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

[PinkoAttic]

The name that isn't on the list and which logically should be is Wesley Clark, for the following reasons:

1) Solves the National Security " Inexperience " argument.
2) Clinton pseudo family member. Heck, they love him so much they might even campaign for him in Arkansas.
3) Solid liberal credentials - even Michael Moore campaigned for him for president in 2004...yes­, Michael Moore !
4) Some wise pundit recently observed that a VP choice won't win you an election, but the wrong choice can lose you one. Clark has been pretty much vetted and aside from an interpretable negative remark about Obama's readiness to be president earlier this year, he's a safe bet.
5) Obama doesn't need anyone to woo voters with charisma or stunning oratory. He's worth 5 such candidates all by himself.

Why not make a VP choice early and save the announcement of an all star cabinet in waiting for the convention ? (Biden for Sec of State, Hagel for Defense, and so on).

[Gordon]

Why did Bill Clinton "retire" Gen. Clark early?

[Mogamboguru]

Too much spine.

[Proxy]

Because he complained about not being allowed to bomb more civilian sites in Yugoslavia.

[Mogamboguru]

Wouldn't Wes ley Cl ark rather be the best man, to put the running-amok DOD back in it's pentagonal cage again...?

[PinkoAttic]

I'd give that job to Chuck Hagel. (with Richardson at State & Edwards for AG).

[bodo]

I think it is an error of many commentators to suggest names that could be helpful getting Obama elected in this state or that, or with this or that ethnic group. It is another error to suggest names that would make useful additions to his future cabinet because of their special expertise. What he needs in a VP is an absolutely trusted friend and collaborator who could take over on Day One.

[dattexas]

doesn't matter if you're ready on day one if you don't get elected.

[justobserve]

You don't run an election with the assumption that you won't get elected, especially after you had won an uphill battle against an established powerful machine.

[LoloZ]

Absolutely! It's never a guarantee, look how little Edwards did for Kerry.

[JoJoKewl]

Why not K. Sebelius??? Might bring the p.o. Hillaryites on board. Some people are urging McBush to chose a woman - Gov. of Alaska say. Time for a woman in the W.H. Doesn't have to be H.

[Alfannell]

Well David Axarode mention Mike Bloomberg and Joe Scarborough.

[Mogamboguru]

Why not Dick Cheney. Vetted AND experience­d...

[pleeezzze]

...and he could bring his shotgun !

[alaintex]

Kerry could off-set McCains war hero cred.

[whizkid]

He'd better boil it down with a more vibrant posture than he did in 2004 as our nominee against the deserter.

[mhoiles]

Say what?

[JimR]

That's a funny joke.

[larazon]

I'd like to see JMac salute Gen. James Jones (ret.).

[vocalist]

forgot your morning java ?

[Ammobob]

Evan Bayh is an excellent choice. Gen Jones is a friend of McCain, so nix him.

[TocinoHumano]

There are some great possibilities on that list, but PLEASE, not John Kerry. He showed himself to be a quitter in 2004, during the Ohio vote count. He had his chance and he blew it. We need a fighter, not a go-along-t­o-get-alon­g loser.

[RobertaInCT]

Ditto, not enough fire......­.He's a lightweigh­t.........

[The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker]

Not to mention he's a Yalie Skull n Bonesman like Shrub. Haven't we had enough of that death cult?

[Bobby]

Here is what I would do...

VP- Jim Webb
Secretary of State- Joe Biden
Secretary of Defense- Chuck Hagel
Attorney General- John Edwards

[PinkoAttic]

A Winning cabinet ! I'd supplant Webb by Wesley Clark however. He's a Clintonite which fixes the "rift factor"" and the Repubs can't pick on Webb's past unhelfpful comments re women.

[Bobby]

I like Wes Clark as well. It would help heal the rift. Webb has a place somewhere though. And one thing Republican's can NEVER take from him is his position as Secretary of the Navy under (gasp) Ronald Reagan.

[The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker]

Clark a Clintonite? Say it isn't so (weep). Well, that explains why he's not on the short list.

[filo]

I like that especially Biden as Sec of State.

[daddyG56]

I like it, but I think Richardson for Sec. of State. might be more effective. Biden's great, but doesn't know when to zip it.

[Witchitalineman]

I would like to see someone like Biden or Nunn as VP choice.

[antaeus]

Biden is a real Dem, but he never shuts up and would be a competing presence.

Nunn is about 93 years old, a Republican in Dem clothing, and is hated by gays.

[JustAProgressive]

Hey HuffPo! There are some good followup threads in these discussions, but your software hides them and forces readers to make extra clicks to find them. Not good! That, plus your long delays in posting some comments, seriously detracts from otherwise generally positive policies for productive discussions. Please work on these two issues! Thanks!

[The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker]

Huffpo needs to get rid of the censor spooks and switch to a self-moderating system. We can identify our own trolls, thanks! It would make for a much more productive flow of ideas.

[larazon]

Maybe it's your name that scares them?

[colleen2]

"Huffpo needs to get rid of the censor spooks and switch to a self-moderating system"

Thanks but no. I would not want this blog to become like the 'self moderating' Daily Kos

[SouthpawSass]

Referring to prior comment: Romney, no more than 15 minutes later on CNN, referring to Obama's economics as Carter's economics.

We can see now where the Republicans are going with this election. Obama needs to pick a VP with a good economic, military, gender, race, environmental, education, working class background­... Hmmmm.

[SouthpawSass]

As well as the Jewish and religious oriented..­.

[Alfannell]

Mort Zuckerman of World News suggest Obama should pick Michael Bloomberg!

[SoFlaJet]

funny, I just heard him on Morning Joe not 10 minutes ago suggesting he would be perfect for John McCain

[Alfannell]

But Bloomberg likes Obama better than McCain.

[DiegoUK]

Why isn't Wexler on the list? He did a bang up job at the RBC for Obama.

[Kane]

Who will win the Democratic primary?
Should Hillary Clinton get out of the race?
What will Hillary Clinton do?
Will Barack Obama be forced to select Clinton as VP?
Will Hillary's supporters vote for Obama?
What's the future for Hillary and Bill?
Who will Barack select as his VP?

The media fascination of politics is like listening to Entertainment Tonight. God forbid if they ever have to focus on the issues.

[Flagal]

It's all filler. What the heck else would they talk about. The political shows are just political versions of E.T. or EXTRA.

[alaintex]

Is HRC's name banned from this site?

[Flagal]

Nope

[larazon]

No, but she already stated on numerous occasions that she did not believe in his presidency, because she felt he is not ready on day 1, and she is. That should answer the question. If it doesn't then I'll add this: she has designs on his job. Case closed.