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

[Mystery954]

What does Biden or Kaine brings to the ticket?

[ebanks84]

You might need to read up on both because Biden brings strength for one thing. Kaine has governatorial experience.

[PoliJunkie]

No mention of HRC? Why I oughta!!!! LOL!!!!

[DesertLight]

I must have missed the Clint0n name in there somewhere. Did I?

[PoliJunkie]

I thought the same thing too...LOL!!

[ebanks84]

Let's not even go there :)

[PumaAnn]

It sounds like Kaine is the one. A blue dawg with an anti-woman record. No experience to speak of. They'll get along on faith-based initiatives.

It's becoming easier to understand Obama's FISA support. He dives to the right.

And it makes McCain's own record on women's issues less important, since we would have both sides pretty much the same.

[jsinclair]

No. There's no indication Kaine would change the Constitution or that Scalia is his model Justice (he is McCain's ideal).

No indication Kaine has ever committed adultery on a disabled wife either--or called a woman a "c*nt".

He's also a Democrat--i.e. that in itself is a HUGE difference on a range of issues, including women, from McSame.

If McCain chooses a pro-choice VP (e.g. Ridge) I would NOT consider it the same thing as voting for Obama. No. Way.

[bdl0715]

My opinion changes regularly, but I think I am settled on Bayh. He has executive experience, being governor of Indiana, and he has foreign policy experience. He is young, attractive and will not steal the show from Obama. He can wait 8 years and run for President as an incumbent VP and still be fairly young. He also may be able to bring along Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

[Marlyn]

Evan Bayh is young, I'll give you that one, but attractive???????

[barackobama4prez]

B i d e n is my Veep of choice.

[vonny]

Binden is one angry old man, he can't keep his mouth shut.

[corsair1917]

I don't know who Binden is but Joe Biden is the BEST choice.
He is not angry - he is passionate.
He is not old - McCain is.
He is a fighter.
Go Biden Go Biden.
People barely know Obama and now they have to learn about Kaine? I don't think so.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

ME TOO!

[AnotherToerag]

Biden is great - I agree with you 100%!!

[JJeff88]

I like all three.

A petty and ridiculous (but to me, kind of hilarious) observation of Sen, Bayh:

When you juxtapose video footage of Cindy McCain standing next to her husband on the dais, looking over at him with those expressionless "Laura Mars" eyes, with footage of Evan Bayh standing next to Sen. Clinton on the dais, looking over at her with that same lack of expression...

Well....there's an eery resemblance.

[lewes17266]

People here in beautiful southern Delaware love their Biden but Delaware is very, very blue and very gay friendly. The rest of the country may not be ready for Biden AND Obama. I have always lived in the bible belt (South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia) until a year ago and I know the attitudes there. Living in Delaware is like living in a different world.

[DMHendrix]

It gives you a very different perspective doesn't it? I was born & raised in Virginia, lived in Kentucky and Georgia for a while and ended up in Florida...so I know what you mean about THAT belt. Even though it can be maddening....I am grateful because it taught me how NOT to be.

[lewes17266]

There is still so much prejudice there, as though time has stood still.

[TNT2008]

I live in Virginia and would LOVE to see Joe B i den on the ticket. Virginia will go blue without Kaine. Mac is the only "loose cannon" on any ticket; Joe tells it like it is and has the facts right on the Middle East. Go O & Joe!

[zendem1]

If it's Bayh, the Democrats lose a Senate seat.

[meanguy]

if kaine they lose a statehouse

[Superbus]

Bayh or Biden are his best choices. Kaine has the same problem as Obama, no foreign affairs experience.

[DennyCrane]

I really hope it isn't Kaine. There isn't anything interesting about him. He's almost as boring as Evan Blah. And Kaine is hurting his chances of being picked by even admitting he's under serious consideration. If I were Obama, that would bother me that he's out there saying such things, even if they are true. People up for consideration should keep their mouths shut. I still hope Obama picks Sebelius, but I know the HRC supporters won't approve.

[geha714]

Reed already said no. Clark could be a great choice.

[Sabreen60]

I vote for Clark, even though he didn't initially support 0.

[vitasackvillewesttexas]

clark was lame in debates, lame in his support of all things hillary. weasily on his comment about mccain. looks bad in a sweater. no thanks.

[marymansour]

I sort of think Clark would be the best choice. Now that Edwards, with the threat of impending baby mama scandal breathing down his neck, is not an option, I would prefer Clark. I love Biden but he tends to get foot in mouth disease on occasion. Hillary would turn off every potential change-over republican voter in the nation.

[Marlyn]

Wes Clark would be PERFECT.

[AnotherToerag]

Did you hear Clark on MTP a few weeks back? He took himself out of the VP running right then and there by overly bashing McCains time as a POW.

I don't disagree with the comments, but they're a bit harsh for a VP candidate to be saying and it doesn't match Obama's message.

[jsinclair]

Webb said no. I don't think Reed did.

I don't know why we never hear about Clark from this team.

He would be a great choice.

[vitasackvillewesttexas]

reed did say no. it came out just after the trip. said his work is in the senate.

[idealist100]

Biden - defintely. Obama needs to add heft. Bayh would be ok.

But please don't pick the person who elicits the response of...."who? who's he?.....oh, a lightweight governor? great." *sigh*

[jsinclair]

Biden--too big an ego, doesn't want to be second fiddle to anyone, won't carry water.

Kaine--too religious, too conservative, too anti-abortion.

Bayh--eh.

Since its not about geography (Virginia, Indiana), isn't there someone more...progressive than Kaine and less ego-driven than Biden or Bayh?

What about Clark? Reed?

[Charmed]

I vote for Biden.

[TNT2008]

Me, too!

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Me three.

I believe Obama may want a non-Senator for a number of reasons, including an outside-the-beltway appeal, and the fact that governorships are an executive function.

Bayh brings a lot: former Clinton backer, Governor, and now Senator.

However, the ticket, the nation, and the world, need a VP with gravitas and foreign policy cred. Perhaps Biden as SecState and flip a coin for one of the younger Govs?

[politicalgenius]

Biden sures up Foreign Policy and will be the bad cop to obama's "good cop" when it comes to mccain and the GOP...