Gephardt will probably be the VP

[ringmastery]

I think Kerry will make a strategic decision that Gephardt will help him get the most electoral votes. If Kerry wins Missouri and holds all the Gore states, he wins the election. That one state can make all the difference. In addition, while Gephardt's labor ties failed him in Iowa, labor is still a force to be reckoned with. The race may be decided by just a few percentage points in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

Graham and Richardson are also possibilities, but I think Kerry will go for the midwest strategy. If he can't shore up Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, etc., florida and the southwest are irrelevant. He won't have the electoral votes to win.

I don't think Kerry will consider Edwards and Clark. They may help him marginally in the south, but the terrain is so brutal for democrats on social issues, especially things like gay marriage, that the bottom of the ticket is unlikely to be a factor for southerners.

[alexwcovington]

1. Wow, the most boring ticket ever!

Come on. At least the other presidential hopefuls have pizazz.

[Dr Fate]

5. I agree- way too BORING. Not gonna happen...

Dick is dead in the water from the get go.


I cant see Dick adding any excitment to the ticket- would be a terrible move...

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

24. I'd rather vote for Gephardt than either Kerry or Edwards or Sharpton

Since Kerry is the pro-Nafta corporate type, he better have someone like Gep on the ticket.

[Tactical Progressive]

2. I thought a Clark/Gephardt ticket was the best bet to win

Since then I've been looking forward to a Kerry/Gephardt ticket.
Kerry would connect directly with Senate leadership, Gephardt with House leadership.

I think Clark would be wasted at VP. He should be Secretary of State.

[robbedvoter]

16. Sure. Like Clark would be dumb enough to give Frist&comp a chance

to reject him!
Look guys, you don't want Clark for VP, whatever. Just stop these fantaisies that would put Clark at the mercy of the GOP senate - it makes my skin crawl.
STOP IT!!!!

[Eric J in MN]

3. Gephardt is also a safe choice with regard to Republcian attacks.

People know Gephardt, so the Republicans can't define him.

He also would bring recorded opposition to NAFTA to the ticket.

[westcoastbias]

4. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Eric J in MN]

6. Democrats are already excited at the idea of getting Bush out of office.

Gephardt would bring a record of support for workers.

[ringmastery]

7. exactly

this election comes down to jobs.

Gephardt's record on labor issues is superb.

[BL_Zebub]

29. So why not make him Secretary of Labor?

Like Senator Waffle, Geppie has done nothing to oppose the frauds in the White House (other than calling him a "miserable failure" for campaign rhetoric)

[jsw_81]

8. Gephardt

It would be interesting to see how Gephardt and Cheney -- both of whom have lesbian daughters -- treat the gay marriage/civil unions issue in the vice presidential debate. Gephardt's daughter was prominently featured in her father's campaign; Cheney's daughter hasn't been seen in public in months, if not years. It would seem that Dick and Lynne don't even want to acknowledge her existence. Why am I not surprised?

[eeyore]

20. Mary Cheney works on her dad's campaign as liason to GLBT community

And she is quite out - married in fact. A website has been set up for people to send letters to her, asking her to come to her senses and stop aiding the fight against gay marriage. It's really interesting.

http://www.dearmary.com

[David__77]

9. Please, no...

I'm sorry, but we would need something a bit more fresh than that. Gephardt is not the way to go... I could go for Bayh, for Richardson, for many others before Gephardt. I would go for Arlen Spector if he switched parties...

[AntiCoup2K4]

10. Can we make Toricelli secretary of state while we're at it?

Hey if we're gonna reward DLC puppets for their betrayal, we might as well include everyone. :eyes:

[Larkspur]

21. Torricelli will be named Secretary of the Treasury or will replace

Greespan.

This way the Torricelli and the DLC can get their turn plundering the US Treasury.

[liberalnurse]

11. If that is the case.....save your money.......

because you and I are going to need it during another 4 years of *bush.

[Carolina]

31. exactly, LN

I'm already saving my money.

[goclark]

12. Lullaby and Bad Night

Please...ABB is the main goal but Gep puts me to sleep!
The nightmare of Gep and Kerry is worst than Nodoze

:boring:

[TruthWins]

13. Let's Hope Not

If Gephardt couldn't pull Iowa, why would you believe these other labor states are going to swoon over him as VP. I'm no fan of Wesley Clark, but I think he's the choice to grab those Republican leaners who are willing to go Dem this year.

[frustrated_lefty]

14. It will be

some no-name establishment twit.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

15. pretty good elecotral college strategy.

Gephardt could help in Missouri.

But he doesnt make the ticket too appealing. He has a bit of the "party hack" air to him.

I'm not too confident ticket balancing with a moderate southerner works that well. I think Dukakis tried that with Lloyd Bentsen, and that didnt help much (except for Bentsens great quip on Quayle not being Jack Kennedy).

[Padraig18]

17. Richardson is NOT a possibility, period!

Gov. Richardson has explicitly said on numerous occasions that he *will not accept the VP nomination*! He said it just this week (Monday, I think it was) on CNN. He said that he WILL serve his full 4-year term as NM's governor, an act that is incompatible with service as VP.

[HFishbine]

18. As things stand now, I cannot vote for Kerry or Edwards

Add Gephardt to thte thicket, and it will be cast in stone.

[Carolina]

32. I know, remember his Rose Garden

photo-op with Bush on IWR. :puke:

[John_H]

19. Disaster at every level!

[Larkspur]

22. If Gep is named VP, I betcha Bush will name Guiliani as VP

and then we'd have 4 more years of Bush.

[dansolo]

23. This will guarantee to not get my vote

I would *NEVER* vote for a Kerry/Gephardt ticket. As much as I distrust Kerry, I absolutely loathe Gephardt. I will never forgive his backroom dealing with the White House on the IWR.

[Adams Wulff]

25. Bland and Blander

Although the strategy is sound, this will take some getting used too.

It also looks like it has McAullife's "old boy network" fingerprints all over it.

It also bolsters Nader's justification for running, since it's just the same old guys being tapped because it's "their turn".

Gephardt won one primary in the last 12 years, and he's the best they can do?

Criminy!

[Spazito]

26. Yikes!

That would be the most boring ticket and would lose a number of independents and moderate republicans and they are needed for the win. Kerry is boring by himself, add Gephardt to the ticket and the numbers staying home on voting day will grow.

I know democrats, for the most part, will vote for whoever is on the ticket but democrats alone can't beat Bush, imo.

[WI_DEM]

27. this ticket will be used to cure insomnia

eom.

[deminflorida]

28. Losing Ticket Period....

He lost the house, now you want him to be the cause of losing the 2004 election. Sorry, I like Dick Gephardt but after Gore's choice of Joe Lieberman in 2000, I think we've learned our lesson.

Two Senators on the Ticket is DOA in the General.

Better not be Gephardt or the Democratic party will lose the election, period...

[Carolina]

30. that would be an absolute disaster

Missouri and labor notwithstanding. I will NEVER get over Dick standing with Bush in the Rose Garden cheerleading IWR.

Kerry-Gephardt would be THE snooze ticket. Kerry totally sucks in the appeal/charisma department and in this media-driven, telegenic age, he MUST have someone who has what he lacks not to mention someone who can win sunbelt and western states. This is the age of celebrity -- how else to explain Arnold.

If Kerry had the elan of the first JFK or of Bill Clinton, any of your VP picks would be fine. But teamed with Kerry, all of your suggestions are losers. Kerry needs the kind of help that both Clark or Edwards can give in spades.

[mikehiggins]

33. Dick is done and gone. He won't be back, not for VP, not for

anything. His career is come to an end and you won't have him to kick around anymore.