VP sweepstakes- Who will be chosen?

[Colobo]

I think the VP will be one of these individuals. Which one WILL be chosen by Barack Obama? Not which one you like, but which one you think he'll choose.

Edit: I think he'll choose either Kathleen Sebelius or Brian Schweitzer.

[Colobo]

1. Vote.

[scarletwoman]

14. Nope. Not gonna vote. I think guessing games are silly.

I assume that he will make an intelligent, thoughtful, and strategically useful choice. I have no particular preference, nor am I into placing bets.

But I'll bookmark this poll to see how matches up to reality once Obama does announce his running mate. :)

sw

[Mark E. Smith]

2. What? No Wesley Clark?

Sorry, can't vote.

[Colobo]

4. For some reason, I don't think neither Clark nor Richardson will be chosen...

They could be, but I honestly think they will not.

[Mark E. Smith]

3. And come to think of it...

... where's Bill Richardson?

Sheesh.

[TexasObserver]

Lousy choices.

No Richardson? No Clark? But a half dozen who will never get a third look?!

He's not choosing Sebelius or Schweitzer. That's a safe bet.

[gateley]

7. Why do you say that about Sebelius and Schweitzer?

I probably agree with you, but just wondering what your reasoning is.

I think Clark's McCain CRAP has eliminated him. The Repubs can bang that emotional drum and do a lot of damage.

I've heard that Richardson may have some skeletons. Don't know if that's true, but if it is, that would probably eliminate him, too.

I'm gnawing my knuckles -- I'm SO curious as to whom he'll pick!

[TexasObserver]

9. I think he'd pick Hillary over Sebelius.

My rationale is that Hillary guarantees a certain bundle of voters and supporters that Sebelius cannot bring. If Sebelius is chosen, Obama runs the risk of further alienating Hillary, Bill, and their core supporters, without picking up much upside.

I don't see Obama picking a governor with no foreign policy experience, either. That's one thing that distinguishes Richardson. He's a former governor and a foreign policy guy. He could be the VP who could bring a level of diplomacy straight from the White House that could take us a new direction.

I feel it will be Richardson, Biden, Edwards, or Hillary, because they're all battle tested, vetted by the process. They're known quantities. The polls seem to suggest Obama-Edwards draws the most voters, and I'm good with that as our ticket.

[gateley]

13. Good point about Hillary/Sebelius.

Although Schweitzer doesn't have any of THAT kind of foreign policy experience, he's done business in the middle east for years, actually lived there for 7 years, speaks the language fluently and UNDERSTANDS the culture. Nobody else has THAT type of experience. And Obama can surround himself wiht FP heavy-hitters as he recently has done. (Sadly, I don't think Clark will be in the mix anymore :()

I'll be happy with whomever he chooses. I just want Obama in the WH!

[smalll]

10. There's no way Obama can pick them. How would you fit those teams on a bumper sticker?

Obama/Sebelius? Obama/Schweitzer? Won't look too pretty. Of course, Napolitano is RIGHT OUT. Imagine it - "Obama/Napolitano" - try to say that fast three times. 8 syllables, and BOTH names ending in vowels. Not going to happen.

He will pick someone with a short and "normal" name. One reason why Webb might get the nod -- just one syllable. Plus, Obama/Webb will also be a good name for the general election website. ObamaWebb.com!

[NV Whino]

12. Best reasoning ever!

:rofl:

[Blondiegrrl]

23. I believe that will be a factor as well.

As shallow as it might sound, Obama needs a name on the ticket that rolls smoothly off the tongue when his and the VP's names are combined. Keep in mind here that we're trying to attract votes from some people who have barely followed the election cycle. (Sad, I know.) I've thought Obama/Webb for a variety of reasons (military experience, blue-collar votes, and Virginia being the most important reasons), but also, their names just "fit" well on a bumper sticker.

[gateley]

5. I voted for Schweitzer because that's what I'm hoping.

Don't know if it's actually much of a possibility or not.

Recently heard that Biden has NOT been asked to deliver info to Obama's VP committee, so despite the brief hoopla, not looking as though Biden will be the one. (I've already appointed him as SOS, so he already has a job in the Obama administration.)

[NYC_SKP]

6. Wes Clark is still in it. It will be Clark.

It would be very clever for Obama to leave this option off the radar until the right time.

The beef over his statements on McCain were overblown and easy to defend. It's already old news and wouldn't survive a well-defended rehash by the media.

I've not read of any other reason that he shouldn't be considered and feel he might be the best choice for winning and to have as his VP during his administration.

Please correct me if there's been any official (or unofficial) statement that can be taken to indicate Clark is not on the list.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

8. could be

that I'm a one-person campaign for him, but my pick for VP remains former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. On the surface, he has tremendous cross-party appeal: brushy-moustached cowboy, medical doctor whose has worked tirelessly for health care reform, Brooks Brothers with jeans and a honkin' big belt buckle. A reasonable man with a scandal-free political career. Here he is on the left (with Oregon Dem straight talker Steve Novick).



And here's a link to his org: http://www.archimedesmovement.org/jkbio

[gateley]

16. From what little you've said of him (and the pic!) I like him!

I'm sorry to say I never even heard of him before -- I'll check out the link.

But my first initial gut reaction is that he would fail the VP Rule Number One: Don't overshadow the President. This man seems like he has a BIG presence and personality.

[IndianaGreen]

11. It will be either Hillary or Tim Kaine

Obama has become unpredictable since his flip flop on FISA. I am also concerned that despite McSame's many idiotic statements on the Iraq and the economy, that this seriously disturbed individual is only trailing Obama by single digits. Hillary is the only one that can re-energize people (for better or for worse).

[Blondiegrrl]

21. I just don't see him tapping Hillary. She brings nothing to the ticket.

Most of her supporters are supporting Obama regardless. The ones who are vowing to vote for McCain are but a small (albeit very vocal) minority; they're not an issue. But if he taps Hillary, he'll lose a huge chunk of independent votes as well as many Obamacans. Also, I doubt that he trusts her 100 percent, not after the ugly primary season. Need I mention the liability of Bill? The Clintons as a team would overshadow the Obama presidency and they'd have as much, if not more, power than Cheney has in the Bush administration.

The only positive thing Hillary Clinton would add to the ticket would be a possible Arkansas win. Would Obama really risk all that just for one state? I would hope he's smarter than that.

[Adelante]

15. Clark nt

[terrya]

17. Out of that list, it will be Hillary

[NYC_SKP]

18. And if outside that list? nt

[terrya]

27. Richardson n/t

[Sensitivity]

19. Why no WES CLARK. Certainly more likely than some of the others listed.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

20. Will be Biden. (Bloomberg or Biden would be fine choices, for different reasons)

After screwing up with independents for the last month, Bloomberg would be a bold play re-ignite some independent enthusiasm. A lot of independents are intelligent people who favor technocratic solutions.

As a co-campaigner, and someone ready to become president at any time, Biden's the best choice. And he's Catholic... seriously, that is SO important this year. Whoever wins Catholics wins the election.

[CTyankee]

24. Yeah, I'm getting warmer to Biden now. I didn't think he added much

to the ticket statewise, but I must say he would kick Republican ass in the VP debate. However, I don't see how the mere fact of his Catholicism helps. He doesn't talk about his faith or wear it on his sleeve. Neither did John Kerry...

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

28. Like most religions, American Catholicism is a culture as well as a faith

When North-eastern and rust-belt Catholics (PA, OH, etc.) hear Biden talk they hear someone like them.

Kerry didn't really come off as a Catholic. Biden does. Ironically, Ed Rendell sounds much more Catholic than Kerry, and he's Jewish.

Many rust belt Catholics have a fast, wise-cracking and self-consciously worldly-wise way of talking. Irish and Italians talk with their hands and prize verbal rough-and-tumble.

Maybe it's a product of Catholic schools, or big families. Anyway, it's a non-WASP style.

Anyway, there's a Catholic style in politics, and Biden has it. He would be well received in a lot of places Obama has less success.

[Blondiegrrl]

22. For some reason, I don't think it will be any of those people. My hope would be

Brian Schweitzer, but I seriously doubt he'll get the nod.

Obama likely will end up with some crusty old military guy on the ticket: someone to counter McCain's attacks that Obama is soft on national security.

[newmajority]

25. Schweitzer is probably the best out of those listed

But I still say Richardson is the Veep.

[Milo_Bloom]

26. None of the above.