The primary race is wrapping up... Well, the primary race is hopefully wrapping up, and the time comes for candidates to focus on the general election campaign. One of the first steps is obviously picking a running mate to strengthen the ticket. However, in this task, there is an endless amount of hypothesizing and speculation. There are two options that Barack Obama has to qualify his running mate.
He can either strengthen his Democratic base or seek support from moderates and more liberal Republicans. The first option would require a liberal Democrat who appeals to the Reagan (or Hillary) Democrats - the working class Americans who tend to vote Democratic for economic and war issues. The second option would require a more moderate or conservative Democrat, or a more liberal-leaning Republican.
Personally, here are my picks:
For Strengthening Base
Robert Wexler (D-FL). A liberal Democrat with a strong record on civil rights, health care, and the war. Perhaps most importantly, politically speaking, he's been an outspoken opponent of the Bush administration, as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and has repeatedly called for the impeachment of President Bush. With 70+% of the country holding an unfavorable view of the current president, having such an opponent can only be a good thing.
Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS). Another liberal Democrat, with a very nice record of economic prowess - she balanced four state budgets without tax increases, which could be an asset in contrast of "I don't really understand the economy" McCain. Also, obviously, she's a woman. Not only would a woman vice-president be historic and possibly open the door for her to become the first woman president after 8 years of Obama (cross your fingers), but she would do an important job in attracting the female Hillary Democrats.
For Broadening Base
Chuck Hagel (R-NE). A liberal-to-moderate Republican, Hagel has been a staunch critic of the war in Iraq, comparing it to Vietnam - which, by the way, he is a veteran of. Military experience is a good thing, considering Obama's relative inexperience compared to McCain. He's also a vocal critic of the Bush administration, as well as a critic to those who support the president for the sake of supporting the president, saying "To question your government is not unpatriotic — to not question your government is unpatriotic." While he is more conservative on social issues (anti-abortion, pro-gun rights, pro-free trade) he brings an interesting dynamic to the ticket - an almost unprecedented broad appeal. In fact, he polls 10% higher among Nebraskan Democrats than Republicans. He's already on Obama's shortlist for Secretary of Defense - why not bump him up a bit?
Anyway, those are my three top choices. An obvious runner-up would be Hillary Clinton herself, who, despite what most of you appear to believe, is actually almost identical to Obama on the issues. She's also an asset in terms of strengthening the base, as she attracts Reagan Democrats and helps bring in women. Another option would be Bill Richardson - a Democrat tough on crime and pro-immigration, who could help bring in Hispanic voters of whom immigration may be a crucial issue to.