The Candidate
Congratulations, Senator! Now the hard part begins. As for me, I'll be at the State Democratic Convention in Austin tomorrow through Saturday. I will attempt to post from there, but we all know how well technology and I get along.
Labels: 2008, Barack Obama, Democrats, Elections, President
posted by The Local Crank | 11:45 PM
11 Comments:
Good. Now we know we will have a clean candidate leading the Democratic ticket. And I sure hope there is a clean VP choice too.
I suspect, based on no empirical evidence whatsoever, that a complicated bit of theatre will follow where Obama offers the VP slot to Hillary, she declines but pledges fealty, and he picks someone seen as being in the "Hillary Camp" such as Wesley Clark.
Way to torpedo the ticket.
I can't help but think that even if it's not Hillary, Obama may feel some pressure--or perhaps just a moral obligation--to pick a woman for his running mate. I think it would be a pretty bold move and a very magnanimous gesture to the millions of (allegedly) heartbroken women voters. It will be an interesting test of his character and leadership to see if he goes in that direction or in a safer, more conventional direction. Bill Richardson will likely be one of the top candidates, too.
I dunno. The female Clinton delegates I talked to all unanimously agreed that picking a female running mate other than Hillary would be perceived as an insult, a sort of tokenism. I think it's more likely that Obama would pick an older running mate, with military and/or foreign policy credentials, and firmly in the Clinton camp. I've mentioned Wesley Clark, but then I'm kinda biased in his favor.
Clark is certainly a strong contender, but I have to think there are others "more in line" (i.e. party veterans and senior statesmen) to be VP than him, if such a thing even matters in the Democratic Party. Probably not, I guess. The party did, after all, effectively nominate the least experienced of all its original candidates to be their standard-bearer. Whereas the Republicans, true to form, picked the oldest, crustiest, and closest thing to an heir apparent they could find.
<< The female Clinton delegates I talked to all unanimously agreed that picking a female running mate other than Hillary would be perceived as an insult, a sort of tokenism. >>
But what if he offered it to her and she passed, then he picked another woman? If Hillary's female supporters dismissed that as "tokenism," then I'd have to conclude that they are NOT as sincerely devoted to seeing a woman VP or president as they claim, and instead believe that Hillary is somehow personally entitled to the position--not a very enlightened or democratic attitude, in my opinion.
But in any case I suspect you're right that he will probably lean more toward someone like Clark who can bring solid foreign policy or military credentials to the office.
Bob Kerrey wouldn't be a bad choice--Vietnam veteran, Medal of Honor winner, experience as governor and senator--though his personality is dull as dirt and he seems to have all but dropped off the face of the earth.
Both Clark and KerrEy are kind of rusty by now, aren't they?
Clark was actively running for President as recently as 2004. Kerrey might be a good pick as well; he has a compelling story and generally bi-partisan support.
Any nut can run for President. Look at Kucinich.
The main problem I see with Kerrey is that a certain embarassingly-large percentage of the population will confuse him with Kerry.
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