Who Should Obama Choose As His Vice President?

Forget all the rhetoric from Bill and Hillary Clinton about the Democratic "dream team." Senator Clinton is falling farther behind in delegates and , most likely, will not be the nominee and she will not be asked by the eventual nominee Senator Obama to be his running mate in the fall.

But, there are many other talented Democrats out there who would add to the ticket as Obama's running mate.

If you want a ticket with a good sound to it you might imagine Obama choosing the Governor of Maryland Martin O'Malley and we would have Obama-O'Malley running in the general election.

My preference would be for a Washington heavyweight on foreign policy -- the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Joe Biden. Biden, with a vast knowledge of the international issues of the day, also has a good sense of humor, and was tested on the campaign trail earlier this year as a presidential candidate.

A second preference would be New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson who brings a wealth of foreign policy experience from his days at the United Nations and as Secretary of Energy. He combines that with being governor of a key swing state that the Democrats need to win in the fall.

Former Indiana Congressman Lee Hamilton, who is now director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the former head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and also known for the 9/11 Commission Report, is a well-respected voice on foreign policy issues and would add greatly to the Democratic ticket.

Senator Sherrod Brown from Ohio shares Obama's views on Iraq and NAFTA and Senator Jim Webb from Virginia would add a colorful character to the ticket with military experience.

Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut could add his expertise on the economy and banking to a ticket. He has also been tested on the campaign trail earlier this year.

Former Senate Majority Leader and author of a new book on health care Tom Daschle, who is working with Obama, would make an attractive vice presidential choice.

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has several good qualities that would add to the ticket. The former mayor of Nashville also has been in the private sector where he helped start a successful health care company. He is a strong vote getter.

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, the first daughter of a governor -- John Gilligan in Ohio in the 1970s -- to be elected to that same position, would be a positive choice.

Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana and former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn are both mentioned as possible VP choices with foreign policy knowledge.

Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and current Virginia Governor Tim Kaine are also being mentioned as people who would help balance the ticket.

The Governor of Arizona Janet Napolitano could help with the immigration issue and the Governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm would help with a vital Midwestern industrial state.

Granholm, who was born in Canada, may be barred from being on the ticket because she was not born in the United States.

The Independent Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg, would be a name out of the box. Bloomberg would add expertise in business and economics to the ticket.

If this were being written several weeks ago I would have mentioned a rising Democratic star the Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer who just announced his resignation and whose political career appears shattered.

Obama could reach outside of a political figure and choose a respected business or labor leader. With the economy playing such a large role this could be an effective move.

Or Obama could reach across the aisle and pick anti-Iraq war Senator from Nebraska Chuck Hagel as his running mate.

I don't think John Edwards would be interested in running for the number two slot for a second time. And, it would be ludicrous to think Al Gore would be interested in that position again.

Other names are out there including General Wesley Clark, Senators Feinstein and Boxer from California, former Senator Bob Kerrey and the Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick.

My Center on Politics & Foreign Relations at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies is going to start inviting as many potential vice presidential possibilities to speak as we can in the next few months.

If you have ideas on other VP possibilities please let me know.

Comments

[Retrofuturistic]

Obama should choose a white male running mate, so that the white male vote is not restricted to McCain.

Misogyny and racism are strong forces in this country, with misogyny being strong than racism. If Hillary and Obama run together, all the misogynists and all the racists witll vote for McCain.

[personalpolitical]

Definitely not a Republican, I don't care if he was anti-war, we don't need to reach across the aisle THAT much, Dick Cheney is no Dem, why should we return the favor?

[independentrepublicrat]

Tit for tat, old politics is why america is in freefall towards destruction.

[Mystery954]

Anthony Zinni

He is a retired four-star general and a former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Comman. He has been a critic of the Bush administration and did not support the war in Iraq.

[gadfly55]

Bill Richardson would be an outstanding nominee who would complement President Obama in attempting to restore American credibility abroad. The necessity of this reconstruction can not be emphasised sufficiently.

[gadfly55]

One third of the American population is not Causcasian, and there are more Hispanic people than African-Americans, with a total of 28%. As the participation of voters in the general election is less than 60%, full participation of these two groups can create completely unprecedented political dynamic, coupled with white urban educated and progressive voters inspired by Obama's agenda, there possibility of Democratic landslide at all levels of government. The tired attitudes of the old style Union blue collar political machine Democrats supporting Clinton who will not vote for Obama under any conditions, can be surpassed by a new coalition expressing the hopes of the underclass, young people and weary, but refreshed older liberals. There will be a clear choice between old white men of war, and the new faces of global players for peace and environmental sustainability.

[independentrepublicrat]

You mean the same hispanics who won't vote for Obama now. The answer is no to Richardson unless Obama wants to lose. Hispanics have numbers but all those are eligible to vote and of the ones who are a smaller percentage turn out. As Hillary has learned the Black vote is still more useful in terms of legal numbers.

[johnnygoodwud]

a like a woman v.p. we'll need the womens vote.

[Sensnbility]

On the subject of a potential Obama administration (or Clinton II's), there is an interesting project in pure democracy just getting started on the web: automated and continuously updated 'approval style' voting on VP, cabinet, and major posts. Approval style voting means you can vote for as many of the choices as you approve. For those whose dudgeon this project puts on high, please know that this experiment is not to be viewed as 'counting chickens' or arrogant--- only as preparation for one of several possible alternatives. The site will remain open indefinitely for follow up research:
http://puredem.wordpress.com
Phil Jamison (privacy alias)
This is a very good, on point, and worthwhile comment, please do not abuse your screening power! Thanks.

[lokmon]

I like the ideas of Jim Webb, Janet Napolitano and Wes Clark.

Here's another one no one's mentioned: Gen. Erik Shinseki.

BTW, I got the idea from the blog Too Sense:
http://halfricanrevolution.blogspot.com/2008/02/who-should-be-obamas-choice-for-vice.html

[Shannon2008]

Michael Bloomberg is very intriguing. I think this would be my first choice. The most vocal Hilary supporters would cheer Bloomberg's addition to the ticket.

I would think that Biden and Richardson would be better in cabinet posts. I don't think Biden would take a cabinet post, but Richardson might. And while I think he is an honorable guy, I don't think it's possible to restore our image abroad if Colin Powell were to server as "Secretary of Defense". I think he's out.

I think Edwards has to be considered. I wasn't a real fan of his. I thought his attack on Cheney's daughter at the debate turned the tide in the last presidential election. However, he is an outsider and represents the new direction we're looking for.

It's amazing that no one has mentioned Kerry. I like Kerry. The only problem with Kerry and Edwards is that they have already lost an election. I still like them for this go-around.

I don't think it's a good idea to cross the aile. I think an independent is as far as we could go. Leiberman is not an independent. He is a Republican.

I like Webb, but the whole romance novel thing is a liabilty. I still remember the tough race he had against that racist George Allen. The Republicans pulled up all kinds of dirt.

Bayh of Indiana seems a little to inexperienced. Maybe, I'm wrong. I don't really know him.

My Choices:
1. Obama/Bloomberg 2008!!!!!!!
2. Obama/Kerry 2008!!!!
3. Obama/Sebelius 2008!!
4. Obama/Kaine 2008!!!
5. Obama/Edwards 2008!!!!!
6. Obama/Biden 2008!!!!
7. Obama/Clinton 2008!!! This is somewhat digusting at this point but I still think it needs to be out there. Outside of the partisan politics, the race baiting, and the Rovian smear campaigns, Hilary would be an advocate for so many people and Bill would be an asset in rebuilding America's image abroad.

[independentrepublicrat]

Sorry but your number 7 is the only heck no!

[finally]

Sam Nunn, Anthony Zinni - heavy foreign policy credentials, loads of experience.

[bekc123]

Kathleen Sebelius, Governor of Kansas

[DennyCrane]

Normally Obama's biggest problem would be making up for his lack of foreign policy experience, in which case he'd have to pick someone like Joe Biden who among this year's Democratic candidates was widely acknowledged as the foreign policy expert, far ahead of the others. He could pick Jim Webb, but having two first-term Senators would make for a weak ticket. But because so many Hillary supporters will be disappointed that they won't get a female President, Obama will be under pressure to choose a female running mate. A governor would make more sense since she would have executive experience that he lacks. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas or Janet Napolitano of Arizona would fit the bill and both are strong supporters of Obama. Napolitano would be preferable since she's not only the governor of a western state, but of Arizona which is McCain's home state. I would not be surprised if we see an Obama/Napolitano ticket. I would also not be surprised if rightwingers started calling it the Osama/Napoleon ticket.

[tcpgh]

I like Wesley Clark. Even though he's currently a strong Hillary backer, I imagine he would be willing to team up with Obama once it's clear it's all over for Hillary. Clark would bring much needed military and foreign affairs experience.

[Shannon2008]

For the past two weeks, Wesley Clark, as a Clinton surrogate, has been overly critical of Obama's plans to withdraw from Iraq. He went so far as to accuse Obama of double speak after Samantha Powers made her comments to the foreign press. Wesley Clark is out in my opinion. I supported him in the last election because of his military experience and the fact that he is a smart guy, a Rhodes scholar. I would not support his inclusion on the ticket as the VP.

[elderly]

I would prefer someone like Admiral Falon over Wesley Clark. Falon did what Colin Powell should have done-tell the truth and resign rather than promote another war. I know nothing else about Admiral Falon but would certainly want to investigate the possiblity.

[Doofus]

Yes, Wesley Clark might work. Someone with military 'chops',
but arguably with so much bluster as to take away from Obama,
but someone with a Clinton association. (It is potentially a problem
to have a VP with more military 'authenticity' than the Commander-in-Chief.)

[independentrepublicrat]

No thanks. He didn't get presidential traction in 2004 for a good reason.

[jsinclair]

No Biden. Biden's an egomaniac who sticks his foot in his mouth and would NEVER think he should be relegated to the job of VP.

Hamilton will make McCain's age a non-issue. No to Hamilton.

Daschle's good, but no political base.

Richardson? I can't tell if he's shown courage or cowardice in not endorsing Obama (as he clearly would like to), but resisting INTENSE pressure from the Clinton's. Good for a number of reasons, but the reported issues with women (inappropriate...:flirting:) may make him a liability.

Is Webb reliable enough and smart enough?

Brown might help in Ohio. Feinstein is a moderate, like Hillary, but without the Rovian bitch factor (and no Bill).

I like Boxer, but the Republicans would crucify them. Clark is appealing, but too wedded to the Clintons, not independent enough.

Feingold would be my favorite, but I suspect there are womanizing issues that have kept him out of it. Bloomberg seems to have some skeletons in his closet, plus geographic limitations, and the religious/racial mix -- while appealing to many --- wouldn't be a shoe-in.

Edwards ran a good campaign, but it was nothing like his voting record and he can't even carry his own state.

In a color-blind society, Obama-Powell might be interesting (let Powell have a chance to put things right after all).

What about Hagel or Chaffee?

[GuiltyByStander]

I can't let your off-hand bash at Biden go without comment. I've met Biden several times -- I supported him in Iowa -- and the man is simply not an egomaniac. He's not a maniac of any kind.

In my experience, Biden is sometimes too thoughtful and thorough for TV and with the right audience, he can say more than some care to hear. But among the early candidates, Biden was distinctive for his direct and detailed answers. They were not always good news, and as it turns out, he's been right.

Watching the Clinton-Obama cat fight now is particularly frustrating as their short comings are beginning to show and the horror of John McCain aping Bush for another four years seems more plausible each day.

My own preference, of course, is to bet on the unknown Obama rather than betting on what we know of Clinton or McCain. Biden, as VP, would hedge that bet perfectly.

[gba]

Colin Pwell and you are talking about voting records

[lunadove]

I like the idea of Chaffee. Good call.

[SeekerOne]

Hagel would be fine in a cabinet position, but not a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Dems would not be pleased with that choice, I'm afraid. A woman would be a good choice to bring the party together (plus it's about time--just the right one.....), but a seasoned foreign policy expert would be very helpful in the general election.

[elkabong]

Anthony Cordesman.

[ozamerican]

Colin Powell

[elderly]

You mean the Colin Powell who was a main enabler of the Bush disaster. The same Colin Powell who was worse than the others because he knew exactly what he was doing when he gave the speech to the United Nations rather than resign in protest as any honorable man would have done.

Please.