O.K. Here's the Southern Take.....

[deminflorida]

1. There were questions as to whether Edwards could be re-elected this term in North Carolina. (Trail Lawyer Stigma Among Republican Rednecks).

2. The Vice President must be somebody with Foreign Policy Experience, and Strong on National Security.

3. The V.P. MUST be Strong Regionally or be able to deliver his home state. (Clark CAN deliver Arkansas, especially with the Clinton support). Florida, is also a strong possibility considering Clark's popularity here, IN REPUBLICAN COUNTRY NO LESS, and his relationship with Bob Graham.

4. Someone has to carry the standard for the Democratic Party after Kerry is done in eight years. Clark is one year younger than Kerry and has HUGE support in this party as evidenced by the primary. He would be younger than Reagan and Bush the 1st when they took over.

5. Kerry carries the stigma of being a Washington Insider, Clark is considered to be an outsider. Kerry protested against the Vietnam War, Clark stayed in and finished a military career. GOP arguments and slanderous Jane Fonda spin is DEAD if Kerry chooses Clark.

6. Clark brings along an ARMY of grass-root supporters that only Howard Dean could rival.

[mmonk]

1. not just the trial lawyer issue

I'm from NC.

[girl gone mad]

2. I think..

2 Senators in the ticket would be a problem, too.

[Nazgul35]

3. My take....

It will be the hispanic Gov. of NM (Richardson?)...

He will bring in a huge hispanic turnout (bigger than Clark supporters), put portions of the Rocky Mountains into play, and possible activate hispanics to vote in larger numbers and move them fimly into the Dem column for the next 20 years....

Clark would be an excellent Sec. of State...
Edwards would be an excellent AG...
Gephardt as Labor Sec.
Kucinich as Dept. of Energy
Dean as DNC chair or Health and Human Services...

that's my two cents...

[deminflorida]

5. Nope, Richardson just isn't Flashy enough....

And, Freepers really Freeped when the North Koreans insisted on that meeting with him a little while back.

He's too polarizing and We HAVE to beat George Bush in this election.

[Prodemsouth]

7. Again, I repeat Richardson has said he will not be a part of ant ticket

in 04 including VP- would be a good choice though.

[jean]

4. all of this sounds sensible

We are very uncomfortable with Edwards because he's a neophyte AND a trial lawyer. Also, we're unimpressed with Kerry.

Hopefully Wes Clark will sit down and eat a few big meals in the next few days - he's looking pretty lean right now.

We are among those who view Clark as a gift and hope he has a prominant place in the next admin.

[atre]

11. Why are you uncomfortable with a "trial lawyer?"

Please explain.

[Skip Intro]

6. From S.C.

Well, from this South Carolinian, anyway, I say NO to Edwards.

I realize this is mainly about political strategy, with issues taking a backseat - this is about winning, I get that.

But I have to say, with the new commission, with the MTP debacle, with the knowledge that gwmoron sent our "young ones" to DIE for nothing more than LIES, and that knowledge now spreading to more and more patriotic Americans, with his admission that wmds probably DON'T exist - we absolutely do not need on the ticket anyone who still tries to justify the invasion regardless of the facts that the attack was a fraud. This promises to be a huge issue, and a deserved albatross around the neck of the lying moron.

Edwards, because of his bush-like support of what is one of the greatest crimes against humanity in the last 25 years, is not only not worthy of being on the ticket, he would be a huge liability. How can our guy right at the top say "I condemn you for your illegal invasion, but I support it nonetheless" -?!

Edwards on the ticket is politically risky, and morally irresponsible.
Imho - of course.

[Nicholas_J]

8. Kerry will offer the VP

To Gephardt, unless there is a brokered convention and then it will got to Edwards.

[deminflorida]

9. Gephardt?????

That will be a losing ticket for sure.

[atre]

12. VP won't matter

I tend to be very pessimistic (just a caution), but I don't think the choice of VP will matter one bit. Kerry is going to lose regardless of his running mate.

[NashVegas]

15. You've GOT To Be Joking

There goes another bunch of Dean supporters out the door.

[GreenArrow]

10. Clark is the best choice

for VP.

[SangamonTaylor]

14. too much bad blood

only days ago Clark was railing on Kerry.

A ticket needs unity.

[GreenArrow]

17. Clark will bring unity

railing on your opponents during the campaign is standard practice and you can read too much in to it. I'm not a supporter of either Kerry or Clark, but that would be a hard ticket to beat.

[Johnyawl]

13. If Bush drops Cheney, and picks McCain

Only Clark will offset that. We need him on the ticket.

I could live with Edwards, but I will be very disappointed if Kerry picks Gephardt.

[TexasSissy]

18. Kerry/Gephardt is a losing ticket, IMO.

What would Gephardt bring to the ticket? Kerry already has the union vote and is already an experienced congressman.

The VP should help fill a slot where Kerry is weak. Ethnicity? Should it be Richardson for the hispanic vote? That would make sense. And be very helpful.

Personality? Kerry is a tad somber and lacks vitality. Edwards would counter that, for sure.

What would Clark bring to the ticket? (I'm a Clark supporter) Kerry already has the military thing and foreign security exerpience from congressional committees. The southern thing - Kerry apparently did better in the south recently than either Edwards or Clark.

Regional? Florida - Bob Graham would be helpful, as would NM governor, Richardson (Florida has large hispanic population). The south - apparently Kerry can do well here on his own, but he might need some help, too. Edwards could deliver at least one state, probably.

[YNGW]

16. Hillary Clinton for VP

I think she could get out the Democratic Party vote like no other.