Please don't laugh but I think that Obama's VP will be Tom Daschle

[book_worm]

I don't think Obama is going for "knock your socks off" with this announcement but very clearly he wants somebody who he is comfortable with, offer advice unhesitantly and can be president in a moments notice.

I come to Daschle thru a process of elimination:

1) Dodd, Reed and Bayh come from states with GOP governors and they could select their replacement.
2) Kaine does not have a Dem Governor who could step in--the Lt. Gov of VA is a hardline rightwinger. I think if the Lt. Gov had been a Dem it would be Kaine.
3) Biden is solid, but he tends to sometimes commit gaffes. Hagel is unacceptable to much of the party. Clinton has the "Bill problem". Sebilius, maybe, but if it's not Clinton, I doubt it will be any woman. Richardson, I'm almost certain Clinton has vetoed him.

So why Daschle:
1) He certainly is experienced. He was a three term Senator from SD and the Senate Majority Leader.
2) He has been a top Obama supporter/surrogate/advisor
3) He is Catholic ( Bishop Robert Carlson told Daschle that his stand on abortion meant he should not id himself as a Catholic, Daschle denounced Carlson as being "more identified with the radical right than thoughtful religious leadership.")
4) He served three years in the US Airforce as an Intelligence Officer.
5) There is even a Kansas connection, Daschle's wife is from Kansas and a former Miss Kansas.
6) Yes he lost in 2004, but by a very narrow margin (49-49) while Bush won SD with over 60% of the vote.

Just a thought. We will see.

[polichick]

1. That would work for me, and he's not an unknown to low-info voters.

[TwilightGardener]

2. I'm OK with Daschle, but worry that there is too much in his Senate career

that can be used against him. Plus, he does have the whiff of "loser" about him. It would be awful if Obama chose him, and McShitbag chose Thune--ack.

[blm]

3. Daschle has been a key figure for Obama longer than most Dems realize.

Daschle, Durbin and Kerry have been working since early 2005 to pry the party from the grip of the Clinton wing. They, very early on, set their sights on Obama to make it happen.

Obama's extraordinary and early national organization didn't happen in a vacuum.

[Barack_America]

8. Daschle also recommended many of Obama's top aides.

He's been quietly very supportive of the campaign.

[blm]

9. Being quiet about it was a big factor in the success.

They were able to defeat the Clinton machine because most of the Dems organized for Kerry nationally in 2004 had no interest in supporting Clintons and their loyalists who proved to be the weakest links in that election. Clintons couldn't compete with REAL Dems with current chops organizing behind their rival.

[crankychatter]

12. much is justifiably made of the Dean model, but Kerry's Caucus organization was Dean's bane

they BOTH deserve credit for modeling Obama's success

[blm]

15. Obama has a distinct advantage this election cycle, in that Dean has spent 4yrs rebuilding party

infrastructure that was weakened by the late 90s, assuring the RNC could steal 2000 for Bush, and McAuliffe's stewardship saw that party infrastructure collapse even further state by state for the 2002 and 2004 candidates.

I'd say Dean and Kerry and Daschle and Durbin have worked their asses off to save this party from the fascists and their watercarriers from both sides of the aisle.

[crankychatter]

16. amen, hear hear, harumph and tut tut NT

[flpoljunkie]

4. That would be a surprise.

[enid602]

5. dirty tricks

Lots of dirty tricks in the 2004 race; Gannon and Rove saw to that.

[tularetom]

6. Boo hiss. He's even more spineless than Harry Reid

We need a penis cheney for VP not Mr. Milktoast. That way Obama can be the statesman.

[book_worm]

7. I'd love Howard Dean, personally.

[chimpymustgo]

10. Sen. Milque Toast. UGHHH. Man up, Obama - pick someone STRONG. Like Hillary.

She's also the most popular of anyone being mentioned. Don't fool yourself that this is going to be a easy race. We'll have to fight tooth and nail.

[Rowdyboy]

11. Wouldn't surprise me-would be a good pick...I still think Sebelius or Schweitzer though

As you say, we'll see soon enough.

[scheming daemons]

13. I know you said "please don't laugh".... but I can't help it....

:rofl:


No chance.

[NYC_SKP]

14. How about Wes Clark....

That he spoke truth to McCain's experience in no way disqualifies him, in fact it makes him a bit better surrogate for the big fight in the coming months.

:shrug: