VP Update

by Zack Stephenson | 2 Comments

A week ago, I said that I thought picking a VP for geographic reasons (i.e. to help carry Ohio, Virginia, etc…) was an outmoded strategy that ust doesn’t work.  538 takes an in depth look at this issue and comes to the same conclusion.  On a related note, I’m still working on my shortlist for Obama and I hope to have it done in the next couple of days.

June 17, 2008, 3:27 pm | Category: General |

2 Responses to “VP Update”

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  • Karl
    June 17, 2008 at 6:18 pm

    Amen.

    Picking a VP to help win a state or region is idiotic. If a presidential candidate isn’t winning the state chances are the VP won’t do much to help.

    A VP should be someone who will be a good partner to the president in governing and who will be a good advocate for their policies and won’t sabotage them in office. Also if possible they should be a credible successor who can carry on the presidents legacy past two terms.

    Right now my two favorite picks are Kathleen Sebelius and Wes Clark. Al Gore would be the true dream ticket but he has ruled it out. John Edwards seems like he is unlikely to be considered again but if he would be he would make a fantastic pick. Also Gov Brian Schweitzer of Montana would be a fantastic pick but he is running for re-election and if he was chosen for VP we would probably lose the Montana governors office and it would make it harder for Montana Democrats to win back their legislature.

    There are a lot of picks who I think will be ruled out beacuse of baggage. That includes Bill Richardson, Jim Webb, Sam Nunn and Gen James Jones.

    Picks like Tim Kaine or Joe Biden would not exactly be exiting and would in fact be pretty deflating but I could live with both of them.

    Right now Clark and Sebelius seem to have the least negatives and the most positives. Outside of those two I don’t know who would be able to pass the vetting and standards that Obama will need in a VP.

    All IMO. Can’t wait to see your take.

  • Kyle
    June 17, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    what kind of baggage does Richardson carry?

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