And Uncle Polt has asked me for my take on the possible Vice Presidential candidates for Sen. Barack Obama. We'll do it in alphabetical order.
Senator Evan Bayh
Who: Indiana Senator. Governor Indiana 1989-1997, Indiana Senator from 1999. 52 years old.
Pros: He's from Indiana, a usually reliable Republican state, Bayh could put it into play. He serves on the Armed Services Committee.
Cons: Might not swing Indiana, not a lot of national name recognition.
Senator Joe Biden
Who: Delaware Senator. Been in the Senate since 1973. 65 years old.
Pros: He's Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has extensive foreign policy knowledge.
Cons: He's from Delaware, a state with only 3 electoral votes. Plus, Delaware's probably going for Obama anyway. And there's nothing he likes more than his own voice, he has trouble giving anything close to a succinct answer.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
There is NO chance she'll be picked. Uncle Polt himself has a better chance to be selected as Obama's running mate than does Hillary.
Retired Senator Bob Graham
Who: Retired Florida Senator. Florida Governor 1979-1987. Florida Senator 1987-2005. 71 years old.
Pros: From the big swing state of Florida, has never lost an election in Florida.
Cons: He's 71 same age as McCain, would blunt any attacks on McCain because of age. Not certain he'd carry Florida.
Governor Tim Kaine
Who: Govenor of Virgnia. VA Lt. Governor 2002-2006; VA Govenor 2006 to present. 50 years old.
Pros: Could secure Virginia for Democrats. Good friends with Obama.
Cons: Tim WHO? No name recognition at ALL. With Jim Webb already in Senate, and Mark Warner on his way there, Virginia could easily be pushed into the Democrats column anyway.
Governor Janet Napolitano
Who:Governor of Arizona. Governor since 2002. 50 years old.
Pros: Could be first female VP. Popular in Arizona, could hurt McCain in his home state.
Cons: Will Hilary's supporters be pissed it's not Hillary? Arizona probably going for McCain anyway.
Governor Bill Richardson
Who: Governor of New Mexico. Congressman, Ambassador to UN, Energy Secretary, Governor since 2003. 60 years old.
Pros: Extensive resume. Being half-Hispanic, he'd help with the Hispanic vote.
Cons: Allegedly has a big ego. Not a great campaigner. New Mexico probably will go Democratic anyway in the fall.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius
Who: Governor of Kansas. Governor since 2002. 60 years old.
Pros: Could be first female VP. Popular in always red Kansas.
Cons: Will Hillary's supporters be pissed it's not Hillary? Might not turn Kansas blue, and even so, Kansas only has 6 electoral votes.
Retired General Tony Zinni
Who: Retired Marine 4 star General. Served in Vietnam. Was commander of CENTCOM, in charge of operations in Middle East.
Pros: Can't get a better military resume. Critical of Bushie's handling of the war.
Cons: No political experience. I don't even know what state he's from.
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Thanks, Lefty. This is Uncle Polt now.
I heard earlier today that the Obama short list contains just three names: Bayh, Biden, and Kaine. The media's making all kinds of noise over things surrounding Kaine. He is the one I'm least excited about. Personally, I'd go with Biden first, to prop up Obama's lack of foriegn policy experience. Bayh would be my second choice. I hadn't even heard Kaine was being considered at all until this morning. And my first thought was, as Lefty mentioned above: WHO?
Obama's run a pretty damn good campaign so far, so I'm gonna trust that he and his advisors know who the best candidate is and will choose him. But I just can't believe that would really be Tim Kaine.....
POLT Listening to "Chapel Hill" by Sonic Youth
"You're not being very positive about this." "I couldn't be any more positive if I were gang raped in a repository bin at the needle exchange!" - Gwen, Eating Out
2 comments:
I was really hoping for Richardson to be on Obama's shortlist, but heard that he likely isn't. :-( Richardson was my pick during the initial primaries over Obama, but he dropped out before the Ohio vote.
I'm surprised that no one's really talking about John Edwards, who may well be a good choice.
But of this list that you present, I agree that Biden is the most likely -- and perhaps smartest -- choice.
Actually I'm space shot left liberal and supported Kucinich. Obama was my second choice.
Richardson flubbed it big time on Logo's special on the dem candidates. You could tell he was sweating it.
Jack Reed keeps coming up, he's well respected in the senate, West Point grad, military service, the whole 9. But I don't think he'll be veep though it'd rock if he were, but I think he'll be offered Sec Def.
And I'd dearly love to see Sheldon Whitehouse U.S. Attorney General.
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