New York Times: Obama "Appears Ready To Announce" His VP

New York Times:

Senator Barack Obama has all but finalized his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate roll-out plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday, followed by a trip to swing states by the new Democratic ticket, aides said.

Mr. Obama's deliberations remain remarkably closely held. Aides said perhaps a half-dozen advisers were involved in the final discussions in an effort to enforce a command that Mr. Obama issued to staff: that his decision not leak out until supporters are notified.

Mr. Obama had not notified his choice -- or any of those not selected -- of his decision as of late Monday, advisers said. Going into the final days, Mr. Obama was said to be focused mainly on three candidates: Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia and Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[JAB20]

It amazes me how the media speculates in order to fill its column inches and its TV time. There is no news here. It is not news until an announcement is made. Once that is done, get ready for the GOP to smear whoever is named. And get ready for the media to amplify those smears as if they too are news. Believe me, the Karl Rove approach to politics is alive and well.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

I sure hope O goes on the attack against The Maverick’s so called foreign policy expertise.

In 2003 The Maverick said the war was won and the mission is accomplished because the sign said so.

In 2008, The Maverick said he can win the war. Perhaps he has another sign?

[robodweeb]

He said Rummy was doing a great job and W should "stay the course".

He said the anthrax may have come from Iraq.

He based all of these wrong opinions on his vast military and foreign policy experience.

[Tropiholic]

all of those images should be on tv 24/7 with the words coming straight out of mc*gaffe's mouth

[Hillrick]

Shoot from the lip, get the glory, fact check later.

[abby4ever]

for mergina, who says 'there is only one choice!', namely Hillary...­.

The sad reality of puma logic:

They want Hillary. They say Obama is not experienced enough, that he is arrogant, that he is an elitist, and that if he is the nominee the democrats will lose the general election. Keep these things firmly in mind as we move on...

They insist that Hillary be put on the ticket in the veep slot. If this does not happen, they will vote McCain.* If it does happen, they will vote Obama.

Therefore, if Hillary is put on the ticket, they will nominate for president the man they say is not experienced enough, is arrogant, is an elitist, and who will lose them the general election.

But wait! They say if Hillary is on the ticket, we will WIN the general election.

In which case the man they say is not experienced enough, is arrogant, is an elitist, will be running the country. Not Hillary, but this man.

abby

* Women who claim to be true blue feminists, voting for perhaps the greatest sexist of our time, is sad. Dumb, too.

[LuvDaH8ters]

well put

[ThunderclapNewman]

Well-stated, abby.

The contradiction inherent in their argument never seems to occur to them.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Excellent.

[lioness39]

PUMA logic also doesn't include the fact of most repubs or crossovers are adverse to Hillary Clinton. She is a polarizing figure and has been since her day's at Bill's side in the White House.

[abby4ever]

This is true. It may be that for every vote Obama would gain by choosing Hillary, he'd lose the vote of some independent, or crossover, or even some stalwart republican who, in a rare moment of lucid thought, had decided McCain is poison. Just when they were ready to vote Obama, the blow falls, and, because they don't want the country subjected to another Clinton reign, they turn away, thus neutralizing the other votes. This is ignored when the pumas bawl on and on about 'her 18 million supporters'.

[EinChicago]

"* Women who claim to be true blue feminists, voting for perhaps the greatest sexist of our time, is sad. Dumb, too."

C'mon now/ Sure. 08ama is a mysoginistic, petty candidate, sweetie. But he's hardly the greatest sexist of our time. Maybe 3rd or 4th greatest, sure. But not the greatest.
;)

[abby4ever]

What's the weather like on your planet?

[Tropiholic]

why is obama the cause of all your disappointments in life and the figure who represents all men who have wronged you?? how sad for you!

[ObamaSebelius]

He doesn't need Hillary.

Hillary would supposedly get him even more of the "hundreds" of angry, middle-aged white women who have pledged not to vote for Obama because Hillary didn't get the nomination.

Actually, because John McCain's outreach to Hillary voters has fallen flat, Obama doesn't need Hillary. This article - http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/obama_campaign_mccains_outreac.php - pretty much confirms McCain's problem with women. Indeed, Obama can go for another woman like Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Why does he need to put a woman on the ticket? Feminism is not about putting someone on the ticket as a token. It defeats the entire purpose and goal of feminism.

[abby4ever]

This is true.

[loria]

I think women found out just who McCain is on Saturday. He isn't a champion of the issues Hillary cares about.

[flyers]

It amazes me how much the press play up the VP selection process every election and it hasn't made a difference in an election since 1960 when Johnson won Texas for Kennedy to win a tight election. People don't vote on the VP, even though they are usually the more liked candidate. I remember Jack Kemp in '96 was going to mobilize the base, Geraldine Ferraro was going to bring the womens vote, and John Edwards would bring the red NC to the blue side. The only VP pick that can actually change the election would be if Obama picked Hillary, only because she has so many supporters that are still bitter, and they may not sit this one out if Hillary is on the ticket. As for Kaine, Biden, Romney, or Crisp, they won't sway one single vote IMO.

[Ipanema]

The press has to write something, no matter how inane and not-news-worthy it is. You see, instead of investigating the candidates background (hard work), they prefer to spend their time on trivial matters (lazy work).

[recruitgal]

Whoever it is, I'm sure us Dems will rapidly commence with the traditional process of "eating our young", and the republicans will sit back and chuckle as we all bicker over why O's choice is the wrong one.

I'm trusting this man to be next President of the United States, which means I'm going to trust his judgment. He's made it clear that he is picking the person who will be able to help him govern. I'd like it to be Kathleen Sebelius, but I'm going to support him regardless of who he picks. And there is a strong argument made in the NYT article that the second name on the ticket doesn't have as much impact as we'd all like to think.

For once, could we all please suck it up, accept his decision - and just focus on winning.

[ThunderclapNewman]

An excellent idea.

We have a fantastic candidate and a real opportunity to put America back on the right course.

Whining and second-gue­ssing---Na­tional Democratic sports---only make it harder.

[1NacreousImprimatur]

What course would that be, failed European socialism??

[recruitgal]

We are truly the masters of cutting of our collective noses... I disagree with 99% of the republican platform, but at least they know how to tow the damn party line. The Dems are terrible at it.

I'm all for debate and providing input to the campaign - but once this particular decision is made, that's it. The time for debate is over, and we need to pull together into one determined mass. I'm tired of watching my country slowly implode, and I need my fellow Democrats to take it back.

[loria]

recruitgal,
You are so right. For once dems need to realize that we can learn from Reps. They don't tear down their own. They may not like McCain but they aren't out there talking about it. I can't believe we have dems in office who feel a need to go after Obama for bull$hit reasons (like gov Strickland) who wants more specifics. How about you ask him directly instead of going on CNN?

Dems suck up the decision. Not everyone is going to be happy with anyone, but the choice will be someone he can work with, and someone who adds to the ticket.

[CitizenGeek]

I know it's unlikely by this stage, but I'd still really like Obama to choose Chuck Hagel. Even though Hagel is anti-gay and anti-abortion, I'm sure he could defer to Obama on these issues and he seems to be a likeable, strong, experienced politician.

Obama/Hagel '08!

[abby4ever]

About a month ago we were talking about Hagel on some thread or other and I was surprised at how many Obama supporters were not opposed to his being veep on the ticket. I like himself and for tghe reasons you state: stgrength and experience. I think he'd be awesome on the campaign trail, he'd be so enthusiastic.

I'd be happy with any of the following: Webb (but he doesn't want it), Sebelius, Biden or Hagel.

I think Gore and Clark and Kerry, would be big mistakes.

[ThunderclapNewman]

Hagel is a far-right conservative, whose only decent position is on the war.

Other than that, he is to the right of McMaverick.

[Ammobob]

Premier NObama has been taking a beating lately, so he needs to change the political conversation NOW. Naming a VEEP would be a savvy move. McBush has pulled slightly ahead now in most key swing states (RCP Averages) and NObama is behind JF Kerry's electoral lead same time in 2004, and to the chagrin of the HuffPo Whiner's, Pres Bush won a close race. Will McBush pull it out? Are the Fringe Libs experiencing buyer's remorse??

[kay]

Here's a question for the internet-only HRC "supporters".

Which Democrat has raised more money than either her internet fans or her Democratic big-wig supporters to retire her debt?

Bill Richardson. Yup. "Judas". Apparently, HRC doesn't hold a grudge nearly as long as her manic fans on the internet.

But, then, she's a realist.

[Crozier]

Kaine is a political pick, and the DLC like Bayh. As you know, Bayh is a Senate legacy like Pryor of AR and Dodd of CT now, and Gore of TN prior (pun intended). All their fathers served in the USSenate before them. Bayh's dad and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg's dad were strong political allies and friends.

Biden would be the MIC pick....si­nce he is the consummate insider. Since the MIC must be assured that life in DC will continue in some fashion they want, Biden would be the VP choice that would assure the Oligarchs.

[kay]

Which big-mouth idiot Democrat leaked the choice to promote their own ego and suck up to Halperin?

Way To Win, Democrats! Good going!

[abby4ever]

Leaked the choice? The name??? Where?

[k6007]

Most 'leaks' are accidently on purpose.

[abby4ever]

Yes, but the Obama camp is not known for leaking things, he is suposed to be intolerant of leaks and runs a tight ship.

[scandals&skeletons]

The dems are a bunch of snitches while the repubs are the Mafia.

[abby4ever]

If it even WAS leaked, Halperin isn't the most reliable person in these matters. If it was leaked, the person who leaked it will be fired because Obama has zero toleration for leaks, as has been pointed out many times.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Aren't there like 45 names on the "short" list?

[scandals&skeletons]

No

[abby4ever]

'Short', like 'tall', like 'big, like 'small', is a relative concept.

[Bushed]

Clark's somewhere not to be found, but hey, it isn't important. There are enough "WC's" in the White House. "Wes will win, oops Wes fell in"!

[creo13]

Time's Mark Halperin is reporting that the pick will be Biden.

http://thepage.time.com/2008/08/19/say-it-is-so-joe/

[kay]

Biden was the behind the scenes helper to Schumer in the 2006 Democratic Senate races.

The best campaign(s) I've ever seen Democrats run. Schumer/Biden were brutal and smart.

That's why I like Biden.

[1NacreousImprimatur]

I'll grant you brutal, smart... not so much.

[scandals&skeletons]

Biden would be a good choice.

[kwestionauthority]

Yeah, if you want the dems to lose. Remember Biden's cheating-i­n-law-scho­ol scandal? That knocked him out before. Why would voters accept him now?

[abby4ever]

Yes. None of them are perfect and he'd be great. I wanted Webb...or even Hagel. (I was surprised how many Obama supporters on this site were not that opposed to Hagel and some even liked the idea.)

[abby4ever]

Halperin has been wrong before, he's probably just trying to increase the number of hits to his site.

[w8aminute]

What happened to Gen Wesley Clark - I thought he was on the short list?

[scandals&skeletons]

Just because the MSM doesnt tout him as on "the short l.ist" doesn't necessarily mean he is not on it.