Obama's VP List: MSNBC Gathers Names

From NBC's Chuck Todd and Domenico Montanaro:

So you think you know who's on Obama's veep short list? Well, think again. According to sources on the Hill, Obama veep vetters -- specifically Jim Johnson and Eric Holder -- have been asking Dem members of Congress this week their input about potential running mates. The conversations are free-flowing but one name the vetters are inserting in the conversations is one that is not a household name... Ret. Gen. James Jones, the former Marine-turned-NATO Supreme Allied Commander. ...

Besides Jones, the other names on the list bandied about with congressional Dems include (and not in any order): Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, John Edwards, Evan Bayh, Kathleen Sebelius, Ted Strickland, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Jim Webb, Bill Nelson, Jack Reed, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Tom Daschle, and Sam Nunn. You'll notice a few names NOT on this list (that's not my exclusion -- hint hint). Besides Jones, I'm told the two other names that invited extended discussion were Biden and Strickland.

* * *

The Huffington Post recently published profiles on two of the top names on the list: Jim Webb and Kathleen Sebelius. For more on Obama's veepstakes, check out HuffPost's rundown list of the pros and cons of the potential vice president candidates.

Comments

[ProgressiveinBerlin]

How can this list NOT have Wesley Clark on it???

He's perfect!!!

Obama/Clark 08/12

[GERIATRIC]

YOUR DREAMING. PROGRESSIVEINBERLIN, WHICH BERLIN.

[Bella Liberty]

Obama doesn't need VP because he can't beat McCain .

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Now why do YOU believe that?

NBC / Gallup poll just from today shows Senator Obama beating McSame nationally in most EVERY demographic.

[matandch]

Really? Wow! Then the people of this are country are FAR more stupid, ignorent and nieve than I ever imagined!

[Ndw]

Ya, because McCain is SUCH a strong candidate, what with his fading memory, weak politics, & strange slavish devotion to Bush.

God! *I* could beat McCain!

[fass]

IT IS NOT ABOUT IF THE VP CAN DELIVER A STATE CAN THAT PERSON GOVERN AND MAKE GOOD DECISION UNLIKE CHENEY.

[fass]

BILL NELSON IS WORTHLESS EVEN DEMOCRATS CAN'T STAND HIM IN FL. WHY IN THE WORLD THEY PUT HIM IN THAT LIST. HE IS A REPUBLICAN WITH D IN FRONT OF HIS NAME.

[hu.man]

Generally speaking, the VP choice counts for pretty much nothing except that with all the crap that Hillary brought into this campaign it has a higher than usual significance for Obama. In fact, since we know so little about Obama relative to McCain, his VP choice will be scrutinized and will have a significant impact on his campaign.

I believe he should not pick a 'heir-apparent'. Anyone he picks, should pledge not to run for office post-Obama term. We need this pattern laid into our electoral system to make sure that we have a real choice in the next election cycle. The argument that a VP that has an eye on the oval office will not allow the state of current affairs become too discombobulated does not carry water with me. I believe every president is concerned about his or her legacy and that is enough incentive to keep an eye on the ball.

[KarenKaren]

Bill Ritter, Governor of Colorado, for VP!

[pleeezzze]

I'll take that !!!

[EinChicago]

That would be fantastic. But Colorado just got him; it would be a shame for them to lose him so quickly. Ritter would make a great pres candidate in 2012 if Obama loses though.

[WWJD2]

Look out Obama--here they come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I2Zl0uI1d0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl2X5ivmPS4&feature=related

[ProgressiveinBerlin]

Which is exactly why they need to pick someone as running mate who can challenge McCain from a position of authority:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/11/gen-clark-mccain-is-untes_n_106457.html

Obama/Clark 08/12

[MrXfromplanetX]

You ever notice how people who post stuff like this on Youtube disable the comment section?

[flabingo]

Anthony Zinni read his Wiki

[JFyfe]

I also like this guy. One thing for sure. They need someone with NO BAGGAGE. With lots of foreign policy or military experience.

[EuroRant1]

He does not have to name anyone until August ... are we having fun yet.

I love all the wanking but this is a bit over the top, don't you think?

[sfsilver]

Sam Nunn! He's the architect of the homophobic reaction that created "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Am I really to believe he could be a progressive leader for change? Give me a break. Get him off the list.

[ArmchairPatriot]

John Edwards is my first choice, but it's not my choice, it's Obama's! I love John Edwards and started out as an Edwards supporter. I think Edwards could help Obama with the "working class whites" some people claim Obama can't win over.

[jneems]

Edwards would be my first choice, too. The two men seem to connect with each other well.
I sure hope he doesn't pick Daschle or Kerry.

[Ndw]

Me, too! I don't like Daschle at ALL, & Kerry turned out to be very disappointing, I thought. He has weaknesses like Obama, and none of the strengths. There has to be a better choice.

[JimR]

I like the idea of John Edwards as attorney general better.

[Oilygarch]

Just some thoughts: Sebelius as Veep, Edwards as Attorney General and Richardson as Secretary of State.

[libertyanne]

NO Democrat should be removed from the senate! Period, end of story.
Especially not Mark Warner of Virginia. Jim Gilmore, who just won the
primary against him, is the most extreme kind of right-winger.

Obama should go outside of congress and choose someone with a
strong foreign policy and military record.
If he can find somebody Jewish, so much the better. McCain is making
inroads into this group because some are concerned about Obama's
stand on Israel.

[krocklin]

2% of the population is Jewish. Maybe 3% of the voters. There are far more than that that would vote AGAINST a Jewish vice president. So that is a ridiculous criterion for picking a vice president.

[Oilygarch]

Jewish is just another expression of diversity. All is good, provided their allegiances would be as American Citizens FIRST, then as WORLD citizens.

In the same fashion, it really wouldn't matter if the Veeps origins were from Elbonia, same should apply there as well.

[ProgressiveinBerlin]

You're right! The democratic majority in the senate was thin BEFORE Kennedy took ill. Don’t forget, part of that “majority” is based on the false assumption that Lieberman is a dem.

I'm disappointed this list omits the perfect choice for VP.

The others have their pluses but don’t have much name recognition and all have down-sides.

He brings Military experience of the highest caliber. Despite this, he’s not looked at as just a white guy with a gun. He’s the intelligent soldier type (who just-so-happens to have led more troops, domestic and international than any democrat I can think of).

He is revered and respected by all sections of the democratic party and most others?

He’s from Arkansas, which is smack-dab between the south and midwest and will help the dems chances in both areas.

I feel the clear choice (if you’re not looking at superficial reasons like gender or who can bring in the latino vote) has got to be Wesley Clark.

Who’s better to go to those military base towns to convince them to vote against McSame?

Who’s got the national name-recognition to get the attention of the entire country as a positive without negatives like voting record getting in the way?

And most importantly, who is better fit with the skills necessary to take over as commander-in-chief of the most powerful nation in the world on day one?

I only see one name that fits, and it’s Wesley Clark.

[Ndw]

Wesley Clark would work, but I don't know the other military-type choices very well. I think it has to be someone who is more accessible to those who haven't warmed to Obama so far, someone more personable. Not sure if Clark fits that or not, really. A military guy with Edwards personality would be nice. Sebelius seems a little dull to me, but maybe she'll be surprising. I found her various speeches rather tedious.

[thesimulacra]

This is all a wild-goose chase. Case-in-point: Warner already declined a run for the presidency just last year and is running for a U.S. Senate seat that is currently his to lose. If he joins on Obama's ticket and then loses there, he's not going to have another chance to become Senator for probably a long time.

Strickland is another laugh. The guy has actually said about the VP slot that not only would he not accept the offer to be VP, but "If nominated, I would not campaign and if elected I would not serve"... the only way he could be any clearer about not even being open to the VP slot is if he declared he would commit ritual suicide if offered the position.

This is all a load of chum thrown to the reporter sharks eager for something to report on. They put that many names out there on purpose because it just makes them spend that much more time obsessing. The more time they spend obsessing over Obama, the more time people hear about Obama and the less time people hear about McCain.

And HuffPo fell for it just like everybody else.

[The 13 Colonies]

I know that Warner is a common name. Is he related at all to John Warner?

[ArmchairPatriot]

"The more time they spend obsessing over Obama, the more time people hear about Obama and the less time people hear about McCain."

Well, who the hell wants to hear about John McCain anyway??

[larazon]

Strickland could have been more discreet in declining. What's his problem? Who wanted him anyway? He doesn't represent change. Just look at his state? What a mess. He's old-style politics. I'm glad he declined. Wouldn't want Oba ma having to tolerate him for 8 years. Sounds Cheney-like: Baah-humbug.

[mcnairbo]

I see Mr. milquetoast Tom Dascle is there but no Hillary. Oh!.......it's the MSNBC's version of the list. Got it.

[sociocanuck]

read the list, again...

[millfarm]

The Governor of VA, Kaine, is impressive. Let Mark Warner to take Senator Warner's seat. My entire vote would go for Jim Webb. He is brilliant, knows the D.C. game plan, great international and military background, as well as, very well schooled academically. He knows what is expected of a VP. Also has an Asian-lawyer wife who could help in that voting area.

Obama is one smart, sharp man--and I expect him to make the right call. Like Nunn but he is 70 years old. Obama is a cool thinker--and will not make a radical move on this important decision.
Stay tuned . . . and relax.