I am a Democrat.
Most people in the country have no idea who I am, let alone what I stand for. My name may bring some vague bubbles of memory to mind, but I have not been well known on the national stage. The polling about my spot on the ticket has been a mixed bag. Some pundits think I will do well for the ticket; others are sure I will not help at all.
My home state is considered a swing state by some, but others believe it is safe and my place on the ticket won't make any difference. The position I will be leaving to serve as vice president--as I am sure that Barack Obama and I will be able to win in November over McCain--is a significant one, but my absence, and the person who will replace me, is not so vital that it precludes my running.
My experience makes me uniquely qualified to be vice president, though of course no experience can ever prepare a person to be president. My record is one I am proud of, with a few exceptions, although Democrats of various stripes have different concerns about different things I have said or done.
The media does not like me. They take the things I say out of context to make me look foolish, and misrepresent what I say sometimes without even bothering to quote me at all. The right-wing positively hates me. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Bill O'Reilly have all dedicated long segments to trashing me. O'Reilly also has spent long minutes on FOXNews scoffing and huffing at my positions and politics.
Oh, you should see what they say on the blogs--they type Mothers Day posts with those fingers? And the Freepers! Good grief!
Of course, the liberal blogs haven't been much better. I know that I am unpopular in many circles because of my votes on some issues. My votes on other issues have upset a number of other liberal bloggers. I suppose I will just avoid reading any more of the Daily Kos for the next few days while everyone works through their issues about me.
At any rate, thank you for your eventual support. After all, I am Barack Obama's running mate.
I am a Democrat.