Jack Reed: Another Obama VP Dark Horse

Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a studious, introverted former Army Ranger, is one of the Democratic Party's eminent voices on military affairs. But in neighborhoods hit hard by foreclosures, like the West End of Providence, it is Mr. Reed's lesser-known expertise on housing policy that is proving critical these days.

In the West End, with its 19th-century Victorians and clapboard triple-deckers, dozens of homes are up for auction and dozens more have been seized by banks. And Rhode Island, which has the fourth-highest unemployment rate in the country behind Michigan, California and Alaska, is among the top 10 states for subprime foreclosures.

Rhode Island's housing woes receive little notice compared with the more serious plight of states like Florida and Nevada. Similarly overlooked is Mr. Reed's central role in clinching an agreement on a foreclosure rescue bill last month -- the latest sign of his rising stature as a quiet dealmaker respected by colleagues in both parties. Mr. Reed's name even appears on some lists as a potential running mate for Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[NotMcCain]

I'm embarrassed that I've never heard of him, much less, didn't credit him for opposing the war from the beginning.

If nothing else, the VP hunt has drawn attention to a lot of GREAT Democratic senators and governors that are otherwise out of the national spotlight.

I'm glad Obama has such a wealth of candidates to choose from--at least 5 or 6, like Reed, seem very, very strong.

Poor McCain. He's got....well, not much of anybody.

[shela88]

I like Jack Reed and he should be on the list.

[NYRalf]

Another great choice.

[coloradosiren]

Why spend all of this time guessing when all we have to do is wait and see. What a waste of time and energy.

[Alfannell]

He should look at Chuck Hagel.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/06/17/hagel_veep/index.html?source=yahoo

[jpetaluma]

Unfortunately, Hagel is anti-abortion. That would not work.

[ChrisR]

Yeah! He's the best!

[engineer68]

Hagel is a far right republican. He is against the Iraq war but that is the only thing that he has in common with democrats.

[MizLiz]

I am confident Obama will pick the best person for the job. I've never heard of Senator Reed before, but he sounds interesting.

[bryan0218]

It was not pointed out that Reed also voted against giving Bush power to go to war with Iraq. Of all the potential candidates listed he is my favorite. His ideology is more in line with Obama's, but an added extra is that he has a strong military background and sits on the Armed Services Committee. The only negative is that we lose a strong progressive in the Senate, who will probably be replaced with a Republican by a Republican govenor.

[marinemomof3]

Yes, both Rhode Island Senators voted against the war! (invasion/occupation)

The Govorner could appoint Chafee who lost to Whitehouse in the last election.
He is the other Senator, one of three Rug's who voted against the war.

Rhode Island should be proud!!!

[dooleynoted]

Rhodes Island does deserve a lot of credit. That state, unlike Connecticut, put in Whitehouse even though Chaffee had been a good senator because they knew it would help the Dems to take over the Congress. If Chaffee were appointed it would send a good decent senator back to Washington and if the Dems win big, wouldn't affect their control of the Senate. It would also mean Reed is VP and Obama is President. Good all around. Now if we can only figure a way to get rid of LIEberman.

[darthdarcy]

Senator Reed is great a super competent Senator and highly regarded for his knowledge of National Security and our Military requirements..

[bobbym]

Great article!

[BassMent]

Wow, no comments on my man Jack Reed yet?!? Guess I'll get the ball rolling!

I was a bit surprised, as a citizen of the great, tiny state of Rhode Island, to see Senator Reed's name in the mix of potential VP candidates for soon-to-be President Obama. But my surprise was only becuase RI is so small, and Senator Reed is such a humble, unassuming guy that he usually flies under the radar of national attention.

However, as this article rightly points out, he's got bona fide expertise in areas where Obama needs to have his ticket rounded out: military and foreign affairs, and appeal to working-class voters. Reed is a regular guy, former military, who works his a$$ off and gets things done. He would lend not only the skills that are enumerated here, but also his groundedness. Man, if you wanted someone to counter Obama's rock-star image, you could hardly make a better choice than Jack Reed. He is a man of few words, but when he speaks, he speaks plainly and with authority. Rhode Islanders love the guy... but of course, there's no question of RI going for Obama (we have a higher percentage of registered Dems than any other state)!

Interesting idea... and yet another chance for Obama to redefine politics by thwarting everyone's expectations. He'd certainly be aligned with Obama on the issues.

The only problem might be the way they would look together. Jack is REALLY short!

[wheresthebeef]

I think that Jack Reed would make a GREAT V.P. The Times is right, though: it would mean that Governer Carcieri (a decent-enough man for a Republican, but a Republican, nonetheless) would get to appoint his successor. And, since RI always votes solidly Dem anyway, there'd be no electoral advantage. Still, it's nice to see a great public servant like Jack Reed get a little much-deserved national publicity.

[DaDawg]

The party of the Gov comes into play if Obama considers him for Sec of Def, since that is after the election. Reed faced re-election in 2002, which means his term is up and is running for re-election this year. So he would give him to two options here, he could play the Liberman card and run for both or not run for re-election and hope his replacement on the ballot wins.