Webb could be a strong VP choice for the Democratic Nominee

[CalebHayes]

- He looks to be one of our strongest leaders in the Senate already. This guy has the 'it.'

- He also wouldn't give up his seat, if the unthinkable happens, and we lose the election.

- Webb can pull Virgina. VA has proven its self to be a southern state where a Democrat can win. As the north of VA continues to grow, VA becomes more and more blue.

- Chances are high that America will view the nominee as someone with little national security experience. The only candidate that has real ligament experience is Richardson, who is fighting an uphill battle. Webb can make Obama, Clinton or Edwards' candidacy look much stronger, when it comes to fighting terror.

[waiting for hope]

1. Edwards/Webb

I like the sound of that.

[Donnachaidh]

3. oh god YES!!!

:bounce:

[Czolgosz]

10. I would dearly love to see Edwards/Webb vs. Guiliani/Anyone

[AshevilleGuy]

19. I too like the sound of that.

I suspect their ticket will be Giuliani-Thompson; it will be very very tough to beat. Edwards-Webb might just do it however.

But the Dem power brokers have other ideas...

[waiting for hope]

21. I don't know...

I think the Clinton and Obama camps will have spent their load by the time primaries come around. It's the tortoise and the hare theory and Edwards is looking better and better. Frankly, I think that the RW are afraid of him - maybe because he can win.

[AshevilleGuy]

22. I worry that he will run out of money before that time.

He has his own money but we can't expect him to spend all of it on what might be a losing proposition.

I still think it's already locked up.

[venable]

29. yes. Yes. Edwards/Webb

I think this ticket is magnificent and we're now talking about a resounding Dem victory. Resounding.

[hippiechick]

2. Why sure, if we can't have a real Republican on the ticket ...

... then let's take the next best thing: a former GOP'er, Secretary of the Navy who's about as warm and fuzzy as Cheney.

Thanks, but I'll pass. :eyes:

[CalebHayes]

4. Are you one that loves Clark?

[FrenchieCat]

26. What's there not to love?

Clark is who encouraged Webb to run for the Senate.....

However, Clark was never a Republican. Indeed Webb was placed in his position by a Republican Administration as a Republican. Nothing wrong with that....and Indeed as much as Clark and Webb have some similarities (both take no shit, will put their foot up in your ass regardless of what party you are with) and are both exceptional men, their history is not the same.

I admire both of them, but would prefer Clark in a WH office, and I would prefer Webb exactly where he is.

[poorinnaples]

11. Warm & fuzzy???

You just demonstrated how much you don't know about James Webb, & if "warm & fuzzy" is what you believe defines a viable candidate, why not just nominate Barney & Sponge Bob, & lose again.

[Cabcere]

25. Um, wow.

I can understand a lot of people having reservations about Webb, especially given his political past, but to compare him to Cheney? That's a bit much, IMO. :shrug:

[Superman Returns]

5. he just got elected

Granted Obama and Edwards are running, but we need to preserve our Senate majority as well. That was a tough election, we need to hold the seat. Plus, we need Webb's voice in the Senate. Richardson or Selebius should suffice with maybe a dark horse like Sam Nunn included.

[Donnachaidh]

9. umm -- he WILL have a voice in the Senate as VP

He can even weigh in on those sticky bills we want passed. :evilgrin:

[CalebHayes]

12. Also VA has a Democratic gov so he could appoint Warner to that seat

[rinsd]

6. Interesting thought.

With Webb its possible Virginia could be in play for the 1st time since Bill Clinton got a plurality. The last time a Democrat won VA before that was Lyndon Johnson. And before that it was Truman.

But I am not sure if he has attained favorite son status to the degree he could pull the state with him.

Still something to consider when VP selection comes up.

[Flarney]

7. I say we keep our Senators in the Senate, and keep building our advantage there...

We can come up with a fantastic ticket from outside the Senate and House.

Gore
Dean
Edwards
Clark

Mix and match however you want. :-)

[CalebHayes]

8. Not a bad idea but you will not pick up a southern (golden) state that way nt

[Ninja Jordan]

13. Edwards-Gephardt = 300+ electoral votes

[CalebHayes]

14. I doubt Gephardt pulls MO

[Ninja Jordan]

16. He pulls unions and the midwest (Iowa, Ohio, places like WV)

At the least, the GOP would spend $$$ in MO because of him. He is a political pro. Any ticket with two pro-union, midwest/southern types would blow out the GOP.

[CalebHayes]

17. I don't think Unions are what they used to be. I may be wrong....

but I just don't see it happening.

[Ninja Jordan]

18. You're wrong. They're still quite an important voting block (one that Democrats have lost recently)

They're becoming more relevant with the influx of Mexican immigrants (many of whom will join unions).

[CalebHayes]

20. Being from Seattle, it is hard for me to disagree and be able to ...

make strong case. We have unions but not like the mid-west does.

[paulk]

15. No - he is way, way conservative

we can win without VA.

I'll have to pass on this one.

[DemBones DemBones]

23. Webb should draw votes in "red" states.

I live in one and a lot of people have had it with * and the war. Webb campaigned wearing his son's combat boots (obviously his son was wearing a different pair in Iraq) and is introducing a bill to stop an attack on Iran.

His support for the right to bear arms would play well in any state where there are a lot of hunters or target shooters, and there are many states that applies to.

I don't know enough about him otherwise to know if I'd want to vote for him as VP, but people vote primarily for the top of the ticket, with the VP candidate traditionally used to draw votes that might not otherwise go to the party..

Someone here said Webb is " too conservative" but in my view the only Dem running who's NOT too conservative is Dennis Kucinich.

[DFW]

24. Aren't we overlooking the obvious?

Virginia is by NO means lost if Webb stays in the Senate. Chuck Robb and Mark Warner will campaign
in-state for the Democratic candidate, as will Webb if he stays out of the national race. Webb has
garnered some serious respect in the short time he has been in office, and telling Bush to go to hell
when Bush tried to make small talk about Webb's son serving in Iraq didn't hurt, either. As a conservative
state, Virginians know full well the difference between someone who served and someone who ducked.
Plus: Virginia's governor, Tim Kaine, is a moderate Democrat well in tune with the State. He'll
work for the Democratic candidate as well, and have some credibility while doing it.

Although a Texan for a quarter century now, I was born and raised in Virginia. I'm not making this up.

On the plus side of the argument for a Webb VP candidacy, he is bright, serious, and a decent guy. It took
guts to break from the Republican party during a period of its ascendance. Webb is no Lieberman. He did it
out of conviction, not for convenience. If he should get the nod as VP, Democratic Governor Tim Kaine
will appoint a Democratic replacement, and I agree with others here, Mark Warner is a logical choice.
He isn't known for reticence, either.

At the end of the day, I don't see Webb doing this so soon. He is a new father, and could easily get
some "family values" flak from the extremist right for having a young new Asian wife (his third). His
second wife supports him completely, and still lives a stone's throw from where Webb lives now, but the
right-wing dominated media could always choose to ignore this, and harp upon his 3 marriages (and ignore
those of Gingrich).

As with so many other qualified Democratic choices for the top 2 spots: he'd do great in the job, but might
not do as well as a candidate on the way there.

Still, he is very bright, and does not shy away from an argument. If he and some Cheney clone go on Larry
King Live, he will not shrink and make nice like Lieberman did to Cheney did in 2000. Hardly. He'd chew up
a Dick Cheney in 15 seconds flat and leave the advertisers thrilled with the extra ad time while the producers
sweep up the tattered remains of the GOP candidate.

[PBS Poll-435]

27. 2008 is going to be unlike any other election in the last 40 years.

When I look at the states that really could be in play, it is rather amazing.

Arizona - Voted out incumbent JD Hayworth in AZ-5 and voted in Giffords in AZ-8. Came close in AZ-1 too. Reelected Janet Napolitano as governor. I believe with the right ticket, AZ could be a 52/48 state for us!

Nevada - Clark County continues to grow for us with favorable demographics and party registrations. NV and AZ will fall the same way.

Colorado - Once a reliable Republican state, a strong ticket here will win both the EVs and the open Senate seat.

Virginia - Kaine, Webb, and now the EVs? Perhaps...

Missouri - Went 53/46 in 04. Could go 52/48 for us.

Iowa - Will be a 53/47 state for us in 08.

New Mexico - Also will be a 53/47 state in 08.

Ohio - With the right ticket we will win Ohio 54/46.

Arkansas - Went 54/45 in 04. Will be 50/50 or 51/49 in 08.

Florida - Will be 51/49 or 50/50. Probably the closest state again next election.

I am very optimistic about 2008 (as you can see.)

[Catchawave]

28. Of course if we're guaranteed to have Gov Kaine appoint

Mark Warner to replace Sen Webb on the *winning* Edwards/Webb ticket, you can have Jim. Otherwise, you can't have him. :evilgrin:

Senator Jim's being so "politically correct" by answering this question....he's going to "support the Dem nominee".

[OHdem10]

30. Keep Good Senators in the Senate

This type speculating set off the "storm" of coverage
about Webb and the Gun Incident.

Last night on Fox they mentioned there were whispers
of Webb for VP. Sure enough there has been 24 - 7
coverage of Webb with all these questions making
it sound like some terrible thing has happened.
It is interesting when a Republican Congressmen
was found with a gun at airport, there was a
one time story.Hostettler, Indiana.


Tonight on Fox at least they decided to make light
of it.

Right now we need good Senators. VPs can be found easily.

We need more and more good Senators and Congressmen like
Webb, who have the courage of their convictions and
believe in some truly Democratic stands. (Even if he is
a Convert to Dem Party)