Obama On Sebelius For VP: "I Love Kathleen"

Yesterday, Obama gave the Kansas governor high praise on a Missouri Fox affiliate, going so far as to hint that she could be his vice presidential nominee:

I love Kathleen Sebelius. I think she is as talented a public official as there is right now. Integrity. Competence. She can work with all people of all walks of life, but I promised that I am not going to say anything about my vice president until I actually introduce my vice president.

The Huffington Post's Sam Stein profiled Sebelius in June and concluded that she "presents a heap of electoral promise but with small but significant question marks."

Read The Huffington Post's rundown of potential Obama VP candidates here.

Comments

[hbw3]

As I was saying since January folks, the REAL dream ticket!

[obamajusrocks]

Another dumb headline from Huffpo.
What's happening ?

[TrueBlueMajority]

no no no no no no no no no

she doesn't give geographic help, she won't bring in HRC voters (they will be uposte if he picks a woman who is not Hillary) and she has no military service.

everytime BHO says something nice about someone, that doesn't mean they are going to be his veep.

[lovethesinner]

Hints?

There in nothing in the statement by Obama that suggests anything other than "For the umteen millionth time, I'm not going to EVEN HINT at who I like for VP."

I'm so tired of being tricked by "Huffpo Headlines" (and I have broadband, imagine what dial-up users feel like.)

As for Kathleen... she reminds me of a (yawn) Ambien commercial. She's great, but... not this year.

Obama-Webb '08

[schicklett3]

Webb is the man for the job!!!

[TrueIndy08]

second that

[AnnaList]

I like Webb too, but the Sec'y of Defense might be a better fit. He worked at the Pentagon, so he knows the ropes and his military background would also be a big plus.

[drzoon]

Gates is going to be kept in that job...

he is actually closer to Obama on war and military issues than Mc Cain.

[TrueIndy08]

Clark for Sec. of Defense... we need Webb for VP... end of story

[BabsfromKS]

But Sebelius is the woman for the job!

[TrueIndy08]

she's a good surrogate.... not VP material....

[imalonghorn]

Yes this comment is overblown .He basically just said she's a great leader but I'm not picking her. The only woman he would even considering putting on the ticket would be Hillary. I wasn't even a Hillary supporter, but I think I would understand why they would be pissed if he picked another woman besides her.

I think she is a great choice though, but I don't think he'd win, because of the backlash from Hillary supporters.

[BassMent]

I don't see how she helps his ticket.

She's a woman, and for HIllary supporters becomes "the other woman." That's a major snub. She does nothing to fill in for Obama's greatest weakness, which is in millitary affairs. Terrorism is the only issue where McCain outpolls Obama nationally... he needs to counter that with his VP pick. Plus, even if she does deliver KS, how many electoral votes is that?

The HuffPo headline is totally misleading (surprise!). I don't think Obama is hinting at selecting her at all. He would be foolish to do so (although I like Sebelius very much). She's simply not bringing what he needs.

[loki]

great, from an oil zar to a Christian crusader for Vp. Like that is going to make the world better. NOT

[adzeman]

The last VP that mattered electorally was LBJ. I think the "fit" from Obama's view is most important. having said all that I think it is still fluid. If necessary to win no one is ruled out. Even Clinton. So there is a real chance that events and the hated consultants might decide.

[TrueIndy08]

Webb, Biden, or Clark.. only winning choices!

[strifeknot]

Rubbish. Sebelius is far superior to any of them.

[TrueIndy08]

please explain... at a time when people are petrified of the next big terrorist attack and how we will protect them, please tell me how she is superior to any of them???

Outside of a small few, she is a nobody!!!! Most people have never heard of her!

[doctorwang]

Isn't Sebelius the one that suckled Romulus and Remus?

[kasv]

She may be a super person, but merely observing her performance in her SOTU rebuttal will remove all doubt - she is not up to the task at hand. It is true, I guess. Democrats just love to lose, even when the stakes are this high.

[Transcendentobserver]

Her gender? OK.

Personality? OK.

Ability to inspire? Based upon her Democratic response to Bush SOU: dull, predictable, and mundane (Significant number of listeners tuned out.)

Deliver electoral votes: Kansas? Nebraska? Hardly decisive or even important....can't even help down the ticket much in red states.

Logical position in Obama Administration? Need to avail her administrative experience: Ah yes! Secretary of Agriculture.

NEXT????

[TomPaine07]

TrueIndy08-

I agree. Let's not get into the "balanced ticket" mistake. No foreign policy experience, no national security experience, no economic credentials. Why does he need her-- other than she is any woman other than Hillary?

[2bad]

i agree 100%, in that order too!

[kellygrrrl]

I'd change the order, but I like your list

[MildenHall]

Classic. Float it out there and see how much Triple A comes up from the ground. Too much and she'll go by the wayside, too little or just enough and they'll keep her name in the hat.

The man has a ton of choices.

[TrueIndy08]

much better choices

[inthecolour]

Huh?

I must have missed the bit about him hinting that she will be his VP.

[JimR]

Yet another poorly written, irresponsible HuffPo headline.

[RadCenter]

No wonder—I think they're hiring the editors right out of high school now.

Have you seen them?

[ChristopherLib]

Some say picking a woman that's not Hillary would offend Hillary's women supporters. My mom who was a pretty die hard Hillary supporter (though never a PUMA) said to me that if Obama doesn't pick Hillary as VP she'd like to see another woman get the job. She then mentioned two ideas, one being Amy Klobuchar Senator from here in MN, and the other being "that lady from Kansas, last name starts win an S".

I don't believe the pick will offend the vast majority of Hillary supporters. I think Sebelius would be an all round solid pick. My only issue is the lack of military and or foreign policy credentials. Clark and Biden continue to be my favorites, though Clark seems unlikely now.

[oafishcad]

Maybe he'll pick Lieberman as his VP

[doctorwang]

No, no, no- he's now the Republican's problem.....we don't want him back.

Maybe McCain will pick Joe, and give him the same 'boost' that Gore got in 2000.

[Sarahjan]

This is politics and it's about winning. Obama is not a white man. He is young and has no military service record. If Obama picks a woman, no matter the skin of here color of her skin, it will be a lose for him. McCain will pick a younger man and the voters will pick McCain over Obama.

Obama needs strong white guy with military background as his VP. my choice is Jim Webb.

Jack Hagel cannot do it because he is anti-abortion views. Obama is playing up the church theme because it will pay in the media through the 4th July and voters will forget all thse none sense Muslim rumors!

[punkingale]

Chuck Hagel, not Jack.