Obama Team Weighs Nunn, Edwards As Running Mates
KEN THOMAS | June 20, 2008 12:19 AM EST
Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich., who leads the Congressional Black Caucus, said members of her caucus asked her to forward the names of Edwards and Nunn when she met Wednesday with Obama's vice presidential search team. The team, Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, indicated the two were on the list.
"We've been brainstorming in the Congressional Black Caucus. Former Senator Sam Nunn's name has come up, as well as John Edwards' name has come up among our CBC members. I reported that to them and they had both of those names on their list," Kilpatrick said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Kilpatrick said she made several suggestions during the 45-minute meeting, including former Vice President Al Gore, Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. Gore endorsed Obama on Monday.
"I asked them what type of person the senator is looking for? And they said in general someone who could help him rebuild the country ... talking about change. How we reinvest in America, get people back to work and reinforce our education system and bring the jobs back," she said.
Edwards, a former North Carolina senator who was John Kerry's running mate in 2004, could help Obama appeal to white, working-class voters who largely favored Clinton in the primary and will be a critical voting bloc in the general election.
If the "Change" message is going to be about turning around the country and appealing to bread and butter economic issues, then it would seem that Senator Edwards' message of populism would be a natural fit on this.
Also, a friend of mine in the Obama camp told me several months ago, that he thought it would be Mark Warner. Now, with Warner declaring a definite "no" to that possibility last week and Edwards saying he would still be a VP a few days later in his interview on ABC's "This Week" makes me think that there is something brewing between the two camps.
One can hope.
And don't forget STOP FISA CAPTILATION.
