Who for VP?
From my vantage point, and sticking to the names in circulation, I would rank the candidates as follows (and from the best interest of the campaign, not what I personally want them to do!):
Obama:
Best: Tim Kaine/ Hillary Clinton (my heart says Kaine, but my head says Clinton. Right now, Obama needs a serious shot of adrenaline, and Clinton knows how to fight back)
OK: Joe Biden, Sam Nunn
Poor: Evan Bayh
Awful: Kathleen Sibelius (More communion wars– yeah, that’s what we need…)
Outside the box: Al Gore (want your old job back?)
McCain:
Best: Tim Pawlenty (if you can prize Minnesota away from Obama, you’re in good shape).
OK: Charlie Crist
Poor: Tom Ridge
Awful: Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Joe Libermann (I would love McCain to pick any of these people which is exactly why he shouldn’t do it!)
Outside the box: Fred Thompson (let’s face it, the VP position is made for him– he wouldn’t need to work that hard!)
Comments are closed.
MM
Karl Rove keeps telling Obama his best bet is to pick Clinton. The thing is, that’s what the Republicans want. Then they can really nail Obama for saying “You aren’t all that different, after all.” And they will show he is easily manipulated in the way Bush is by Cheney.
I think Biden is Obama’s best choice; Bayh –no way!
I don’t think Romney would be bad for McCain… why do you think so?
If he picks Ridge or Lieberman, the Republicans will secure a loss.
Intrade has Biden in first place, with Bayh a distant second (Biden’s odds have varied wildly over the past few days, but he’s always been in first place). On the Republican side, Romney and Pawlenty are basically tied.
I’d be interested to know why you think Bayh would be a poor choice for Obama. I’m not a fan of the guy by any means, but I don’t see how picking him would be much different than picking someone like Tim Kaine.
What about Huckabee?
As for Biden . . . he’s always given me the impression of a slick, fast-talking used car salesman who loves being the center of attention.
Henry: but maybe Rove is playing the Vizzini from Princess Bride game here?)
Kat: I think Romney is a buffoon who can’t stop shoving his extra-large feet in his mouth! And does McCain really want somebody who has changed his positions even more than he himself has?
BA: My objections to Bayh stem from his membership of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, a neocon group that included McCain, Liebermann, Bill Kristol etc. He wasn’t just another spineless Democrat who supported the Iraq war; he was a true believer.
McCain should choose: Sarah Palin.
Wow, I’m impressed. A post by MM without blatant favoritism!
Interesting musings. I guess we’ll all find out sooner than later!
I think Clinton’s the best choice for Obama. The recent polling data that showed Obama’s support dropping off indicated that most of the drop off was from Democrats. Picking Clinton would shore up Obama’s base.
Clinton is certainly not without liabilities, but she’s a more disciplined campaigner than Biden, and Obama’s campaign is very structured. Also, it seems to me Obama’s greatest weakness (for most voters, rather than for practicing Catholics) is his lack of experience. Both Biden and Clinton have experience, but I think the average voter probably doesn’t know who Biden is, and so Clinton would more effectively check the ‘experience’ box for the average voter.
McCain doesn’t have any good options for VP. Romney is terrible because the media (and many other people) seem to hate him. I don’t see what Ridge brings to the table; he certainly can’t brag about his tenure at Homeland Security. Pawlenty is probably his best bet. Crist would be a decent option given his popularity in FL.
It would be great if McCain chose Sarah Palin. Her inexperience in foreign policy wouldn’t be a problem, because (rightly or wrongly, I think wrongly) McCain is viewed as competent and experienced by most voters. It could generate some enthusiasm among women voters, and mitigate the gender gap (especially if HRC is Obama’s VP nominee).
But is it in the best interests of Republicans to shine the light on Alaska, when it’s entire congressional delegation could be indicted for corruption?
MM – yeah, good point
I can’t stand Romney, but I still think that he would help McCain a lot with the conservative base. I read somewhere that people within the McCain camp said that they were throwing out the names of Ridge and Lieberman to throw people off so they could accept Romney as the alternative, but who knows.
They should both choose Pat Buchannan. Is there a law against the same man running on opposite tickets?
Is there a better person to have as a V.P. He would consider both presidents as dirt under his heels, which is what they are, and would in turn turn the V.P. into a soap box.
I think Romney would be a pretty good pick, for three reasons:
1) Money. He’s got it, and knows how to get more of it. Whereas McCain has been having trouble raising campaign cash.
2) Michigan. Romney plays well there, and if he gave McCain a couple of points bump he might be able to carry the state for him.
3) Mormons. Utah is going to go Republican. Nevada and Colorado are not so clear. Having the very high turn out and organizations that a Romney VP could bring could help him in those state.
In general, what you want in a VP candidate is someone who a) looks like a plausible President, and b) is willing to go on the attack against the opposing candidate. I think Romney fits that bill.
They should both choose Pat Buchannan.
So as to protect against the possibility of assassination?
Pat Buchanan is cute.
BA, I agree. Romney should be the best pick. If they don’t pick him, then it is because 1) Romney didn’t accept or 2) the McCain campaign is not composed of very smart people.
It appears that Obama has made his decision.
Nobody likes to hear himself talk more than Biden, which is quite a feat for a U.S. Senator. If Obama is smart, he will pick Bayh – attractive and nice when he attacks (which is what vp candidates should do), moderate-seeming, boring, safe.
Romney is a decent choice, because he will attack without shame, and no one does it better.
Third, when has a vp ever helped in a state? It hardly happens, and is a poor reason for a choice. This position, as a nominee, should be compliment and do no harm.
MM
I don’t think she would be found involved with all the corruption; and indeed, that she is a 1) woman 2) pro-life (to the point of living up to her convictions) and 3) environmentally friendly, those three issues would bring in 1) women 2) Republicans unconvinced about McCain on life and 3) possible Greens.
I would like to say for the record: I agree with Henry.
:-)
Darwin
Hopefully not the first time in your life!
when has a vp ever helped in a state?
Johnson. Texas. 1960.
As I recall, previous areas of agreement include:
Water is wet.
The sky is blue.
and
In principio, creavit Deus caelum et terram.
It was Biden who came up with the classic quip about Rudy: “All of his sentences contain a noun, a verb and 9/11″.
Yes, Biden comes up with some great ones! And his facial expression when he talks abot Giuliani’s complete ignorance of the world is priceless!
And BA, how does Romney “look like a plausible president”? He looks like a used car salesman.
Johnson. Texas. 1960.
Without a doubt – and the very notable exception that provides for the earlier generalization.
On Romney, I think he’s an impressive guy who has accomplished a lot in his life – unlike Bush and Obama – and that helps me to like him. Yet Romney is also completely shameless as a political figure, and that’s not to be admired.
Darwin
No agreement that Tolkien is a great Catholic witness? :O
He looks like a used car salesman.
More like a game show host.
I could not agree more with Henry. Sarah Palin would be an excellent choice.
Biden could clean McCain’s clock in a foreign policy debate. The poor elder would be flashing his POW card after every gaffe and embarassment of his …
Henry,
Isn’t that equally obvious?
Though we may start to diverge when it comes to your dangerously modern acceptance of incarnations of Doctor Who post Sylvester McCoy…
Darwin
I would have thought you would embrace Rowan Atkinson’s and Hugh Grant’s incarnations!
Romney at best comes across as a computer generated spokesperson for some costly Horatio Alger-esque make-a fortune -on- your -own 12 DVD progran, sent with free shipping if you call in the next 24 hours.
Blackadder has perfectly analyzed the situation. Romney for money, michigan and mormans. I would add he would help in NH, also a close state. Nationally there could even be a downward dip for the ticket with him on it. He is not liked by conservatives or moderates nor does he help with the maverick image. But he pulls votes/money where it counts. Its all the microtargeting.
Palin is out because she now has her own scandals with the state trooper.
Crist, well, the wedding announcement still hasn’t ….
Jindal is a favorite of the conservative intelligentsia but polls poorly with the GOP rank and file.
McCain is playing it brilliantly with Lieberman and Ridge. He won’t pick them but by pretending he might, he looks open minded.
Biden? I really don’t understand all the buzz about him.
He’s old guard and a Washington insider. I thought Obama wants to project as someone with new ideas.
As some have noted, Biden absolutely loves the sound of his own voice.
In his several runs for the Democratic presidential nomination, I don’t think he ever (or at least rarely) polled anything more than single digits.
He doesn’t bring a key state to Obama’s tally in the electoral college.
He’s Catholic, but pro-choice Catholic, and not someone who will draw the pro-life Catholics Obama wants and needs in key states.
So where’s the beef with this guy? I just don’t see that he brings much of another to the Democratic ticket.
For the record, Sarah Palin became super famous in AK due to her fighting corruption from within the previous Gov’s admin. She gave up a six figure income when she realized the problem was too big for her alone to fight. She won the seat with ZERO support from the Repub Party (they were part of the corruption, surprise!) and very little money.
The “trooper scandal” is barely a flipping scandal at all. We have questions but nothing looking dirty.
AK doesn’t really bring anything to the table. We don’t have any votes to speak of.
But is it in the best interests of Republicans to shine the light on Alaska, when it’s entire congressional delegation could be indicted for corruption?
Sure, when it’s shining the light on “Sarah Barracuda” who has been kicking corruption booty against both dems and republicans. :)
Romney’s Intrade rating just shot up 21 points. FYI.
Time’s Malk Halperin ‘reports’ it’s Romney.
I favored Biden for Obama, but thought he should have named him a month ago to give Biden more time to do what good VP candidates do best–attack the other side. I favored Palin for McCain at the same time, though she seems to be out of the running. Romney has obvious strengths, but will religious conservatives vote for a Mormon?
As someone who will be voting against McCain, I actually hope he chooses Lieberman.
Biden has a ton of experience but he’s Old Washington. He’s from a small, reliably Democratic state and from the senate like Obama. He’s also too damn gabby and doesn’t know when to shut up as was obvious during the debates. Being Catholic he would inevitably end up as red meat for the communion deniers who have been pawing the ground in frustration this year. Biden will be entertaining the crowd at a rally in Podunk Iowa with a joke about 2 Irish Catholic guys as the local paper headlines “Rightwing Catholic Group Petitions Vatican to have Biden Excommunicated”. I can see it now.
That said, it will probably be Biden.
Biden is a true foreign policy expert and a trained attack dog. Obama needs both right now.
Biden jumped 40 points on Intrade today. Biden’s mouth and voting record can be a liability. Republicans hate him so it could undermine Obama’s message of unity. I think Kaine would have been a better choice.
Romney is very capable but spineless which is why he may make a bad president but a good VP. He’s strong on economic issues, McCain’s weak spot. He’s got universal healthcare credentials too.