Comments on: Obama Begins VP Hunt In Earnest

By: khaki

khaki — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:30:53 +0000

He needs someone who doesn’t suggest he might get shot. Let’s see… not Huckabeee….not Hillary… At least the list is getting shorter.

By: Bob Aman

Bob Aman — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:56:37 +0000

“Jim Webb, Ted Strickland, Kathleen Sebelius, Claire McCaskill”

Interesting list. I’d be OK with any of those except maybe Jim Webb. But I think Obama can do better.

Chuck Hagel will be extremely unlikely for VP. Too many Democrats just aren’t ready for a GOP running mate. VP is the tie-breaker in the senate, and as admirable a guy as Hagel is, I don’t think the Democrats want the anyone even remotely related to the GOP to have any more voting power than they currently do. To say nothing of the possibility that Hagel would be first in line to take over the presidency if anything were to happen to Obama. Look for Hagel to end up in the cabinet instead, possibly (hopefully) as SecDef.

I still like Richardson for VP.

By: Pdx632

Pdx632 — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:54:44 +0000

I think Richardson would have a hard time explaining why he chose to criticize the State Dept. for having a travel advisory to Mexico, while he was in Mexico, the day before the chief of police of Mexico City was assassinated in front of his home.

By: Fern R

Fern R — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:53:09 +0000

Sorry, hit submit too soon. A conservative Democrat also might keep Democrats who would consider McCain on board for Obama.

By: Fern R

Fern R — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:48:07 +0000

I think Richardson has a shot, but not because there is any budding relationship between him and Obama. Obama has problems with Latino voters and Richardson puts an important voting block in play.

I personally think Obama should pick a blue-dog Democrat from a Southern state. Not that Obama has any shot at getting my vote, but I think a conservative Southern Democrat will help him with many of the groups he is currently struggling with.

By: Pdx632

Pdx632 — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:57:41 +0000

Just a note, McCain has plenty of issues with his home state. They are very upset about the amnesty plan he hatched with Kennedy. Of course, Napolitano is having her own issues as well with the same topic. McCain will likely win AZ, but it won’t be pretty.

By: kranky kritter

kranky kritter — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:51:14 +0000

You’re the second wonkish blogger I’ve seen float a list of suspects based on who would make some sort of electoral, strategic, or political unity sense. And that may well be what occurs, some sort of political marriage of convenience. God knows there’s precedent.

But I wonder whether Obama might instead choose someone who he feels is another good personable speaker with energy and appeal, and who he has a good rapport with. My mind keeps getting drawn back to how very sympatico Bill Richardson seemed to be when he endorsed Obama.

I can also guess that won’t happen because Hillary may try to keep him off the ticket out of spite, as part of her impending stand-down bargain. But I think he’d be a good choice because I think people will like him across the board. One can argue that means as much if not more than providing a small and indeterminate boost in one or two states.