Welcome back for more veep speculation! Last thread (two days ago) we considered the top Southern candidates. Averaging in those votes yielded a slightly different top 14 average vote-getters overall as the thread before that--namely, Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL) dropped down a few spots, and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg moved up into the top tier--so we'll consider this new top 14 in today's poll.
I'm thinking of running some more "break-out" polls in the coming days, alternating with the top 14 candidates, averaging in each day's votes as we go.
Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..." "Oh my God, where's Johnny Politician?!" would be a bit alarmist, don't you think? I'm sure they're fine. I'm happy to hear all ideas, and of course I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.
(continued below the fold)
My personal favorite running mates for Obama remain Fmr. Sens. Sam Nunn (GA) and John Edwards (NC). I'm convinced the GOP v.p. nominee will be Gov. Mark Sanford (SC).
And, n.b., I won't ever be including Gov. Ed Rendell (PA), largely because of this:
That's some pretty heavy baggage I don't want to see on the news every day until November.
I'm also not including some who might make good choices, but probably not in 2008, though I know some may disagree, notably: Sen. John Kerry (MA), who I like for Secretary of State or Defense or another position, Govs. Christine Gregoire (WA) and Brian Schweitzer (MT), who need to run for reelection and Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA), my senator who I like, while not always agreeing with her on everything, because I feel that ticket would be too easily caricatured as the most liberal ticket in the universe and etc., etc. I know, I shouldn't be influenced by that likelihood, but I think that ticket would have too many liabilities not outweighed by possible electoral strengths. (I think that about some other names I've included anyway, but they've done very well in polling, so that's how they got their pass.) I also haven't included Sen. Evan Bayh (IN) yet, because...zzz...Wha?! What happened? Maybe I'll run him in the poll sometime if I don't fall asleep typing his name....
Pluses and minuses:
Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA)
+ Foreign policy/national security expertise, outspoken attack dog potential
- Has had two brain surgeries, never really recovered national reputation after '88 Kinnock plagiarism scandal, key supporter of terrible bankruptcy bill, says crazy things once in a while, comes from relatively safe Democratic state, ticket with Obama might be too congressional
Gen. (Ret.) Wesley Clark (AR)
+ Foreign policy/national security expertise, Southerner, military veteran (highly decorated), Hillary Clinton supporter who could help unite Obama and Clinton voters, outspoken attack dog potential
- Hillary Clinton supporter who made criticisms which could be used against ticket, has never held elective office and has only won one electoral contest in Oklahoma's 2004 primary, has no demonstrated electoral appeal, worked for Fox News
Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (NC)
+ Came in second place in Democratic presidential contest in 2004 and third place in 2008, drove presidential debate in 2008, strong appeal to labor and working-class voters, amazing nationally known and respected wife Elizabeth, won more votes for v.p. in 2004 than any Democratic vice presidential candidate in history, unique chemistry and affinity with Obama as effective surrogate, outspoken attack dog potential
- Some possible image problems from previous runs, perception that he was a weak v.p. candidate in 2004 who didn't help win his own state
Sen. Russ Feingold (WI)
+ Reputation for integrity as a reformer and Bush administration foe, would make border-state ticket with Obama like Truman / Barkley and Clinton / Gore, comes from swing state which he could help carry, Jewish heritage could appeal in more states than just his home state, rumors he might run for president over the years have elevated his national stature, great speaker, outspoken attack dog potential
- Unmarried, ticket with Obama might be too congressional
Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN)
+ Adds executive experience, foreign policy/national security expertise, reputation for integrity as a reformer and Bush administration foe, won popular vote in 2000, international stature as a thinker and opinion leader, military veteran, can be a great speaker, wife Tipper advocate for mental health care, outspoken attack dog potential
- Some possible image problems from previous runs, would have to serve as vice president again, might overshadow Obama's presidential profile, not likely to carry home state, wife Tipper not particularly popular among Democrats for previous '80's lobbying efforts
Sen. Chuck Hagel (NE)
+ Foreign policy/national security expertise, reputation for integrity as a reformer and somewhat of a Bush administration foe on Iraq War, military veteran (highly decorated), possible crossover appeal to Republicans, outspoken attack dog potential
- Not particularly popular among own party or Democratic Party, anti-choice, very conservative voting record in general, ticket with Obama might be too congressional
Gov. Tim Kaine (VA)
+ Adds executive experience, likely to help carry home state, Southerner, Missouri roots, fluent in Spanish, early and vocal Obama supporter, unique chemistry and affinity with Obama as effective surrogate
- Short length of time as governor, would be replaced by Republican lieutenant governor, not particularly good on television
Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO)
+ Would make border-state ticket with Obama like Truman / Barkley and Clinton / Gore, comes from swing state which she could help carry, early and vocal Obama supporter, unique chemistry and affinity with Obama as effective surrogate, very good on television
- Short length of time as senator, bad FISA telecom immunity vote, could be replaced by appointment by Republican governor, ticket with Obama might be too congressional
Fmr. Sen. Sam Nunn (GA)
+ Foreign policy/national security expertise, diplomatic experience, work on "loose nuke" issue particularly complementary to Obama's, strong fiscal conservative who could give Obama budget-responsibility cred, military veteran, likely to help carry home state and region as popular Georgian and Southerner, rumors he might run for president over the years have elevated his national stature, relatively early and vocal Obama supporter, unique chemistry and affinity with Obama as effective surrogate, outspoken attack dog potential
- Some Democrats still angry over authorship of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, possibly still homophobic, very conservative voting record in general decidedly mixed blessing, out of office since 1997
Gov. Bill Richardson (NM)
+ Adds executive experience, foreign policy/national security expertise, diplomatic experience, possible Latino/Southwestern regional appeal, comes from swing state which he could help carry, fluent in Spanish, relatively early and vocal Obama supporter, unique chemistry and affinity with Obama as effective surrogate, can be a good speaker, outspoken attack dog potential
- Could be vulnerable to attack on national security over role in Los Alamos scandals during time as Energy Secretary, no particularly demonstrated Latino appeal outside his home state, somewhat ineffectual campaigner, close ties to his state's nuclear energy interests, former Kissinger employee, not great on television
Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (NY)
+ Author of books on civil liberties, editor of volumes of poetry and writings on American history and public service, attorney, founder of the Profiles in Courage Award of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, a director of the Commission on Presidential Debates and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, reputation for integrity, appeal to women, New York and Massachusetts roots, early and vocal Obama supporter, unique chemistry and affinity with Obama as effective surrogate, family experience with campaigning and governing as daughter of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, niece of Sens. Robert F. and Ted Kennedy (for the latter of whom she worked in an internship on Capitol Hill), Peace Corps director and Democratic vice presidential nominee Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver (also founders of the Special Olympics) and Amb. Jean Kennedy Smith, cousin of Reps. Joseph Kennedy II and Patrick Kennedy, Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and California First Lady Maria Shriver, outstanding speaker, excellent on television
- No experience in elected or appointed political office, could create backlash among Hillary Clinton supporters as woman candidate with less direct experience in politics
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (KS)
+ Adds executive experience, Ohio roots, appeal to women, unique chemistry and affinity with Obama as effective surrogate, possible crossover appeal to Republicans, outspoken attack dog potential
- Not great on television, not extremely likely to help carry home state, could create backlash among Hillary Clinton supporters as woman candidate (though much more qualified to be president than Sen. Clinton)
Sen. Jim Webb (VA)
+ Adds executive experience, foreign policy/national security expertise, likely to help carry home state, military veteran (highly decorated) Southerner, Missouri roots, possible crossover appeal to Republicans, outspoken attack dog potential
- Short length of time in Senate and likely to hold seat for years, made some controversial comments on women in combat while teaching at Annapolis, worked for Ronald Reagan, bad FISA telecom immunity vote, late Obama endorser
Rep. Robert Wexler
+ Reputation for integrity as a reformer and Bush administration foe, Floridian, could help carry home state, New York roots, Jewish heritage could appeal in more states than just his home state, unique chemistry and affinity with Obama as effective surrogate, good speaker, outspoken attack dog potential
- "I enjoy cocaine" Colbert interview, ticket with Obama might be too congressional
Please cast your vote, speculate away, offer new names or general ideas about how Barack Obama should pick his running mate and who it should be. You could pick your favorite of the listed names and agitate for someone else below, or vote "Other" and agitate below. Again, "You're stupid for not including..." ain't nice. Promote your own candidates all you like, but yes, I've probably thought about them, and if they're not listed in the poll today, they may be coming around tomorrow or very soon. Be patient, or don't and post a different v.p. thread. One a day is free!
Thanks,
Alex
Choose Our President 2008
P.S. For reference, here is the entire field I've polled so far, in order of average votes received (though DKos polls "never close," I collect votes and end a poll's voting period some time before posting the next thread and poll). Ties are not indicated; there are several ties, but they are listed in alphabetical order. Candidates [in brackets] are no longer active either for lack of support, for reasons cited above, or for eccentric reasons known only to me, and I reserve the right to recall them at any time based on buzz, rumors, whim, customer complaints and/or outright bribery (just kidding--no bribery allowed, and please no wagering). Candidates {in curly brackets} have made definitive Shermanesque demurrals. I may answer further questions about this list, or not. I do try to be as fair as possible, but may fall down here or there:
- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (KS)
- Sen. Jim Webb (VA)
- Gov. Bill Richardson (NM)
- Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (NC)
- Gen. (Ret.) Wesley Clark (AR)
{Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA)}
- Rep. Robert Wexler (FL)
- Sen. Chuck Hagel (NE)
[Gov. Brian Schweitzer (MT)]
- Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN)
- Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA)
- Sen. Russ Feingold (WI)
- Gov. Tim Kaine (VA)
- Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO)
- Fmr. Sen. Sam Nunn (GA)
{Gov. Ted Strickland (OH)}
[Sen. Christopher Dodd (CT)]
[Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA)]
- Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (NY)
- Fmr. Sen. Bill Bradley (NJ)
- Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ)
- Sen. Bob Graham (FL)
- Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH)
- Gen. (Ret.) James L. Jones (MO?)
[Bill Moyers (NY)]
- Gen. (Ret.) Anthony Zinni (VA?)
- Sen. Jack Reed (RI)
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (NY)
- Fmr. Sen. Max Cleland (GA)
- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY)
- Gov. Brad Henry (OK)
[Maria Shriver (CA)]
- Sen. Bill Nelson (FL)
- Justice (Ret.) Sandra Day O'Connor (AZ)
- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA)
- Fmr. Sen. Tom Daschle (SD)
- Fmr. Gov. Ray Mabus (MS)
- Rep. Joe Sestak (PA)
- Rep. Chet Edwards (TX)
- Rep. Barbara Lee (CA)
- Rep. Loretta Sanchez (CA)
- Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA)
- Sen. Blanche Lincoln (AR)
- Rep. Diana DeGette (CO)
[Adm. (Ret.) William Fallon (NJ?)]
- Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD)
- Rep. Ben Chandler (KY)
[Susan Eisenhower (MD)]
[Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA)]
[Fmr. Rep. / Fmr. White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta (CA)]
[Fmr. Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (MD)]
And here are three candidates I have yet to run, whom I hope to get around to soon:
Fmr. Gov. Howard Dean (VT)
Fmr. Gov. John Kitzhaber (OR)
Fmr. Sen. George Mitchell (ME)