it may be a bit premature but i want to go ahead and talk about potential running mates. mostly because, i want to get my thoughts out there before everyone starts talking about it. points, always, for originality.
(that and i love predicting running mates!)
looking at the field
the big question after last night becomes: will obama have to offer the second slot to hillary? an even bigger question: would she accept...?
i think it's difficult for obama to offer the veep slot to hillary when he's talked so much about "turning the page" on the past and the politics of usual... and especially on the bushes and clintons. he may have to offer it to her... but i don't think he wants her on the ticket and i don't think she wants to play second fiddle to him.
so then the question comes down to what will unify the party? perhaps obama can offer the ticket to a prominent clinton supporter? one she helps choose?
evan bayh of indiana is a strong choice...very popular and a vocal supporter of clinton. but do you want ANOTHER senator on the ticket plus one from a neighboring state? why not diversify or look at a candidate that will bring something you can't to the ticket?
governor ed rendell of pennsylvania seems a good choice. a governor and a clinton surrogate... an early clinton supporter and a prominent one. plus...the dems will need pennsylvania in the fall... especially if mccain holds a good shot at michigan and florida.
wesley clark could also be a name tossed around. a clinton supporter and a general... he brings foreign policy experience seriously lacking with obama at the top of the ticket. having a general on the ticket can only help in a fight against mccain.
but what if obama wants a "new" face? a "fresh" face from his campaign...? one that continues his message of change?
senator jim webb of virginia is a likely candidate... a strong, moderate democrat known for his military experience, his name is often tossed around for clinton's running mate. but by giving up his senate seat the dems may not be able to find a suitable replacement in order to keep it in the fall. can the party risk losing even one seat in the senate by giving away this prize of a red state seat? probably not....
i've long thought claire mccaskill of missouri would be a strong choice. she could help rally the female voters disillusioned by hillary's loss and she's a strong moderate in a bellwether state.
interesting fact on missouri: it has a longer stretch of supporting the winning presidential candidate than any other state, having voted with the nation in every election since 1904 with the exception of adlai stevenson in 1956.
you want missouri.
but again...i question the intelligence of having two senators on a ticket. the country likes to nominate governors... in fact, this is the first election in which we'll have a seated senator become president since kennedy.
a strong female governor could indicate kathy sebelius of kansas. she could also bring in the woman vote and her executive experience as governor could only help obama.....
but despite all of this i keep coming back to one name.... i've long said he's tailor made for the vice presidency: bill richardson of new mexico.
no one could question his experience and credentials and with a candidate at the top of the ticket with "inexperience" has his biggest weakness... you need someone to counterbalance that perception. richardson would also put the west in play much more against mccain (of arizona) than any other possible candidate.
and the man just has so much experience....
the biggest question is... would that simply be too much pigmentation on the ticket?
would white voters be terrified of an african american and latino running this country? does obama need a blue collar honky to alleviate the fears of the white working class?
so many questions....
i'd say my current top five ranking of possible v.p. candidates for obama is as follows:
1. richardson
2. clark
3. sebelius
4. rendell
5. mccaskill
with hillary being the spoiler to end all spoilers.
e.
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