I'm sick of the VP foot dragging. Time to introduce his VP pick

[cali]

to Americans. I don't give a shit about Obama and McCain trying to wait each other out- it's a dumb game. I'd bet anything that both candidates have chosen their VP picks and are simply playing political chicken. The dem convention is less than a month away. Obama shouldn't wait another 2 or 3 weeks to announce his choice.

[tekisui]

1. After the 3 hour meeting yesterday, I assume they have their choice

and have decided on a time. I still think Obama will announce this week or early next week.

[Barack_America]

21. Ooh, where did you hear this?

Very interesting.


ETA: let's take a drink of coffee and try this again...

[tekisui]

38. Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6552467

sorry, left for work, just saw your question.

[H2O Man]

2. Respectfully disagree.

I think that Obama is doing thr right thing, by taking his time. I do not think there is any waiting game going on. Quite the opposite: the McCain campaign was almost forced to announce his VP choice last week, in a reaction to the publicity from the Obama trip. That indicates their campaign is aware that McCain alone isn't able to compete on the big stage against Barack Obama.

[monomach]

3. I'm sick of the Christmas foot dragging. Time to celebrate Christmas.

PRESENTS NOW PLZ.

[rpannier]

6. What year

I'm ready for Christmas 2025 RIGHT NOW

[terrya]

19. Um, well...

you know there will be people here who will be disappointed no matter who Obama chooses.

I was dismayed at the talk of Sam Nunn as VP, for instance.

[book_worm]

32. I wish they would go back to choosing the nominee at the convention

this is really a new thing picking the nominee in advance and usually they have either picked it at teh convention or just a few days before. I can wait.

[dionysus]

37. are you serious?

you'd rather do the smoke filled room thing rather than vote?

or do you mean the VP nominee?

[Ioo]

4. Ummm, he can pick it when he wants... relax

[MonkeyFunk]

5. Why is it time?

Cuz YOU can't wait?

"foot-dragging" implies it's something he's putting off that he should've done already. There's no reason to announce a VP this early.

[rpannier]

7. Maybe Cali is on the short list

And needs to know so he knows if he has to start looking for people to rent to

[cali]

12. no. because I think presenting a ticket to the American people

is important. I think campaigning as a ticket is important. And sorry, I can wait. I don't really have much time for thinking about politics at this time of year. And it's not all that early.

[book_worm]

33. Why does he have to pick a nominee a month before the convention?

I don't think anybody has done that. The earliest was Kerry who chose Edwards three weeks before his convention. Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton and Gore chose their running mates just days before the convention started. Prior to that we HAD to wait until the convention to find out who the VP is.

[terrya]

17. This is the most important choice of Obama's campaign.

I'd prefer that Obama takes his time deciding who his VP will be.

Of course, this decision isn't up to any of us.

[WinkyDink]

8. The VP was once (chosen and) announced AT the convention. What's the rush these days?

[CTyankee]

18. But in those days there was wrangling over the presidential nominee often as late as the convention.

So the VP pick became whoever could then round up enough delegate votes at the convention. This was before the primary season that we have now.

The announcement seems a little late this year because in 04 Kerry named Edwards on July 6. I haven't researched the date Gore chose Lieberman in 2000...

[paulk]

26. August 8

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DEFDB113CF93BA3575BC0A9669C8B63&fta=y

and, according to the article, as a reaction to Bush picking Cheney.

[book_worm]

36. And that was only days before Dem convention when Gore choose Lieberman.

[alwysdrunk]

9. Like a football fan

Who always want the team to go for it on 4th down. What the fans want to see is not always the best thing for the game situation, the coaches know that and call the plays accordingly. I think you aren't considering the whole strategy, you are just hungry to stand up and cheer the next big play. I am too, but I trust the coaches on this one.

[chimpymustgo]

23. Excellent play calling, awysdrunk.

Welcome to DU.

[Patsy Stone]

10. If he announces before the Olympics

the bump (if any) will disappear way before the convention. McCain needs to announce to take some of Obama's momentum away, but I think Obama can wait until right before the convention. My .02.

[Barack_America]

24. There's an advantage to announcing early if it's Kaine.

There is a powerful storyline to that ticket, with both their mothers being from the same heartland town (El Dorado, KS).

That $5 million ad-buy during the Olympics would be a great time to introduce Americans to the ticket.

[dsomuah]

11. In the words of Obama: Settle down

Be patient. I doubt either candidate has made their VP pick and even if they have there is still the vetting process to go through to make sure nothing embarrasing comes up that could derail the election. Have you forgetten Gary Hart? Is there any sensible reason why you think the you need too know the VP pick now other than that you are getting impatient and anxious? Calm down.

[Rowdyboy]

13. With all due respect, its not your decision. Winning the nomination gives Sen Obama a free hand

to make decisions and announce them on his schedule. I expect him to announce his choice within a week but if he chooses to wait untiol the convention, so what? I'm not voting for vice-president-regardless of his pick. Only junkies like us care at this point.

I'll bet December was really tough when you were a child, just waiting for the 25th.

[bowens43]

14. No one votes for a VP, it's almost irrelevent n/t

[Beacool]

34. Not this year.

This year it won't be irrelevant. Not when you have an inexperienced nominee in one party and an old one in the another.

[rateyes]

15. Hi, cali,

hadn't seen you in a while. :hi:

[Mass]

16. I see a lot of uninformed media trying to make some news.

How do we know they know something more than CW?

As far as we know, in 2000 and 2004, Gore and Kerry did not chose before the last few days before the announcement, and both had a lot longer to choose and vet the candidates. How do you know that Obama has chosen somebody (aside from what the media tell us, of course).

[niceypoo]

20. The VP choice is generally announced at the convention

[iamahaingttta]

22. Footdragging?

Oh, puh-leeeze!
They announce their running mates at the convention, and you know it!

You're just being silly again!

[SuperTrouper]

25. Everyone is saying Kaine...it will be

Hillary Clinton. Poll after poll shows her to complement his strengths and to cut into McStain's base of Republicans, Appalachian voters and Independents. The MSM has abandoned Hillary as VP but I think that Obama will have to hold his nose and ask Hillary to join him in Denver.

[sourmilk]

27. Will Obama get more of a bump for announcing before McWar?

I think it matters more WHO gets the nod than WHEN, myself. It could be an opponent-dependent game, though. I am sure there are a LOT of good Dem candidates, but perhaps one will be the best choice to counter the Repiglicons, depending on who McThuselah chooses.

[Fleshdancer]

28. I think Sunday or early next week would be a good time....

The media is still showing the footage of the Berlin crowd and other great images of him overseas. This all stops once the VP choice is announced.

Let him use this week to relax a little (if possible), and to make sure his pick is the right pick...especially now that McCain has decided to go back on his word about running a clean and honest campaign. Get it out before the Olympics, but not too close to the start of the Games.

[TwilightGardener]

29. The later the better--the honeymoon phase is short, might as well

move it as close to November as possible. Obama is not Mayor McCheese--he is doing great on his own, and at this point, a VP might be a liability rather than a help (gaffe-wise).

[BeyondGeography]

30. You're just bored

[book_worm]

31. Did you know it used to be customary to introduce the VP at the convention?

This is a relatively new procedure of introducing the nominee prior to the convention. I think that Mondale did it first in '84. Up until then we had to wait until the convention. I can live with waiting. And Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton and Gore waited until just a few days before the convention to reveal their choice. Kerry did announce his three weeks before the convention.

[Beacool]

35. Only 3 VP choices would cause excitement: Gore, Hillary or Edwards.

Gore is not interested, Edwards is probably out and Hillary is up in the air. Either one of the 3 would give Obama a bump in the polls.

Any other choice would produce a big yawn. The country at large couldn't care less about Biden, Dodd, Sebelius, Richardson, etc.

[Jakes Progress]

39. But this is for winning the election,

and not for satisfying a gotta-have-it-now craving. We hope we're talking about 8 years, and you can't wait two weeks. This is not a game show or video game or hot new itune. Perspective.

[StevieM]

40. I think that Obama will pick next week, before the Olympics (probably Tim Kaine).

I think that McCain will announce his running-mate at the Republican Convention. I'm betting on Sarah Palin.

Steve