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The top twenty: Obama's VP shortlistIt has been reported that Obama's vp short list has twenty names on it, and one version of the list being circulated is (in no particular order): 1. Sen. Hillary Clinton 2. Former Sen. John Edwards 3. Gov. Bill Richardson 4. Gov. Kathleen Sibelius 5. Sen. Joe Biden 6. Sen. Chris Dodd 7. Gov. Ted Strickland 8. General Wesley Clarke 9. Former Sen. Sam Nunn 10. Gov. Ed Rendell 11. Sen. Chuck Hagel 12. General James Jones (Marines) 13. Sen. Evan Bayh 14. Sen. Jim Webb 15. Gen. Tony McPeak (Air Force) 16. Former Secretary of Navy Richard Danzig 17. Senator Patty Murray 18. Gov. Mark Warner 19. Senator Jack Reed 20. Senator Bill Nelson This is no doubt a good list, and gives you the idea that the Obama team might be leaning towards somebody with a military background. All the branches of the military seem to be represented on the list. But who should he pick? How do you whittle this list down to the chosen one? What should be the criteria? Should anybody be else be added to this list? The top twenty: Obama's VP
Add Tom Daschle to that list!
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Yeah Daschle's on some versions of the lists too. Also read what seems like a name out of left field that some are claiming is on *the list*-- John Kerry. I mean Kerry does have military experience obviously, but why would the presidential nominee four years ago want to be the vp this year? You csa probably scratch off Edwards and Strickland from that list as both have now responded to these rumors by strongly saying, in essence:
"NO WAY, NO HOW....NOOOOOOO! NEVER! I'LL DIE BEFORE BEING THE VP CANDIDATE THIS YEAR!"
I mean you'd think they'd at least go through the application process if for no other reason than to fight the perception that VP is some kind of lousy job. Sheesh!
So scratch Edwards and Strickland and put on maybe put on Kerry and Kerrey, John and Bob?
Bloomberg is a like-minded solutions-focused politician with executive experience and bipartisan appeal! Plus, experience regarding the economy.
 Let's see: 20 is a pretty long list, luckily we can get rid of about 16 of them. He's not going to pick Sen. Clinton and not going to pick another woman (it would piss off all the Clinton people too much) so scratch off Gov. Sibeleous and Sen. Murray. If he picks Fmr. Sen. Nunn he can kiss a lot of gay support good-bye, so I doubt it. Sen. Dodd bring nothing to the ticket except boredom. No. Come to think of it's not going to be any Senator or Former Senator, unless they've done something else of note. Scratch off Biden, Reed and Nelson. Oh yeah, and Edwards. Gov. Rendell is a Jew. That worked out great for Gore. No. Generals and Frm. Sec. of the Navy I've barely heard of? Desparate. No to McPeek, Jones and Danzig. Richardson: never met a dictator he didn't get his smiling face photographed with (and there are many). No. Chuck Hagel? The "change" candidate picks an establishment Republican. Um, ha ha ha ha. No. Warner's got some kind of huge skeleton in his closet or he would be the nominee right now. I say no, although I don't know what his issue is. That leaves 4: Strickland says no, but you never know. Sens. Bayh and Webb are more than just Senators, and they are both Clintonistas, which will help bring Clinton folk back into the fold. Speaking of which, Wesley Clark is also one of those. Now 4 is a short list. From Robert Novak's most recent column: [b] “Before multimillionaire Democratic power broker James A. Johnson quit as Sen. Barack Obama's chief vice presidential screener, the name that came to the fore in his internal discussions was 65-year-old, six-term Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware. Biden, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, made a good impression in his losing bid for the presidential nomination this year. The downside on him is that he talks too much. But he provides expertise and experience in national security that Obama lacks and, as a Catholic, adds cultural diversity to the ticket. [/b] I think Obama/Biden would be fine, provided Biden behaves and doesn't put his foot in his mouth on the campaign trail.
Senator Obama would be wise to look for someone who can assure him New York (McCain is putting resources there), Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida. There are many public officials who have aspirations for the White House and with such a young potential President he would be well advised to avoid them. That leaves us with a question of who is the wiliest, cleverest, most patient, thick skinned and best strategic planner in the Democratic party? Obama's choice for VP: New York's own Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
I assume that's a joke. Unlike Gov. Rendell, he's actually Orthodox, like Lieberman. The chance of him picking an Orthodox Jew are approximately -10000000% As to the idea that New York is in play, I say, BRING IT ON SEN. MCCCAIN! you will lose by 15-20 points here. I hope he spends money here, he's already running a horrible campaign, I hope he's stupid enough to think he can win in a navy blue state. But he won't because the sad fact for him is that states like Virginia are in play. He won't have money to invest in hopeless states for him like New York. First off, I wouldn't characterize Hagel as an "establishment republican"; he's been against the war for some time now. Nonetheless, I wouldn't pick him either...He still is a Republican after all.. still pro life... Secondly, Webb is a Clintonista? Who knew? He seems to march to the beat of his own drummer. But he would be a bad pick for many reasons; he was a Republican very recently, has expressed sympathy for the Confederacy, and wanted to keep women out of the armed forces when he was Sec of the Navy under Reagan. Also, those racy Vietnam-era novels he wrote are too explicit for prime time If I were Obama, I would go with Richardson - meeting with dictators was his job; the photo of Rummy and Saddam didn't bother people too much - and that's when he was our ally. Richardson is a regular guy and is likable; he has the experience - and he has the "candidate you want to have a beer with" thing. And who knows, maybe the GOP will try to smear him with the Latino thing - and it will backfire... he could help deliver the SW... Believe or not, McCain is vulnerable in his own state...
I think above all else, it needs to be a governor. Obama is not weak on foreign policy, and picking a military VP is an blatant admission of weakness on that subject.
We can't pick a senator, 2 senator tickets never win (remember Kerry Edwards). Historical fact.
Military commanders are not good campaigners, tend to be too green politically and may hurt Obama when the GOP will hound him over experience.
That leaves us with governors.
Bill Richardson
Kathleen Sebelius
Ted Strickland
Evan Bayh
Ed Rendell
Bill Richardson would be a good choice, has a very long resume and provides executive experience and might sway neighboring Texas to Obama's side. However he is a liability on the campaign trail. Might anger rust belt workers as they commonly blame hispanics for taking their jobs.
Sebelius is a great choice, aside from being a woman, she's one of the best governors in the country and has a proven record of bipartisanship. I really don't think that picking a female as long as it's a GOVERNOR (which hillary is not) wouldn't anger Hillary supporters that much, I really think we're making too much of that. and She meets almost all his demographic weaknesses.
Strickland, already said no, he wouldn't accept.
Evan Bayh, probably seals up Indiana which would screw up the republican math, and he would enhance Obama's youthful change message. Great pick.
Rendell, probably best left in Pennsylvania, he has a machine there that he runs well as we saw in the primaries. Obama should have no problem with PA with Rendell running that machine.
Overall though, I'd say Obama's best choice(s) are Kathleen Sebelius & Bill Richardson.
My Third choice: I found Kathleen Sebelius Governor of Kansas, age 60, a good choice, however, her state isn't exactly booming with electoral votes. She may bring more female voters to the polls, but not necessarily. He son will become a sore spot of gay bashing from the right as they swear there is an agenda of some sort. Hold on to yourself. She would be 68 at the end of two terms. My Second choice: Ted Strickland Governor Ohio, age 66, would solidify that state in blue but says he won't run. He would be 74 at the end of two terms - OR - General Wesley Clark age 64, but haven't heard anything from him since his failed run years ago. He would be 72 at the end of two terms.
MY NUMBER ONE pick: Evan Bayh , age 52, would be an excellent choice. He has senator and Governor experience, had the best ratings in the state, popular with Republicans too. Had a great track record and has many committees that he has been on and is currently on. Indiana is already in the semi-play mode. 'barely democrat as of today' by 1%. This is a big state of votes too. Also take into consideration that he would only be 60 at the end of Obama's two terms... still a good age for running himself.
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