Chris Dodd A Possible VP Candidate For Obama

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama's presidential campaign has requested information from Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd as part of its search for a possible vice presidential candidate.

The former White House hopeful and Connecticut lawmaker indicated Wednesday that he has been approached by the campaign. "There's been some inquiries, yeah," Dodd said. "They ask for a lot of stuff. I'll leave it there."

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton and Dodd's Senate office declined comment Thursday.

Recent moves by Obama have stoked speculation about the search for the No. 2 on the Democratic ticket. On Wednesday, Obama made an unscheduled stop at the building housing the law firm of one of his search committee members, Eric Holder. Obama also traveled to New York with another member of the search team, Caroline Kennedy.

Dodd, 64, is a five-term senator with a lengthy foreign policy resume. A fluent speaker of Spanish, Dodd served in the Peace Corps and has had a strong interest in Latin American affairs throughout his career. A longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he's been able to wield a heavy influence on U.S. involvement in the region.

Recently, Dodd, who chairs the Senate Banking Committee, has struggled with allegations that he got cut-rate mortgages from a leading offender in the subprime mortgage meltdown.

Amid speculation about potential vice presidential candidates, some have refused to comment while others have been coy.

On Wednesday, Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri shook her head and cut off a question about whether Obama or his team had asked her for documents to review. "I'm not going to talk about it," she said.

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Responding to the same question, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius issued a statement, saying: "The decision and timetable for the best person to help Sen. Obama lead the country is entirely up to him. All of us who support Sen. Obama have been asked to direct questions about his choice for vice president to the campaign."

A few others indicated they hadn't been approached, including Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. He said he is not seeking the job but also indicated he couldn't turn it down if asked. Still, he said: "I made it clear to him and everybody else, I never worked for anybody in my life. I got here when I was 29. I never had a boss. I don't know how I'd handle it."

Freshman Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado said he had not been approached.

Recently, others thought to be on Obama's list have indicated they lack interest in the job. Virginia Sen. Jim Webb issued a statement Monday that said he had told Obama he intended to remain in the Senate and "under no circumstances will I be a candidate for vice president."

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Associated Press writers Andrew Miga in Washington and John Hanna in Topeka, Kan., contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Obama: http://www.barackobama.com

Comments

[mike53]

I think Obama will choose Dodd. They both know how to get good rates on home loans.

[JimR]

LOL

[dantheman]

"They both know how to get good rates on home loans."

Ha ha..

Unlike stupid people, they also both know that if you have a high credit score, verifiable income, and solid employment, you don't get the "average intrest rate."

But, hey, don't take it from me. Just because I've been in the mortgage industry for years now it doesn't necessarily make me an expert on mortgage pricing.

[riverhouse]

I wouldn't be the least surprised if he chose Dodd or Biden, someone with considerable experience and well versed in how to work the Senate.

[Trittydi]

Dodd would certainly be an asset - but can he be replaced? I mean REALLY replaced? With another dem with his outstanding abilities to lead in the Senate?

This has to be considered on this basis. Dodd is a critical senator in a Senate full of turn-coat dems.
*

[zull2]

For the progressive base, Dodd would be an awesome choice. He'd probably have enough pull in an Obama administration to really get the ball rolling on an investigation into the Bush Administration, too. Unlike Gore with Clinton...Gore really didn't have the pull Clinton had. Clinton called the shots in that Administration. Dodd could really challenge Obama and push him the way Obama has indicated he wants to be pushed.

I still would like to see him take Howard Dean, though. Dean could be a big part in the infrastructure in getting Obama as well as many other Dems around the country elected. He would bring the same challenge, without as much Washington experience (good and bad as it is), as Dodd. This isn't about anything other than getting elected and ending a diseased political ideology. An Obama administration couldn't even try to be as bad as a continuation of the Bush Administration.

[MBryant]

to follow-up my Dem/Obama post with a GOP/McCain prospectus:

Alexander, Collins, Crist, Liddy Dole, Fiorina, Huckabee, Hutchison, Jindal, Lieberman, Pawlenty, Rice, Ridge, Romney, Meg Whitman

Using McGovern's three rules of Veep choice...
#1 "First do no Harm" Crist likely has skeletons, can they stay "in the closet"? Fiorina's moves as HP exec (outsourcing, cuts, exec bonuss) will get aired, Lieberman has baggage, Rice has more baggage than American Airlines (the disastrous Bush Foreign Policy), Dole is a little elderly,
#2 "A choice who can govern" Alexander has been Gov. Secretary, & Senator, Ridge also has an impressive resume. Fiorina, Collins, Pawlenty, Whitman, and Romney also have executive experience. Jindal is very young.
#3 "Campaign help if you can get it"...Fiorina, Rice, WHitman, don't seem to have a constituency. If Crist can assure Florida - he's almost worth it. Lieberman brings independents, Jews, Huckabee is a Christian Conservative who is actually not obnoxious. Romney keeps appointing himself the spokesman for the right and people are starting to believe it.

For some reason Lamar Alexander and Susan Collins get no buzz but they make sense. Tom Ridge makes sense. Huckabee actually looks pretty good, better than Romney if you are trying to please conservatives. Pawlenty maybe.

Tom Ridge: No Skeletons, expertise in McCain's issues, and McCain needs Pennsylvania.

Obama/Sibelius vs. McCain/Ridge?

[NotMcCain]

Might be Ridge. But my money's on Pawlenty.

Obama / Clark vs. McCain / Ridge -- Obama/Clark by a mile

[riverhouse]

Isn't Ridge pro choice?

[MBryant]

There is plenty of evidence that Veeps don't matter so much in elections - unless it's negatively. I agree with McGovern #1 is getting a Veep who won't hurt you. #2 is picking a Veep who could actually govern - this shows you can do your job PIcking a really colorful Veep that balances the ticket or is a great campaigner but is (also) too young or inexperienced and might not govern well - would not raise confidence in your own abilaities as an executive. #3 if you can do #1 & #2 - get someone who can help you in a key state: Now that Webb is gone,
who's left?: Biden, Clark, Clinton, Daschle, Dodd, Edwards, Hagel, Gen James Jones, Nunn, Rendell, Richardson, Schweitzer,Sibelius

#1 Clinton is volitile and complicated as a running mate, Hagel could alienate liberals who think Obama is already leaning left. Dodd may have scandal problems, Clark already has been in a flap - everyone else is probably ok
#2 Clinton makes Obama governing harder, Senators are mostly unproven as executives, governors (present President excluded) are usually better, Schweitzer is young. Clark, Hagel, Richardson, Sibelius would seem standouts
#3 Richardson offers help with Hispanics, SIbelius with women, Schweitzer out West (maybe) - Clark, Nunn and Edwards are the Southerners

Sibelius passes all three tests - if she has no skeletons and as the Dem Gov. in a Red state that is likely - she's the one. Otherwise pick one of the Senate Suits - Biden

[tds1273]

Again with the Senators?

Seeing as how Dodd is one of the select few willing to stand up and fight for the Constitution and our rights as citizens of the United States, the Senate is exactly where we need him.

Dodd, Biden, Feingold they all could make for wonderful Presidents themselves, but they are absolutely wasted as VPs.

[riverhouse]

The vp is supposed to be someone who is prepared to become the prez. It's overblown to worry about losing one Senator to the vp. As has been made perfectly clear by FISA, Dodd made the good college try but he couldn't save the Senate from itself.

[JimR]

I tend to agree.

[alamacTHC]

YES!!!

Whatever else Obama may be, he is surely not stupid. This would be a BRILLIANT move, going a long way to restore his credibility on FISA by choosing the single most ardent opponent to the illegal, unconstitutional travesty which is the amnesty bill. Dodd is a true hero and patriot, and I would now actually prefer him at the top of the ticket. But VP ain't bad.

GO FOR IT, OBAMA!! DODD FOR VP!!!

[MartyGee]

This speculation is foolish. The governor of CT is a Republican. You don't want to lose a senate seat.

[bish66]

Chris Dodd? Some weeks ago, Obama proudly anounced that if there is one field in politics where he does not need help, that would be foreign affairs... What was that Dodd expertise again?

[GuyFawkes]

I have some friends who are Clinton die hards, and they're attitude is that he owes her the VP job. They can't stand Obama, but they think he owes it to her to pay off her debt and give her the VP job, and her name should be put up on the DNC floor for nomination! When I shake my head at this, they look at me like I'm the crazy one.

These people are unreal. Hillary, for all her "support", is really holding this party hostage right now.

[PumaAnn]

Too late to help her on the debt. We took care of that. I personally don't want her to go near the VP deal.

Just smile and wave, Hillary. That's enough.

[jspivey]

"Too late to help her on the debt. We took care of that. I personally don't want her to go near the VP deal."

I agree. If and when he loses -- and I'm certain he will -- she'd get blamed for it. Better to live and fight another day.

[Gasparilla]

Hillary is not holding anyone "hostage". Get over it.

[NotMcCain]

Tell your PUMA friends that Bill Clinton didn't pay off Jerry Brown or Paul Tsongas' debt in 1992. Its nice that Obama wants to help her, but he doesn't "owe" her.

You might also brace them for her NOT being VP because of the ... reality....that her finances can't be vetted. She and Bill comingle all money. The missing 2007 tax returns....the library donor list....Bill's numerous business wheeling and dealing with international pals (like the ethically questionable Kazakstan uranium deal)..all won't be vetted because the Clintons will never make the info public.

Add in Bill's role as a highly paid lobbyist for at least one foreign government (Colombia, $800,000 to lobby FOR CAFTA)....how can anti-lobbyist Obama run with Hillary?

Her finances exclude her. That's why even Clinton loyalist, Terry McAuliffe is saying, "Biden". Hillary. can't. be. vetted.

End of story.

[closetodemfection]

Ummmm.... she's already been vetted to be POTUS. They mysterious library donors you mention is a dead story and hello? They released those tax returns ages ago.

As far as the debt, O has managed to raise about $100,000 in 4 weeks. Not quite the olive branch of unity you'd expect.

So PUMA is having a double weekend push to pay it off - only a couple million left, should be paid off by next week.

[olivia]

The PUMA die hards do not want the VP slot for her. Nothing but the presidency will make them happy. For them it is an upset at the convention or campaign for McCain.

Can't make them happy. There is no point in making bad decisions in an attempt to pander to them.

[StephenDedalus82]

Good choice. Obama can balance his ticket by having someone with actual principles on it.

[meanguy]

that would be a first

[ChicagoPunk]

Brian Schweitzer.

That is all.

[Plowboy]

Dodd would be a decent VP, but he will not strengthen the election chances at all. And he may harm it by feeding the anti-liberal MSM frenzy.
Biden would be a terrible choice. (1) By his own admission he is not a team player. And the next president needs a strong and cohesive team to undo the damage of the B-C years. (2) Frankly Biden's great rep as a foreign policy expert comes from the MSM magnification of his Likud approved positions. He is just another AIPAC darling like too many others.
The best choice is Gore if he can be recruited. Richardson would be good. (Those objecting to a Black and Brown ticket should think: if they won't vote for Obama/Richardson because neither is lilly white, they won't vote for Obama/Anybody!) Richardson would be a great Sec. of State as well.
I like Hagel, but if his being a sensable Repuiblican blocks him, he could be a good Sec. of Commerce. He would be a great team player, as would Richardson.
I also like Politano and Sebelius. Don't bet Politano couldn't help take Arizona from McCain!
There are several good choices, and too many bad ones. Any DLC type smells bad to me.
I'd love Dean but I suppose he is not available. Too bad!!

[truegreen]

Dodd would be a good choice for VP, but the countrywide dust up killed his chances.

[NotMcCain]

It shouldn't -- if anyone knows (or can explain for the media) the slightest thing about mortgage loan rates. He got nothing special.

(Nothing like McCain's $500,000 credit card with American Express that's INTEREST FREE).