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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.)
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?
Please.