• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Democrat V.P. Possibilities

A

Anonymous

Guest
From the Votemaster:

Assuming neither Obama or Hillary will be the others VP. Clearly balancing a ticket headed by a white woman is different from balancing one headed by a black man. One thing is sure though: the Veep will be a white man. Everything else is wild speculation.

If Hillary Clinton is the nominee, the Veep need not be so experienced. If McCain claims she is not experienced, she is going to start reeling off the names of every foreign leader in the world she is first name terms with, every country she has traveled to in Air Force One, every big shot she entertained in the White House, and more. In truth, she probably knows more of the key players in the world than he does and he knows this. So she can think in more conventional terms about geographic or ethnic balance.

One possibility is Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico. His presence on the ticket guarantees New Mexico's five electoral votes, which Bush won in 2004. Furthermore, since he is a Latino (his mother is Mexican) he will cement the Democrats hold on the Latinos, which will help her in a variety of states, including Nevada, Colorado, and probably Florida. Although he was born in Pasadena, California, he grew up in Mexico and can address the Cuban-Americans in Florida in accent-free Spanish. With him on the ticket, McCain may be forced to take Florida governor Charlie Crist to hold the state. Richardson also has a huge amount of experience, having served in the House, in the cabinet, as ambassador to the U.N., and as governor. Richardson is Catholic, and that might also help in some states. His main drawback is that he is not a very good campaigner.

Another possible ticketmate for Clinton is former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack. He is very close to the Clintons and endorsed her back in March 2007. He is a likeable, if bland, kind of guy, and well known in the Midwest. He brings in Iowa's seven electoral votes, which Bush took in 2004. He might also be able to bring in neighboring Missouri's 11 electoral votes. If he could pull in those two, he'd be worth having for that alone.

Another strong Clinton supporter is four-star general Wesley Clark. He is from Arkansas, a state Clinton can win on her own, but when McCain trumpets his military experience, she can then counter with "I've got a guy here who fought a war (Bosnia) and won it quickly. You and Bush have bungled this one so it is time for a ticket with someone who knows how to fight and win wars."

What about Obama's choices? He is probably in greater need of someone with military or foreign policy experience than Clinton since he has none himself. But he can't pick an old-style backroom politician--it hurts his image as a reformer. Probably his best choice is Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), a much-decorated Marine who fought in Vietnam. When McCain touts his experience in the Navy, Obama gets to reply: "You served honorably in the Navy; I respect and admire that. But I've got a guy here who ran the Navy." Webb was Reagan's Secretary of the Navy, a fact sure to pull in many Republican-leaning independents. Webb has been married as much as Rudy Giuliani, but it is unlikely McCain will bring that up or the sordid details of his own divorce will be all over the front pages. Webb got a lot of publicity for standing up to President Bush at the reception for new senators in January 2007. Bush, knowing Webb's son is serving in Iraq came over to him and said: "How's your boy?" Webb curtly replied: "I'd like to get them out of Iraq." Bush then snapped: "That's not what I asked you." This exchange got Webb a lot of credibility from people who don't like the war in Iraq, a clear majority of the country now. Webb's biggest drawback is that although Virginia governor Tim Kaine (D) will appoint a Democrat to replace Webb, there may not be a Democrat strong enough to beat former senator George "Macaca" Allen in the resulting special election. Unless Kaine appoints himself, but that is unlikely because Virginia's lieutenant governor is a Republican.

Obama could also choose Wesley Clark, even though he has supported Hillary Clinton all along. Still, he is a four-star general and can hit McCain on military issues. Actually, Obama could turn his lack of military knowledge into a plus. He could point out that when former Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki said that it would take hundreds of thousands of troops to pacify Iraq, Bush and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld overruled him. Obama could say: "I know I am no military expert and won't be so quick to overrule our top generals on questions of how to fight a war."

Another possibility is Ohio's Gov. Ted Strickland. The goal here is to carry Ohio, obviously. Stickland could also be Clinton's Veep. His main drawback is his age. He's 66.
 

Goodpasture

Well-known member
Richardson or Edwards is going to be the veep.

I do not understand how anyone can say Hillery has experience.....she was first lady....that is it.
 
Top