Welcome back for more speculation! Today we'll continue the final elimination series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.
This series began with the bottom 14 names, and eliminates the bottom vote-getter(s) and replaces them with new name(s) from just up the list, reaveraging as we go (so each thread's bottom vote-getter[s] may not be the ones cut--who's cut will be determined by the new averages generated from this series's votes only). I'm hoping we'll have five or six candidates left when Obama picks and see if the DKos wisdom of crowds is. Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ) was eliminated in the previous round, and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (KS) rotated in to replace her this time. After the next thread, I'll be running the rankings of the remaining candidates each thread, just in case Obama beats this series to the punch.
Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments. "Oh my God, where's Jane/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.
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My personal favorite running mates for Obama remain Fmr. Sens. John Edwards (NC) and Sam Nunn (GA), in that order. I still think Nunn has a slight edge in likeliness. (And no, that's not because of completely unsubstantiated scurrilous rumors about Edwards.) I'm convinced the GOP v.p. nominee will be Gov. Mark Sanford (SC).
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....And Govs. Ted Strickland (OH) and Ed Rendell (PA) have completely ruled out serving, as have senatorial candidate Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner and Sen. Jim Webb (VA), along with Sen. Jack Reed (RI) and Fmr. Sen. Bill Bradley (NJ), and Gen. James L. Jones seems to support McCain, so they've been retired from polling here.
I've made the editorial decision to keep Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA) active despite his revealing that he had not been asked to submit information to Obama's v.p. vetting team at a certain recent point. I may still eliminate candidates based upon their own Shermanesque statements in the future.
Here's the remaining 28-candidate field we'll be considering over this elimination series, in order of average votes in every thread from #1 through #44:
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (KS)
Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (NC)
Gen. (Ret.) Wesley Clark (AR)
Gov. Bill Richardson (NM)
Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA)
Sen. Chuck Hagel (NE)
Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN)
Gov. Tim Kaine (VA)
Rep. Robert Wexler (FL)
Sen. Russ Feingold (WI)
Fmr. Sen. Sam Nunn (GA)*
Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO)*
Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL)*
Fmr. Gov. Howard Dean (VT)
Caroline Kennedy (NY)
Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ)*
[Fmr. Sen. Bill Bradley (NJ)]**
Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH)
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY)
[Sen. Jack Reed (RI)]**
Fmr. Sen. Max Cleland (GA)*
Gen. (Ret.) Anthony Zinni (VA?)*
Gov. Brad Henry (OK)*
Fmr. Sen. Tom Daschle (SD)*
Sen. Bill Nelson (FL)*
Fmr. Gov. Ray Mabus (MS)*
Rep. Chet Edwards (TX)*
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (NM)*
* ELIMINATED
Gov. Brad Henry (OK) - ROUND ONE
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (NM) - ROUND TWO
Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL) - ROUND THREE
Fmr. Sen. Max Cleland (GA) - ROUND FOUR
Rep. Chet Edwards (TX) - ROUND FOUR
Sen. Bill Nelson (FL) - ROUND FIVE
Fmr. Gov. Ray Mabus (MS) - ROUND SIX
Fmr. Sen. Tom Daschle (SD) - ROUND SEVEN
Gen. (Ret.) Anthony Zinni (PA / VA?) - ROUND EIGHT
Fmr. Sen. Sam Nunn (GA) - ROUND NINE
Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO) - ROUND TEN
Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ) - ROUND ELEVEN
** ELIMINATED FOR SHERMANESQUE "NO" TO BEING V.P. NOMINEE
I had meant to have written out my pluses and minuses for every candidate by now, but still haven't had time (and I also don't really want to write one for Hillary for fear of getting yelleded at). So I'll run as many as I have for today's field below, and try to get more going later, especially as we get to the top 14 overall (feel free to build your own below, and I'll be happy to steal and edit it!). I do want to run the ones I do have finished, though:
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, possible brewing scandal he has denied, but which has worked its way into the public consciousness
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, Senate seat would be filled by special election with no interim appointment by Democratic Gov. Doyle of Wisconsin, 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
- Supported Iraq War up to 2006, short length of time as governor, would be replaced by Republican lieutenant governor, not particularly good on television
Caroline Kennedy (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. 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
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 she's at least as qualified to be president as Sen. Clinton)
Rep. Robert Wexler (FL)
+ 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.
Now on to today's poll....
Thanks,
Alex
Choose Our President 2008