VP buzz growing louder
Monday, August 18, 2008 at 08:45PM The Obama Veepstakes has hit fever pitch tonight.
There's all sorts of buzz that he'll announce his pick sometime in the next day or two or three -- Friday at the latest. His camp has said all along that they'll be texting a message to supporters before making the news public.
For the longest time, I thought it was down to two candidates: Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana and Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia. But over the last 48 hours, it seems like the name Joe Biden is gaining some traction. The few reliable sources I have (I do actually know a few people) are chatting up Biden as a real possibility.
Biden would be an odd choice. Yes, he ads much needed foreign policy perspective and perhaps even a little gravitas (and by little, I mean very little) .... but, he doesn't deliver a state (Deleware is a lock for Obama), and beyond that he has a tendency to wander off the message reservation. Put another way, he's a bit of a loose canon, and has a smidge too much ego to be an effective second banana. I just can't see this pick making any sense, but we'll see.
I still think Evan Bayh would be the strongest Veep. He has loads of experience as a former Governor and current Senator, and would almost certainly deliver Indiana, which historically has been a solid red state but where Obama has polled solidly. And perhaps more importantly, he's suited perfectly to play second fiddle: low profile, modest ego, team player.
i would be shocked if Bayh isn't the choice, but take it with a grain of salt: I was also shocked when Jason Giambi revealed he was on the juice. Giambi and roid? No way!
Reader Comments (3)
I'm curious to know your opinion on the top three issues that the next prez would have to undertake in order to protect what is left of the U.S. hegemony?
The economy, the economy and the economy. Making us more competitive in the global marketplace.
Biden certainly is in the running but he has several things going against him.
Actually, he has at least four things going against him: (1) calling for change, should Obama choose a Washington insider, a long-time feeder at the public trough? Biden is smart, personable, and now seems to have gravitas and dignity. But (2) he doesn't quite know when to stop talking, and tends to say TOO much; (3) he will be 66 years old a few weeks after the election this year and, while he certainly has the qualifications to become president if that need arises, if Obama wins in 2008 Obama will run again in 2012, and Biden would likely be replaced on the ticket by a younger running mate.
There's another problem about Biden, from my point of view a big problem, that would almost certainly surface were he to be on the ticket. The Evil Karl Rove or one of his minions would bring it up: (4) the claim of plagiarism against him in 1988, and a history of stretching the truth, or at worst, just "saying the thing that is not so" (to use Jonathan Swift's Gulliverian euphemism).
More background is available if you wish, but Nick has certainly stated the case for Biden very well. I just think that Jim Webb or Ted Strickland (both of whom have indicated they don't want the VP nomination) or Bayh or Kaine would be better choices for Obama and would bring the possibility of turning a Red state to Blue in November.
As far as HRC, Obama could logically choose her, but then two of the Senate's most liberal members would be one ticket. That would be a tough sell.
As an added bonus, I think Tim Pawlenty would be McCain's best choice, a conservative with evangelical credentials, and he'd put Minnesota in play.
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