The Bizarro Veeps?: Barack Obama and John Thune

This is no doubt a minority view at this point, but I still think that between the Superdelegates and Michigan and Florida, Hillary Clinton is going to secure the Democratic nomination and when she does, she'd be nuts not to ask/beg Obama to be her VP. A Clinton-Obama ticket will be formidable and unless McCain knocks it out of the park with his own pick, he's going to have a very tough time competing.

Mike Huckabee is apparently lingering in the race in order to convince McCain to pick him as his VP, but if McCain does that he'll once again show just how out of touch he is with his base. No doubt Huckabee and his supporters will try to make the case that only he can secure McCain's right flank, but that's not the case. While he may be have the loyalty of some fellow evangelicals who would vote for anybody that called themselves that, he's viewed with suspicion by many on the right because of his positions on taxes and immigration as governor of Arkansas. All in all Huckabee does little to secure McCain's shaky right wing.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist has the same problem and if you watched Colbert interview South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford you'll see why he'd be an uninspired choice.

I can only think of one candidate who would secure McCain's base, offer a telegenic counterpunch to Obama and help mitigate McCain's age problem: South Dakota Senator John Thune. Thune and Obama are the bizarro twins: both are tall, lanky, articulate and telegenic, the same age, were elected the same year to the Senate, and are, apparently, the most liberal and most conservative members of the U.S. Senate respectively, Obama having recently been pegged by the National Journal as the most liberal while the American Conservative Union scores Thune a "perfect" 100 for his 2006 votes.

Thune is, like Huckabee a devout Christian, but not a Southern-fried Evangelical and might be more palatable to the Suburbs and the Soccer Moms. He may also put California into play as well, since he went to college in L.A. and has ties here.

A Clinton-Obama vs. McCain-Thune race would be a fun one to watch and might provide the unusual spectacle of having the Vice Presidential debates draw higher ratings than those of the candidates for President.

Assuming Hillary gets the nod, it's a good bet that we'll be able to measure hers and McCain's smarts by seeing if they're secure enough to pick one of these all-stars and risk being overshadowed by candidates who are younger, smarter, more articulate and better politicians than they, but not quite ready for The Show.

Comments

[Semper]

If I was Obama, I would not accept a VP seat on her ticket. That would be an admission that America stands for mediocrity and a continued sinking into the waters. There are too many ways to live in America without supporting politicians gone wrong. Incidentally, if Hillary loses the nomination, she will divorce Bill and free herself of such a wretched man. The glow would be cased off his majesty and she would no longer be blinded by the light. She found her voice, not she needs to find her two legs to stand on.

[vbond]

'Bizarro" is comic book fiction.

So is this idea.

[MichaelCanfield]

How can Clinton ask Obama to join her ticket without looking like a panderer? Her campaign has spent the season portraying Obama as a shallow, sexist, smooth-talking plagiarist. Or maybe she will assume nobody noticed? This would be right in line with her and Bill's cynical view of the electorate.

[cwatt]

Isn't that always the case with the VP choice? I don't recall Kerry and Edwards holding hands during the primary either.

[naijaman]

Enough with this fantasy of Obama as veep...he's going to be President.

[Sprinkles35]

The author is out of his mind if he thinks the superdelegates, Michigan, and Florida are going to overturn an Obama lead in real delegates, popular vote, and majority states. If that happens I am through with the democratic party for sure, black voters are done with politics, new voters are done, and young voters are done. It is not a threat it is reality, if the superdelegates, Florida or Michigan turn an Obama victory into a loss how can anybody have faith in the political system again.

But I fear the die hard Dems and the Clintons do not care about the new people and independents Obama brought to the Party. They instead feel that 47% versus 47% and the other 6% is up for grabs. With that style of products all the elections will be close and all those fancy policies Hillary has developed will never get passed, because of the pettiness that politics has become.

I believe after Kerry lost most of the Dems relaxed their frustrations with the notion that their savior Hillary Clinton will rescue them in 4 years. I believe many Dems are mad at Obama for interupting that coronation and possibly replacing it with what they feel is an unknown commodity. They are like abused kids that have been abused by the Republican slime machine for so long and now here comes Hillary the Dems version of that slime machine and they want to fight the bully back, but now here comes this other Dem who wants to make a truce so bills can get passed and the American people can get some relief. The abused dems look at him like, forget the bills I want revenge from those Karl Rove Tatics, we will worry about the Bills later. So hence why the Dems are split 49-51 Obama.

[SeanGardner]

Actually, Obama will get the nod. It is virtually impossible for Hillary to get it.

And when the dust settles, Obama will be picking GOV. KATHLEEN SEBELIUS of Kansas. Please remember this name. Sebelius is a RED STATE Democrat, which would automatically balance the ticket.

Moreover, having her would give Obama even more RED STATE credibility than he has on his own. Indeed, Kansas, and three states bordering Kansas (Colorado, Missouri and Iowa) would go BLUE in the presidential election.

Besides that, Kansas is where Obama's mother's side of the family is from. Its a perfect fit.

It will be Obama/Sebelius for the Democrats. And when Obama picks Sebelius, McCain will be forced to pick one too.

[mommadona]

Hey, that's not a bad combination.

She's a bit too red for my taste, but is intelligent and has a strong presence.

[TxWonderWoman]

Well if you are right I hope someone will send Kathleen Sebelius to speaking/charisma class. I have never been so bored in my life than I was when listening to her counter to Bush's state of the union. WHAT A BORE

[TheDoomed]

The only thing that can help McCain is Hilary getting the nod.

[mommadona]

Uh.......(takes quick peek at the BIO)....

Never mind.