I am curious what other people think about possible running mates for Hillary. There isn't any
extremely obvious choice...
Here is my own analysis of possible running mates. (Basically just everyone who is mentioned in relation to '08 - so I might have missed some other possibility.)
It is unlikely that Hillary will fill a vice-presidential slot... but one never knows. Thus, the following candidates were looked at as potential vice-presidents - the dynamic on some of them changes slightly if the roles are switched. Potential VPs are ranked with a five plus (+) system. The better the choice, the more stars.
Evan Bayh +++++ - One of only three potential VPs that might visually sway voters - the others are Edwards and Obama... perhaps Kerry would also, but only because he looks powerful, not wholesome like these. He appeals to red state voters... his tax cuts might draw some traditional republican supporters. Very good choice as a VP.
Joe Biden + - Too much controversy and scandal. Adds nothing special to the ticket.
Barbara Boxer + - Not a chance in hell. You just can't run two women together at this point. She isn't a very strong candidate anyway.
Wesley Clark +++++ - Clark seems like the odd one out any way you look at the race. If Clark ran for president, who would be his VP? The mind boggles. Which is better - a senator with a general as VP or a general with a senator as VP? Both combinations seem slightly odd... I posit that the senator with a general as VP would be the best combo though. Is Hillary that senator? I'm not very familiar with General Clark... it would all depend upon how their personalities went together. (Note: this ticket does have the advantage of being very hawkish - but would it be enough to pull some republican voters over to a democratic ticket running a woman for president?)
Christopher Dodd ++ - Catholic, but that doesn't matter that much anymore. Strikes me as a very boring candidate with nothing special to add, but no major detractors.
Tom Daschle + - He was defeated in his 2004 bid for re-election to the senate... an indication that he would be a VERY BAD choice.
John Edwards +++++ - John comes with NARRATIVE - which is always politically valuable. (Warning: so does John McCain - veteran who suffered torture comes back to serve his country in another way, is a maverick and sticks to his principles because of the hard lessons he had to learn.) Edwards' narrative is slightly less complete than McCain's - 16-year-old son killed in car accident... never forgets (wears pin on his suit so WE don't)... refuses to let this spoil his good nature - known as 'Sunshine John'. He isn't as electorally strong as one would think. Charismatic enough... but nothing outstanding. However, he would do much to pull a Hillary ticket to the center. He has a wholesome quality that also might do something for the ticket.
Russ Feingold ++ - Would do much to patch up things with the liberal side of her own party... but Feingold isn't really a serious contender. No matter what Kos says, having divorced two wives is certainly a detractor. It may be possible for a candidate to win in that situation, but it certainly doesn't help anything. He brings too much baggage to the table, and would never win the swing states. He only has two stars instead of one because of his appeal to his own party and his name recognition.
Al Gore +++ - While this ticket would be ideologically pleasing, there are several significant problems. 1)It would be very weird to share a VP with your husband. 2)Gore is not the most charismatic politician - he has trouble relating to other people. 3)Hillary is seen as being too liberal by many people - Gore would do little to moderate her image. (However, some people, such as Donald Trump, think that she has a better chance if she doesn't position herself as a moderate.)
John Kerry +++ - I have a hunch he would never run with Hillary - and Hillary wouldn't want him to. They just don't GO together. Furthermore, Kerry has too much baggage - he took a nasty smearing in '04... and he wasn't even able to inspire great fervor in the liberal demographic. He has half of a chance at being elected as president, with the right VP, but none as a VP. VPs should be the frosting on the cake - the one who makes up for the powerful main candidate's flaws... Kerry isn't frosting - he has political power, but isn't very relatable.
Barack Obama +++++ - Barack was supposed to be the superstar of the senate... but he has done little since taking office. However, perception matters a great deal. Also, he is good at relating to religious voters. In ideology and personality, he would be great running with Hillary. The only question is race. Does a ticket with the first female president and first black VP have a handicap that is just too big? Probably. Something like 30% of the country refuses to vote for a female president... I've never seen the figures about a black president or VP - they are probably more optimistic, and greatly overlap the 30% - so it isn't that much of a problem that way. What I'm trying to say is that they might each make it into office separately - and statistically they could probably make it in together... but would they be perceived as a lame duck pair? It doesn't matter if they are capable of pulling it off - would enough people (donators!) believe they could? (Note: if Obama became VP, he would be in a brilliant place in 2016. I can't imagine who could run against him - right now though, he isn't ready to run for president.) He has slight crossover appeal, yet also appeals to the progressives.
Bill Richardson ++ - Not stellar, but it could be worse.
Tom Vilsack ++++ - His childhood might inspire sympathy (he is an orphan whose adoptive father was an alcoholic). He has a long history in the senate and a decent run as governor. Name recognition might be a problem... but he is from Iowa, for god's sake!
Mark Warner ++++ - Warner quit the presidential race to 'spend more time with his family'. If he didn't quit because of immanent scandal, he would be a good VP for Hillary. He has the more conservative democrats in his hands - he could very well take the swing states. Name recognition is his main problem.