunately, in the world of fairly serious political writing Bayh's name comes up far, far too often for comfort.

[Douglas Carpenter]

96. Yes Evan Bayh did co-chair the Neocon Committee for the liberation of Iraq along with McCain

"Senator Evan Bayh's appearance today with Barack Obama at the "21st Century Threats" summit has stirred a lot of talk in the press about the possibility of him being on Obama's Veep short-list.

But we're not sure that's such a viable idea. That's because in 2003, Bayh was an honorary co-chair of the neocon pro-war Committee for the Liberation of Iraq -- a group he joined along with none other than John McCain and Joe Lieberman, according to a press release from during the run-up to the invasion.

Check this out, from the group's press release on February 14th, 2003 (via Nexis):

By Greg Sargent - July 16, 2008, 6:03PM
Senator Evan Bayh's appearance today with Barack Obama at the "21st Century Threats" summit has stirred a lot of talk in the press about the possibility of him being on Obama's Veep short-list.

But we're not sure that's such a viable idea. That's because in 2003, Bayh was an honorary co-chair of the neocon pro-war Committee for the Liberation of Iraq -- a group he joined along with none other than John McCain and Joe Lieberman, according to a press release from during the run-up to the invasion.

Check this out, from the group's press release on February 14th, 2003 (via Nexis):

The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq (CLI) is pleased to welcome Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) as an Honorary Co-Chairman. Bayh becomes the third U.S. Senator to join the committee after Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced their participation on January 28.

The Committee is a neo-con group that was formed to propagandize the country into war. It boasted such illustrious neocon members as Bill Kristol, former CIA director James Woolsey, and even McCain senior foreign policy adviser and Chalabi-bamboozler Randy Scheunemann, whom Josh has been blogging about.

Bayh would, to put it very charitably, muddle Obama's message. It's true that Bayh was said to have subsequently removed himself from the group. But Obama's campaign is partly about -- and rightly so -- the judgment he made, and others didn't, in the run-up to the invasion.

The McCain campaign and the Repubs would have a grand time mocking the choice. Indeed, the McCain camp is already trying to make an issue of Bayh's past.".


link to full article:

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/bayh_as_veep_he_cochaired_wing.php

[Cosmocat]

99. Please ...

There is not a person who stepped on this planet, including jesus christ himself, that the Rs won't find some specious nonsense to go after them with if they are a D ...

THIS is the least of what they would do to Biden ... I like him, I think he would be great, but he already has been framed negatively ...

Part of Bayh's appeal as a VP is that he has not been typecast, and does not fit the typecast ...

People want to put their OWN view of what BO means by "change" ... That is part of the appeal for it as a campaign message ...

Bottom line, Bayh has neither any ethical issues or is not viewed as being/utilizes a partisan style ...

THAT is it when it comes to change, be honest ...

I am going to repeat ...

For his age, VERY experienced ... Two term governor, 10 years in the Senate
Former governor - executive experience ...
DID NOT RAISE TAXES WHILE GOVERNOR - in fact, had the biggest tax cuts in state history ...
Foreign policy creds ...
Economic creds ...
And, given BO's position in the polls at this point, he has enough juice/respect in the state to "bring" it with him, and turn a red state blue ... AND, his state borders ... OHIO ...

In case people haven't been paying attention, BO has been breaking to the middle from the point at which he won the D nomination ... I know people want to believe he is going to put a big time liberal on the ticket, and that is where I was with it a couple months ago, but this is NOW ...

[Douglas Carpenter]

106. I'm not expecting a liberal. I just don't want a foreign policy neoconservative nut

I am one of the few people on the left who would actually be content with Sen. Hagel even though I know that he is a traditional Reagonite conservative on virtually every single domestic issue. Although I certainly do NOT think Sen. Hagel will be selected and I would more hope that he be selected for Secretary of State or perhaps Secretary of Defense. Sen. Hagel is a hawk, but a pragmatic and realist hawk not an ideologically driven foreign policy neoconservative NUT like Sen. Bayh

All issue of domestic programs and hopes for social advancement will come to not, if America finds itself in another intractable and un-winnable foolish adventure in the Middle East.

The very thought of some foreign policy extremist like Sen. Bayh potentially being in that capacity sends real chills up spine and quite literally gives me nightmares.

____________________________________________-

"I think of war with Iran as the ending of America's present role in the world. Iraq may have been a preview of that, but it's still redeemable if we get out fast. In a war with Iran, we'll get dragged down for 20 or 30 years. The world will condemn us. We will lose our position in the world."

Zbigniew Brzezinski, Vanity Fair, 2006.

[Occam Bandage]

54. Probably Bayh. I voted for Kaine, because I strongly hope that he does.

[slick8790]

60. I would be satisfied with any of those. n/t

[Upton]

70. Wesley Clark is still the man

[newmajority]

71. If those are the 4 finalists, it would have to be Kaine

Two senators will kill this ticket.

Richardson would be a lot better though. Probably Clark as well.

Overall, I'd say it's a weak list, so I doubt it's reflecting reality.

[Radical Activist]

77. I don't believe those are the finalists.

And I think whoever put out that list had an agenda for pushing a certain candidate or type of candidate.

[SpookyCat]

79. My choice isn't there...(kicks dirt...)

General Clark is apparently off the table, dammit.

I'll have to do some research before I can make an informed wish list. Like my wish makes any difference at all, but you know...

[progressive_realist]

81. Wesley Clark is still the best choice

Bayh is a horrible choice and undermines the Obama platform. Besides, don't Indiana and RI both have GOP governors? Losing those seats would be beyond foolish...

[truebrit71]

98. No kidding....General Clark would be the best fit...

...

[saltpoint]

83. In a possibly related story, the Rev. Franklin Graham was spotted in

a Men's Warehouse in North Carolina buying a few new suits.

[robertpaulsen]

89. I'm wondering why Bill Richardson is no longer spoken of as a VP consideration.

Governor of a swing state. Major foreign policy experience. But I no longer hear his name from MSM pundits as a VP consideration. Did he take himself out of the running like Webb?

[CTyankee]

91. woman problems I've heard. I'm betting the vetters said "no."

If he was just quietly dropped from the list, it tells me the vetters heard some bad stuff and checked it out. Just a guess on my part, I really don't know.

[Nafsllib]

95. Possibly

You have a point there, but I personally think that both campaigns are deliberatly leading the veep conversation away from their actual top choices. While playing into the speculation of other possible choices who are no longer or never were on the list.

[saltpoint]

93. Bill Richardson would be just fine with me.

[Sparkly]

92. General Clark!!!! Pleeeeeeease!!! nt

[Mass]

100. From those 4, 2 (Reed and Bayh) are Democratic Senators in a state where the governor is a

Republican. If Obama selects one of them, he will have a smaller majority in the Senate which will make reforms harder to pass.

Biden is for reelection, and I do not know if the laws in DE allow him to run for the two positions at the same time.

Kaine has very little experience.

Of all of them, I would prefer Biden, but there are other people who would be good, as Schweitzer, or Sebelius, or even Napolitano or Richardson.

Now, I am not sure I believe what Democratic Strategists say. They have been so wrong so often.

[Stop Cornyn]

101. Biden is clean and articulate, but Obama has to go with Kaine ("I'm O.K. in 08!")

[flpoljunkie]

113. Very nice!

[Joe the Revelator]

102. I'm all about having Tim Kaine on the ticket...

all about it.

[Stuart G]

103. Governor Richardson...

[flpoljunkie]

104. Kick for the evening DUers!

:kick:

[Political Heretic]

105. I don't know who he would chose, but of those I think I would want Joe biden the most

[flpoljunkie]

107. Am surprised that Biden is in the lead here. He would upstage Obama, and is a bit of a loose cannon

[DevonRex]

108. Oh hell. I don't know. Biden or Kaine. I like Biden better but

maybe Kaine brings something else to the ticket, like Virginia. But then Obama has said geography is not an issue. OTOH, electoral votes don't really count as geography, right? It's just that most folks don't know much about Kaine. And Biden is hard not to like.

I'm so confused...

My head might explode soon so I'm gonna stop thinking about it. :)

[flpoljunkie]

109. I think Biden's ego is too big to be #2.

[DevonRex]

114. Could be. And he has said he doesn't know how to work for

somebody since he's always been in politics. He just makes me smile, is all. And he goofs up sometimes but for some reason the media doesn't go after him much when he does.

I'll have to study up on Kaine some more.

[newmajority]

110. Obama Richardson is the best ticket.

[flpoljunkie]

112. Richardson would be a surprise.