I can tolerate Evan Bayh as a VP choice.

Especially if he can help in Indiana. I don't like Bayh, but he seems to be a fairly strong Obama surrogate and he can do a lot worse.

Obama is full of surprises and they're usually the good kind.

He made that argument in the debates with Hillary Clinton - that we'll have an easier time winning this election if we can't be painted as hypocrites.

Obama, in no small measure, beat Clinton, Dodd, Biden and Edwards based on their war votes.
He will not pick a yes-voter, as it would undermine his core strength.

won't excite me.

would feel pretty let-down if he picked Bayh. That's like going to a Ford dealership and picking out the Taurus instead of the zippy Mustang or a venerated workhorse F Series pickup. Just a bland, safe, inoffensive option.

Bayh on the ticket would offend a lot of people. Including his own dead father, more than likely.

Sorry about that, Birch! :hi:

Not sorry about not having much use for your son, however. :(

as opposed to someone who is outspoken but might step on some sensibilities, like Jim Webb or Joe Biden.

anymore than Edwards carried North Carolina and is at odds with the progressive base (and Obama) on many issues.

It's a sure net negative for the campaign....

There is NO comparison to Edwards ...

1) Edwards was a first term senator without a long term relationship with his state politically ...
2) The margin in NC for Ds was prohibitive ...

Have you looked at Bayh's election record ...

1) He won secretary of state ...
2) He went from secretary of state to govenor, two terms ...
3) He is going on his 10th year in the senate ...
4) After this first governor's run, none of his races have been close ...

Indiana is in BO's Illinios power zone, and he is polling either ahead or no more than 2-3 points down ...

Bayh WILL bring Indiana home for BO if he is on the ticket ...

but if Bayh can deliver the state, probably worth it...

I also like Clinton, Richardson, Edwards, Kaine, & a couple others...

If Jill Long-Thompson can beat the current Republican governor she will get to pick Bayh's replacement.

If Richard Lugar accepts an appointment in Obama's cabinet Jill will be able to pick his replacement too.

NE Indiana is one of the areas that we need to win for Jill to become Governor. We have a candidate running in the 3rd District that has raised more money than our current Representative for the first time. And odds are good for an upset there too. The Obama campaign can help both candidates and we could have a trifecta.

Sorry to to tell you, but in the based community community- and especially in a rust belt state that's well past a prohibitive margin.

Not going to happen. What it would do though is further alienate the progressive base, clip Obama's coattails and adversely affect other races (and votes on initiatives) down ticket.

While he was for Clinton, how can that translate to him being on Obama's short list?

I just don't understand why anyone even considers him with all of the other good choices out there.

To be a preemptive loser.

What we're left with are a bunch of scientific wild-ass guesses.

Neither adds geography but the reality is, neither does Bayh.

And both add gravitas. Evan does not.

Biden has a lot of baggage, unfortunately and I really like him.

with his comments...

and this election will be close.....
The prior nominees lost by one red state...
Do we really want to risk another one state loss?

Bayh gives the dems a shot to sweep IN, MI, PA & OH.
NO REPUBLICAN CAN WIN under those circumstances.

Obama desperately needs someone who can appease white males in red states.
Especially in IN, MI, OH, VA and CO.

Bayh is the logical choice.
Do you folks want to win or do you want to continue being victims and making statements?

>>>with his comments...

and this election will be close.....
The prior nominees lost by one red state...
Do we really want to risk another one state loss?

Bayh gives the dems a shot to sweep IN, MI, PA & OH.
NO REPUBLICAN CAN WIN under those circumstances.

Obama desperately needs someone who can appease white males in red states.
Especially in IN, MI, OH, VA and CO.

Bayh is the logical choice.
Do you folks want to win or do you want to continue being victims and making statements>>>

I'd be shocked if he brought along even Indiana. History would appear to back me up:
Ferraro was popular in NY; Mondale lost the state.
Bentsen was popular in Texas: Dukakis lost the state.
Edwards was popular in NC; Kerry lost the state.

Mondale may have helped Carter in Minn... agaiinst a nother North-midwesterner ( the exception that proves the rule.)


Clinton carried Tennessee but it was two guys with a drawl against two Yankee republicans with another southerner siphioning off third party votes.

None of these states ( correct me if I'm wrong) had a history of overwhelming tilt toward GOP in presidential elections as does Indiana.

The case for Bayh is ... so far... overwhelmingly underwhelming.

The media's blustering about them was the problem.

I think Obama should pick Clark to shove it in their faces.

Edwards is as bad as Bayh.

Hell, they even look alike.

I would prefer someone who brings some excitement to the campaign.

Proof in point. Governor Vilsack of Iowa. He was a well loved Democrat in Iowa but he couldn't poll higher than 3rd or 4th in his home state during his short time as a presidential candidate. And that was with the same Dems who voted for him twice as Governor and respected him highly.

Call me unrealistic but I want Obama to pick someone who he has chemistry with. I want to be blinded by the electricity that is generated when the two stand on a stage together.

Just say no to bland VP choices. Please.

Obama doesn't have to pick someone anywhere as bland as Quayle or be stuck with picking Bayh when there are better prospects.

So nobody would do to him, what he tried to do to Reagan in March 1981.

Sadly.

I fear it may yet be Hillary, and that would be an unmitigated disaster for a President Obama, even if he were to win.

I love John Edwards, but as AG. He was a flop in 2004 as Veep nominee.

I just can't figure it out anymore. Even Dick Gephardt might be in the mix at this point.

I was kind of a Webb guy. I want somebody tough in there, and sympatico with Barack. Bill Richardson might be OK; he has the resume. Not an exciting campaigner, and has fences to mend in the Midwest, but I like him. Hillary supporters hate him, though. What about Ed Rendell?

consistently supported many of Bush's positions. He is a disgusting Democrat.

a little milquetoastish to me. I'd prefer someone who might add to the excitement of the Obama candidacy, not take away from it.

I don't care about 2008 state polls. The tendency of that state is wide right. Granted, it would be possible but someone like Kaine makes exponentially more sense. Virginia is much closer to the tipping point than Indiana, in terms of state voting tendency to the national percentage.

Bayh would bring nothing elsewhere. Other than call into question why Obama made such a bland choice.

To be honest, I prefer someone other than Bayh because I want to bet on McCain in Indiana. That would be free money if Bayh is not on the ticket. Obama will win minus Indiana and I'd be making a simple pick up financially, taking advantage of lame state polls. :)

Evan Bayh does not have the judgement to lead.

Creepy, horrible, horrible choice. Could barely hold his own against LIEberman today. He seems
to lack intellectual heft.

But I still have the most vivid memory of a little old lady immediately after the 04 selection
ask Bayh how we can possibly trust that our votes count correctly and what a scam it was.
He stood there - first surprised - like he was so uninformed about irregularities and then
to state that he thought everything was totally on the up-and-up.

you don't really want excitement from the #2 person. You mainly want them to do no harm.

Bayh does no harm and, even if he can't bring Indiana, an Obama-Bayh ticket (i.e., a couple of Midwestern guys) might be pretty attractive in states like Ohio.

Yes, he voted for the IWR, but so did Biden and Clinton. Yes, he is more moderate-conservative than most people here would like, but you kind of have to be in Indiana. And given the fact that people are seriously talking about Schweitzer (who once mused publicly about supporting Mitt Romney) and even Hagel, I don't see why Bayh should be ruled out on ideological grounds.

If Obama is really going to change the electoral map, he has to be able to solidify his appeal to independents, moderate Democrats, and even disaffected Republicans. I'd wager those people would like Bayh.

Cheney was the pit bull on the ticket.

I'll take Bayh, but I think he is pretty much bottom of the barrel.

fiercely loyal team player and do whatever he could for Obama in Indiana and elsewhere.

There are a lot of resolute Republicans in Indiana, but with Democratic registration up, a relatively unpopular GOP governor to unseat, plus Bayh on the ticket, Indiana is a possible blue win. Not in the bag, but more possible.

And why the fuck should he? Even the fucking Republican Senator of Indiana voted against the Kyl crap.

on Fox. He has my support if he is selected. Bayh didn't let Chris Wallace get away with anything. I like several of the top veeps on the list so I will be happy with most of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwIpoFUUiQ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehj9qyDFp8&feature=related

I can support Evan Bayh as VP. I'm from Indiana and I think he is a great Senator even though I don't agree with him on everything. He is very moderate and I believe that he can connect with voters in places like Indiana and Ohio.

I feel the same way. Having lived in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana I can tell you he is very well respected and have had many independents and Republicans tell me they would definitely vote Democrat if Bayh is on the ticket.

Agree or disagree with Bayh his strategy to get more Indiana Democratic U.S. congressman in the House worked in 2006. Indiana now has more Dem Representatives then Republican Representatives. People in the middle that swing the vote don't care if folks are Republican or Democrat they just want the job done.

Could there be a more Liebermanesque selection?