Obama's VP Shortlist: Bayh, Biden, Kaine

Washington Post:

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has told close associates that he has had "very serious" conversations with Sen. Barack Obama about joining the Democratic presidential ticket and has provided documents to the campaign as it combs through his background, according to several sources close to Kaine.

Sens. Evan Bayh (Ind.) and Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.) are also being seriously vetted by the campaign staff, according to sources with knowledge of the process.

Obama has revealed little about which way he is leaning. And despite rising anticipation that a decision is imminent, campaign officials said an announcement is likely in mid-August, shortly before the Democratic National Convention. Obama's top aides, David Plouffe and David Axelrod, huddled yesterday in the Washington office of Eric Holder, who along with Caroline Kennedy is vetting potential running mates.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Foohog]

Please God, not Bayh.

He was my governor for two terms. He's about as exciting as a cold bowl of oatmeal and he left our finances in terrible condition.

Biden, Biden, Biden if you please.

[AurigaRa]

PLUS he's a Blue Dog and we need to flush them, not promote them.

We'll never get out of this mess til we reform the party,

[ebanks84]

I second that emotion!

[ohmercy]

some research.
Click links to see who and what they are about.
votes, sponsorship etc.
I mean if you aren't too busy making pronouncements from media buzz and pretending to be the decider and all! ;-)

Obama:
http://tinyurl.com/35prxb
Obama is a rank-and-file Democrat according to GovTrack's own analysis of bill sponsorship.

Biden:
http://tinyurl.com/6oto8v
Biden is a rank-and-file Democrat according to GovTrack's analysis of bill sponsorship. (more progressive that Bayh)

Bayh:
http://tinyurl.com/5u58uc
Bayh is a moderate Democrat according to GovTrack's analysis of bill sponsorship. (less progressive)

Kaine isn't at that site... just legislators.

But this is interesting...

Clinton:
http://tinyurl.com/2t95yp
Clinton is a far-left Democrat according to GovTrack's analysis of bill sponsorship.

[closetodemfection]

Oh, no one here will ever acknowledge that C linton is actually rated more progressive than O. It would upset everything they hold dear.

[joanVA]

As a voter from Virginia, I have some reservations about Kaine. Obama needs to pick someone with more experience. I am still wondering how Governor Kaine will deal with the state's fiscal deficit as well as Virginia transportation problems. Kaine has not been able to work with the legislature like his previous governor, Mark Warner, did. Kaine also is a supporter of coal to the detriment of Virginia's environment. We need more of an emphasis on renewable energy in Virginia. The two strong Virginia VP candidates (Jim Webb, Mark Warner) withdrew so I do not believe Obama should settle. We can win Virginia for Obama without Kaine on the ticket.

I do think the choice of a governor is good---just not Virginia's governor. Maybe Obama needs to expand his list right now, rather than narrow it to these 3 choices.

[Kristen777]

Amen, my sister from VA. I'm a Dem, voted for Kaine, but he is not the hook Obama needs. I can just hear Virginia Democrats collective groan right now. My co-workers are with me.

The one they're calling 'Warner's kid brother". . . . Sorry . . . I have nothing really against the guy - it's just that he is just not THE one!

[dayala]

as a fellow Virginian I totally agree.

Kaine is about as lackluster as Bayh...Biden is status-quo, he might as well take Hillary if he is seriously considering Biden.

[ohmercy]

Kaine is not progressive in the least.
Just posted info on him from "on the Issues"

Also pposted links to info on the other 2 listed.
Bayh far too "moderate" Biden is more "rank and file" which is the same rating as Obama.
Some great committee work etc though.
See here: http://tinyurl.com/6oto8v

Interestingly Clinton is more progressive..."far left" in comparison according to govtrack.us analysis of bills, votes etc.
Also good committee credentials.
http://tinyurl.com/2t95yp

Biden is my choice... though I am a Hillary supporter. I just don't want her as VP, she has too much more going on that she can accompplish. Of course so does Bidebn.

I just want someone more progressive/liberal than Obama who won't be afraid to challenge him.

[ohmercy]

According to www.govtrack.us
Jim Webb:
Webb is a moderate Democrat according to GovTrack's analysis of bill sponsorship. (bills/votes)

Mark Warner from www.ontheissues.org
http://tinyurl.com/z5bk4
Supports a fair death penalty. (fair???)
For "responsible choice. Pro choice is good.
It seems he has done some very good things for Virginia though according to the site.

[ohmercy]

OOPS.
Forgot the link to Webb's record:
http://tinyurl.com/5eulh3

[nyckingpin]

Biden for Secretary of State.
Hagel for Secretary of Defense.
Kaine for VP. Why not? Just because the guy is pro-life doesn't mean he's conserative. Not all pro-lifers are conserative Republicans.

[bwither]

Kaine has a problem aside from the pro-life issue; apparently he's had trouble with Managing the Budget in Virginia, which could become a campaign issue.

Of the three, I'm partial to Biden for VP, but at this point, Obama could pick a brrom stick in a dress shirt and tie and STIL win.

[ebanks84]

Funny...:)

[Ramus]

make that "anti-choice" not "pro-life"..

[ohmercy]

http://tinyurl.com/6km4eo
Tim Kaine on the issues.

* Promote abstinence; ban partial-birth abortion.
* I have a faith-based opposition to abortion.
Set goal of **25%** renewable energy by 2025.
(25%??? in 17 years????? gee why not make it a full 20!?
We put a man on the moon in less time than that!)
Strongly supports the Second Amendment.
(wonder how he feels about the fourth?)

Moratorium on the death penalty **until it is fair!** ????FAIR????
Wants to expand military.
longer mandatory 3 strikes sentencing!

He's only been a governor 2 years.
I so wish people would say WHY they are FOR this or that candidate when cheering for them.
How about some facts?
Lets show the grown ups we are actually researching our choices.
sheesh.
This man is NOT a Progressive. At all.

(sorry NYkingpin. This isn't directed or answering you specifically. For some reason comments are screwed up again can only read page 1 and only reply, post coomments are getting eaten and not showing up.)

[Donnat]

Kaine has no name recognition. I'd rather see Sebelius, at least some Democrats know her. NO 'pro-life' candidates - you think Hillary supporters won't support Obama now, they'd really stay home if he picks this guy. I might too.

[cminri]

My pick is Bi-den. He had the foreign affairs chops...and he can be tenacious. I admire this passion.

[ohmercy]

Plus, he has the added benefit of being more "liberal" than the other two.

[ebanks84]

I totally agree with both of you.

[PghDemocrat]

I am a fan of Sebelius. Interesting but not too interesting...a history of balancing budgets...history of working across parties...multi-state connections. She would add to the ticket without overshadowing the top. I know people come back to her SOTU speech, but I actually enjoyed it - she got her point across in a low key way.

I also know she doesn't have the foreign intellegence background of some of the others, but the others do not appeal to me. Clark does to some degree but he spoke a few years ago at one of my company's meetings and received pretty bad reviews. He seems to have calmed a bit since, but the RNC has already tried to dig their fangs into him once this political season and I do not look forward to having it happen agan. Biden would be my other choice, but I prefer to have him without a leash - much more entertaining.

[ohmercy]

Sebelius on issues:
http://tinyurl.com/63klmz

Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025. (Jan 2007)
(NOT good enough.
again, we put a man on the moon in far less time than 17 years..
We may not have that long.)

Good stuff:
* Balanced four state budgets without tax increases. (Nov 2006)
* Allow overdue taxes to be paid without penalty. (Jan 2004)
* Modernize tax incentive programs for start-up businesses. (Jan 2004)
* Create tax credit for rural business development. (Jan 2004)

* Implemented $85 million in savings and efficiencies. (Jan 2004)
* Spending cut to provide a raise for state workers. (Jan 2004)
* Consider liability reform for agritourism. (Apr 2003)
* Audit government to eliminate waste. (Oct 2002)

everything else VERY THIN.

I think the bottom line is who would you want as President if something happened to Obama...
Not just the unthinkable violence but any number of things could happen.
I don't see her as capable of being President.

Biden.
Yes.

[misswilliams]

I hope he picks Biden. I don't think that Bayh would be a good attack dog/surrogate for him and I'm not really feeling Sebelius and Kaine? No, I don't think so.

[truegreen]

My choices are in order :

Biden -- Foreign policy wonk, funny and tough.
Kaine -- Governor of Virginia, fluent in spanish and working class-conservative.
Bayh -- Fmr Governor, Senator, Moderate, working class, puts Indiana in serious play.
Richardson --- Hispanic (BIG PLUS), Foreign policy expert
Sebelieus --- Woman, Governor of Kansas, Obama and Sebelius mesh well, but there's the Clinton factor.

[Doofus]

There's a Zogby poll out that would lead you to
believe that Obama's VP choice ought to be
either Colin Powell or Hillary Clinton. Any
others are barely out of single digits.

(Neither would be my choice.)

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1530

[arspar183]

colin powell no way!!! he sold the war on his troops then baled when the going got tough....some leader he is!!!!

[Doofus]

Survey says...

Likelihood to vote for Barack Obama if he chooses (Powell) as his Vice President

Likely Voters.............................. Democrats................................ Independents
More Likely .... Less Likely ..... More Likely .... Less Likely..... More Likely .... Less
42% .................10% ..................42% .................12% ..................43%..................9%

[ebanks84]

Colin Powell was drawn into this GWB lie and when he found out it was a lie, he jumped ship. That's it! And I don't blame him one bit.

[Doofus]

Neither would be my FIRST choice.

I'm not voting for the Repo Man, nohow.

Go ahead, pick Peewee Herman, it doesn't matter.

[Doofus]

No surprise (see below), HuffPosters don't like Powell much.
Personally, while I respect his apparent intelligence, his excess
loyalty to GWB over Iraq was deeply troubling. Anyway, the curious
thing is that lots of voters seem to like him for Obama's VP. Why is that?

Do his positives outweigh his negatives?

For me, there are no superstars in the current short list.

[seenitall]

bye Bayh...hello Biden

[ebanks84]

Amen.

[marymansour]

I had sort of hoped for an Obama/Edwards ticket. Guess that's slipped down the tube with Edwards dust up with reporters in the California hotel and potential baby mama drama going down. I didn't like Wes Clark's heavy endorsement of Hillary but you can't have everything and Clark is a sharp, attractive and honest guy. There are a lot of visuals going on in a presidential election. It's almost theater at its worst. The charismatic, striking Obama and the handsome older guy, Clark, would look great together. Clark also has that miltary experience. I haven't heard him mentioned though.

[alieninvader]

I think Clark destroyed his chances with his remarks a few weeks ago about being a POW not qualifying someone to be pres. True, but apparently taboo to mention.

[Ramus]

Me too...wanted Edwards as President..like his ideas...too bad about the affair and the baby. It shouldn't matter, but I guess it does. People put down the Enquirer..but I think they check out their stuff, for the most part, pretty carefully. Too bad people get all bent out of shape about such things..but they do.

[CFAmick]

I want Clark to be VP!

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

Joe Biden Got Big Huevos

[alieninvader]

I agree. B'iden's the perfect surrogate to fight back against swift boat attacks, letting O stay above the fray.

[ebanks84]

That's what I'm talking about. Biden has big huevos...(I hope that's mountain oysters:)....

[Marlyn]

NOT that milquetoast BLUE DOG, Evan Bayh!

[ebanks84]

No way Jose! We don't need a fox in the henhouse, thank you.

[BassMent]

Unless 0's campaign people are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that VA is going to be this year's FL or OH (in other words, win the state or lose the election), then I can't imagine why he'd choose Kaine. I mean, if he's going to choose a governor, why not one that people have heard of? And what does Kaine do to shore up 0's greatest perceived weakness, lack of experience in international/military affairs? Nada.

Biden is a brilliant guy but a bit of a loose cannon. Bayh is a safe choice, and that's about the best I can think to say about him.

With this short list, I can think of a fourth possibility who I initially rejected utterly but now am thinking might actually help 0 rather than hurt him. She's a senator from NY. She's pretty well known. You've probably heard of her.

Is 0 thinking too hard about that whole "Do no harm" mantra?

[vonny]

Who is Kaine??

[PumaAnn]

Maybe he wants the guy because nobody heard of him. It supports his "new" look.

The only downside I see is that Kaine has an anti-woman record, so McCain will get to relax about that issue. He can easily delect criticism with Kaine on the ticket.

[Ramus]

Pennsylvania will be this year's Florida or Ohio.

[robynuva]

Any name you hear bandied about is probably NOT a contender. I think Kaine leaked this on purpose to take the heat off someone else the press might have been sniffing around.

[jsinclair]

Could be. Reed seemed the obvious choice with the Iraq trip and I've been shocked reporters just seemed to ignore him.

[Ramus]

And then there's the other guy on the trip, Chuck Hagel. Hagel is a Vietnam vet, but, and here's the catch, he's a social conservative and anti-choice. Still the international credentials and the warrior credentials are there and he might appeal to the working classes which will be important since McBush (son and grandson of Navy Admirals) people are trying to paint Obama, son of a single mom and a missing father, a privileged elitist. And Hagel has a liberal brother..and they are friendly..maybe he can move him to the left a bit on the social issues.