FACTBOX: Possible Democratic vice presidential candidates

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - With the Democratic presidential nomination in reach, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has now taken the first small step toward choosing a running mate.

Obama has asked Jim Johnson, former head of mortgage giant Fannie Mae, to begin research on potential candidates for the No. 2 slot on the ticket, media reports said. Johnson performed a similar task for Democratic presidential nominees John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984.

Here is a list of possible Democratic vice presidential candidates, in alphabetical order:

* Joseph Biden, 65 - The senator from Delaware, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is a respected foreign policy expert who would give Obama authority on the issue. But Obama might not want to add a second senator to the ticket, and could be looking for a fresher face to reinforce his message that this election is about change and the future.

* Wesley Clark, 63 - A retired Army general and former NATO commander who ran unsuccessfully for the presidential nomination in 2004, Clark is a supporter of Hillary Clinton who could help rally the party and provide a boost on national security issues. But he did not run a strong campaign in 2004 and he would be unlikely to generate much enthusiasm among party activists.

* Hillary Clinton, 60 - Polls have shown strong Democratic support for a "dream team" ticket of Obama and Clinton, his top rival for the nomination. Obama has not ruled out the option, which would help unify the party after a grueling nominating battle. A joint ticket could help attract some of Clinton's supporters -- including women and white working-class Democrats -- who have been reluctant to support Obama.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2320100720080523?sp=true

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an interesting list

I know a lot of folks (my husband being one of them) who have stated they will not vote for her in the GE.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/WilliamPitt/463

Many Hillary voters became disgusted and have left over the past months because of what is being done to her and her campaign on this website. I have heard from many of them through PMs and other methods.

That is all. Have a good holiday weekend!

Cordially,

Radio Lady

I don't really need your help in deciding which one to post.

found wanting by many people. I said so ON the thread yesterday. IMHO, it's pretty bogus. I did remove your name.

Thank you.

Cordially,

Radio Lady in Oregon

Amused, perhaps, that anyone on DU thinks I need post hoc advice on which links to post.

But no, not personally offended.

I have now removed the name and the word which seems to be offensive. Post whatever you want, but like you, I have a different opinion about its veracity. Best I can do with limited time.

Good day and good bye.

Radio Lady in Oregon

I do not think it means what you think it means.

we like him right where he is, representing us cheddarheads, denizens of the frozen tundra!

I hope that if he is not VP, he will take an important position in the cabinet.

:shrug:

Joe Biden is one of my favorites. Smart, scrappy, opinionated, experienced. I could support that ticket.

I don't know Delaware politics enough to know how this could be done. Special election? Appointment by the Governor -- is he a Republican? Not sure who that person is.

Hopefully, the Senate will be further tipped to the Democratic side by then!

For Joe Biden, VEEPEE<, SOS, Really, How couldya not support that? :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: GOBAMA! GOJOE!!!:yourock:

Here's a May 19th quote from Biden:

On ABC's This Week Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, who once sought the Democratic nomination, was asked about his vice presidential chances. Biden said he was not seeking the job, but "anybody that's asked by their nominee to be their running mate, you'd have to consider it."

I liked Joe Biden initially and I still like him.

Let's see BO-JB.

I'm sorry, but this makes me think of something sexy! :rofl:

What is Joseph Biden's middle name? Please don't tell me it's Oscar....

:rofl:

Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.

It would not a sure bet, but Delaware is mostly Democratic. There is a Dem Governor and the next Governor is almost guaranteed to be a Dem in January.

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

The best possible choice for change and balancing
Obama being seen as liberal with Webb as blue dog
& Webb will kick any GOP VP's ass in debate also.

... campaigning & running together.as A Super Team.. which includes Webb, Biden, Gore, Richardson, and others. So the American people get a sense of the integrity of the whole team in advance.. unlike previous administrations, one in particular of which shall remain nameless.

He has lots of foreign policy experience and isn't currently a senator. He'd be a good Secretary of State as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Richardson

Hillary would probably laugh at anyone who suggests that she be VP. Biden is a pretty influential senator and I doubt the powerful chairman of the Senatre foreign relations committee would give that up to be VP.

Clark would be good, as will anyone else who has national security experience and isn't currently a senator. Sam Nunn and John Breaux come to mind. I would like to see Gary Hart in the administration somewhere as well, but not as VP.

:shrug:

If we're stuck with a President that doesn't believe in gay marriage for religious reasons, we definitely don't need more of the same and worse in a VP.

His plan to build a huge water pipeline from the great lakes to the Southwest is part of the reason :crazy:

how on earth could you ever be seriously considering staying home because of the VP choice? I guess I just don't see the logic in that kind of thinking.

The OP says "listed alphabetically"...clearly there are more candidates, including (of course) Richardson.

:hi:

I see Nunn and Richardson are there.

putting Hagel in there as well? I think if it is based on quality then the list should be larger and exclude the ridiculous GOP-serving notions posed by the media, of which Reuters is one example.

Richardson has one dramatic obstacle. He is the only choice likely to be roundly booed(at least) by half the delegates for the Clinton camp accusing him of betrayal. So it depends on the Clintons reconciling him to their base AND making a speech to win over the delegates. he could be an eye of the storm figure in the whole convention reconciliation drama which might doom his consideration or seal it. Opening speeches have been one way of at least excluding choices from the ticket, John Glenn's boring debacle being one example. I still think he is the best choice of the knowns although there are many good people one could be very happy with. Eventually the selection process might grimly focus on the "do no harm" first law. If this is the guy who chose Ferraro I hope he, unlike most high Dems, has learned from the past.

A seeming condition to exclude all senatorial choices for a safe rationale of preserving the majority would solve a lot of problems. Seated governors too, but that would really narrow the field to Clark and Richardson. Clark might be a better choice for Defense. Lord knows there are huge tasks to be done there.

Isn't that special.
:sarcasm:

:puke:

Remember the Fortune magazine cover?




Don't fake your outrage when your candidate has been bought and paid for by these same interests that you seem to despise so much now.

VA would be a nice 'plus' to put in our column in November.

Obama needs someone to offset the number 1 Republican attack: that Obama is a naive Jimmy Carter-like character who doesn't know anything about national security or foreign policy. They will say that Iran and the Russian leaders will eat him alive. They are already saying that Obama is Jimmy Carter without the navy experience.

of Florida...two years older than Sam Nunn, but still very popular in this state among people from both parties.

He has encyclopedic knowledge and a lot of foreign policy experience. He'd be a good choice.

Straighten me out...I forgot. Thanks...

Radio Lady (ex-Floridian)

think it was anything too serious. Just going from memory.

RL

It prompted his leaving the Senate.

He's healthier than Cheney was in 2000!!!

In 2000, Graham as VP would have allowed Gore to easily carry Florida without dispute. Unfortunately, Gore was so busy trying to run away from the Monica debacle that he felt he needed to pick a VP who criticized Bill Clinton, so we got Lieberman. Lieberman added nothing to the ticket in 2000.

There's no doubt race is a player for lots of Dems, and he needs to have somebody palatable for those people. Hillary wouldn't help him that much - I really don't believe that THAT many HRC supporters will vote for McCain or not vote. They will have time to cool off by November. I like Dodd, Clark, Strickland (but the gay rumors would make me nervous about unnecessary distractions)

16 million votes Americans -- and counting.

It's a pity that you think this way -- those of us who see Hillary passed up BECAUSE of hokum -- will still have a hard time voting Democrat if BHO chooses a primary contest "also-ran."

My husband may be in the "stay-at-homes." He just told me.

Well, to be perfectly fair, he will do a mail-in ballot for the Democrats down-ticket.

We have to get Sen. Gordon Smith out of Washington.

Cordially,

Radio Lady

:shrug:

1) Clark -highly intelligent, lauded military experience of the highest order (McCain's already attacking Obama on this front), from the South, despite a presidential run, he still could be considered a Washington outsider, thus fitting Obama's campaign theme of Change

2)Dodd -he'd make a good campaign "attack dog", a role running mates usually fulfill, while Obama continues to take the high road.

3)Richardson -good foreign policy experience, could garner more of the Hispanic vote...as a campaigner? meh

4)Nunn -I've got a lot of respect for his integrity, despite his sometime conservative leanings. Might help get some swing voters on board.

5)Webb -ex-military, certainly not afraid to say what he means-which is refreshing, but has negative potential during a campaign.

6)Sebelius -don't know much about her, solidly liberal-she could help shore up the D base and possibly help bring in some disaffected Clinton supporters

7)Biden -not enthusiastic about him, sure he's got experience, but he's also got baggage, doesn't really fit the theme of Change.

8)Clinton -too much water under the bridge to make this a fit personality-wise, I think Obama wants an actively engaged 2nd, but may rightfully feel he can't trust Hillary in that role.

9)Hagel -sometimes left leaning Republican, but he's still a Republican


I just don't know enough about Rendell, Kaine, or Strickland to rate them.

There is a thread in withc it is discussed it in GDP:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6087465

...by Hugh Shelton and Will Cohen, and not that he tried to start WW III over the Pristina Airport.

accusations in their tracks, Webb having been a Marine and Clarke a highly decorated combat Army vet.

And they are BOTH nearly as smart as Obama - Clark could be a genius....

Richardson is my first choice to be VP. However, if Obama in his wisdom decides he needs Hillary as VP to unite the party, I'll take 3 shots of whisky and then support the team.

Biden, for some reason I can't put my finger on, just bothers me. He has a reputation for not being careful in what he says.

I want a lifelong Dem to be VP. I'm suspicious of anyone who spent decades as a Republican official, such as Hagel. We need Dem values in domestic policy for a VP. Hagel would make a great cabinet member.

Nunn is too conservative on domestic issues. He'd be fine as a Sec. of Defense or similar position.

Hillary is too skillful for Obama.

I would recommend Obama reject Hillary.

I do hope things get better soon. That's about all I can say. Watching the political news these days is worse than having root canal therapy!

If you think Hillary could manipulate Obama like Cheney manipulates Bush, then you don't have much faith in our candidate.

Remember that great www.theonion.com piece where Bush is convinced that God is speaking directly to him in the Oval Office? It was actually Cheney talking on a hidden intercom system.

Not thrilled with Clinton, though. I do think that would be a mistake.

"Two-term governor of Kansas could bring some vital elements to the ticket: she's a woman and as the leader of a mostly Republican state has shown she can work across party lines. But she is largely untested on the national stage."

And how well did those contests pan out?

Biden has an outside chance.