Best Realistic VP Candidate for Barack Obama?

[TheresNoMoney]

Now that Obama looks like he could possibly win the Democratic nomination, who do you think would be his best realistic VP choice? (I left Al Gore off the list on purpose).

This is a tough one, but here are a few names I think he may consider:

Sen. Joe Biden
General Wesley Clark
Gov. Bill Richardson
Gov. Phil Bredesen (Tennessee)
Gov. Brian Schweitzer (Montana)
Former Gov. John Kitzhaber (Oregon)
 Gov. Tim Kaine (Virginia)
Sen. Jim Webb
Mayor Mike Bloomberg

In my opinion, the most likely running mates are Joe Biden, Phil Bredesen, or Tim Kaine. Opinions?

[Хahar 🤔]

Biden would be a nice fit, but I think Clark would really be great.

[Boris]

I don't know, to be honest. Conventional wisdom says someone who has a long resumé of experience and can win by himself eight years down the road. Maybe Richardson fits this description?

[TheresNoMoney]

Biden would be a nice fit, but I think Clark would really be great.

Clark used to be my #1 choice as Obama's VP, but I think he's a very unlikely choice since he's publicly endorsed and campaigned for Hillary.

[Mr. Morden]

Both Biden and Clark are gaffe-machines, which is not the greatest trait in a running mate.

[Verily]

Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ), I think. I've been tooting her horn for a while.

Also, Clark would be a supremely bad choice, in my opinion. He brings no experience really at all, and he doesn't have campaigning skills, either. He's sort of the Fred Thompson of 2004.

[TheresNoMoney]

I don't know, to be honest. Conventional wisdom says someone who has a long resumé of experience and can win by himself eight years down the road. Maybe Richardson fits this description?

I see Richardson as a likely VP choice if Hillary wins. I don't see Barack Obama choosing a Latino as a running mate, but who knows?

[TheresNoMoney]

Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ), I think.

I don't see Obama picking a woman, but who knows? Napolitano would bring endless rumors and jokes of her being a lesbian the whole campaign season I bet.

[Verily]

Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ), I think.

I don't see Obama picking a woman, but who knows? Napolitano would bring endless rumors and jokes of her being a lesbian the whole campaign season I bet.

Possibly, but aside from not being married, there's no evidence for her being a lesbian; it would just be in poor taste. In any case, I find it unlikely that very many people who'd refuse to vote for an unmarried woman would consider voting for Obama.

I do think he is likely to choose a woman, and there are no other woman governors who would make good VP candidates. Perhaps Sen. Blanche Lincoln (AR) could be his VP candidate instead.

[TheresNoMoney]

[I do think he is likely to choose a woman, and there are no other woman governors who would make good VP candidates.

I really don't think he'd pick a woman, but if he did it would probably be Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. The knocks on Obama are that he is weak on foreign policy and not really seen as a strong leader. Picking a woman would not help him address those weaknesses.

[MarkWarner08]

Now that Obama looks like he could possibly win the Democratic nomination, who do you think would be his best realistic VP choice? (I left Al Gore off the list on purpose).

This is a tough one, but here are a few names I think he may consider:

Sen. Joe Biden
General Wesley Clark
Gov. Bill Richardson
Gov. Phil Bredesen (Tennessee)
Gov. Brian Schweitzer (Montana)
Former Gov. John Kitzhaber (Oregon)
 Gov. Tim Kaine (Virginia)
Sen. Jim Webb
Mayor Mike Bloomberg

In my opinion, the most likely running mates are Joe Biden, Phil Bredesen, or Tim Kaine. Opinions?

Sen. Joe Biden: Good pick, but I doubt he's interested.
General Wesley Clark: He's a Hillary supporter.
Gov. Bill Richardson: Gaffe machine
Gov. Phil Bredesen (Tennessee):
Strong pick who could  put West Virginia and Virginia into play.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer (Montana): Would help in Colorado...
Former Gov. John Kitzhaber (Oregon): I know Governor Kitzhaber and he's assured me that he has zero interest in moving to Washington D.C.
 Gov. Tim Kaine (Virginia): Good pick: Kaine's term limited and has nowhere else to go on the political ladder.  The eyebrow twitching  may be a problem, though.
Sen. Jim Webb: Unlikely Webb would say yes.
Mayor Mike Bloomberg: VP? That's a demotion for Bloomberg.

[MarkWarner08]

Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ), I think.

I don't see Obama picking a woman, but who knows? Napolitano would bring endless rumors and jokes of her being a lesbian the whole campaign season I bet.

Possibly, but aside from not being married, there's no evidence for her being a lesbian; it would just be in poor taste. In any case, I find it unlikely that very many people who'd refuse to vote for an unmarried woman would consider voting for Obama.

I do think he is likely to choose a woman, and there are no other woman governors who would make good VP candidates. Perhaps Sen. Blanche Lincoln (AR) could be his VP candidate instead.

What about Gov. Kathleen Sebelius? She's a tough-talking, competent Governor from a plains state -- ironically, the same one Obama's mother was born in.

[TheresNoMoney]

Gov. Tim Kaine (Virginia): Good pick: Kaine's term limited and has nowhere else to go on the political ladder.  The eyebrow twitching  may be a problem, though.
Sen. Jim Webb: Unlikely Webb would say yes.
Mayor Mike Bloomberg: VP? That's a demotion for Bloomberg.

Kaine would be the perfect pick if not for the fact that he's only been governor for 2 years now. Obama would ideally pick someone with a good amount of executive/legislative experience.

I do think Jim Webb would say yes, but I'm not sure he would be a good pick.

You really don't think Bloomberg would accept a VP slot?

[Verily]

Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ), I think.

I don't see Obama picking a woman, but who knows? Napolitano would bring endless rumors and jokes of her being a lesbian the whole campaign season I bet.

Possibly, but aside from not being married, there's no evidence for her being a lesbian; it would just be in poor taste. In any case, I find it unlikely that very many people who'd refuse to vote for an unmarried woman would consider voting for Obama.

I do think he is likely to choose a woman, and there are no other woman governors who would make good VP candidates. Perhaps Sen. Blanche Lincoln (AR) could be his VP candidate instead.

What about Gov. Kathleen Sebelius? She's a tough-talking, competent Governor from a plains state -- ironically, the same one Obama's mother was born in.

I just don't see Sebelius agreeing to it; same for a number of the others mentioned on here. Maybe I'm completely wrong on that.

[ShadowRocket]

I still think Evan Bayh would be a good choice. A non-threatening white guy with executive, legislative, and national security experience.

[Хahar 🤔]

I still think Evan Bayh would be a good choice. A non-threatening white guy with executive, legislative, and national security experience.

What does he bring to the ticket that would justify losing his Senate seat, which would likely go to a Republican without him?

[MarkWarner08]

Gov. Tim Kaine (Virginia): Good pick: Kaine's term limited and has nowhere else to go on the political ladder.  The eyebrow twitching  may be a problem, though.
Sen. Jim Webb: Unlikely Webb would say yes.
Mayor Mike Bloomberg: VP? That's a demotion for Bloomberg.

Kaine would be the perfect pick if not for the fact that he's only been governor for 2 years now. Obama would ideally pick someone with a good amount of executive/legislative experience.

I do think Jim Webb would say yes, but I'm not sure he would be a good pick.

You really don't think Bloomberg would accept a VP slot?

Why would Bloomberg end his reign as mayor of America's largest city for a job with significantly less power and convenience to him?

[ShadowRocket]

I still think Evan Bayh would be a good choice. A non-threatening white guy with executive, legislative, and national security experience.

What does he bring to the ticket that would justify losing his Senate seat, which would likely go to a Republican without him?

I think the things that I mentioned would make him a good balance to a black guy with a unique name and thin public resume.

Besides, the possibility of losing his Senate seat doesn't really bother me. The Democrats are posed to pick up a few seats next year anyway. Plus, remember that Mitch Daniels that isn't that popular in Indiana, so I think that it is within the realm of possibility that a Democrat could unseat him.

[Mr. Morden]

Why would Bloomberg end his reign as mayor of America's largest city for a job with significantly less power and convenience to him?

Isn't Bloomberg term-limited after 2009 anyway?  If so, he'd only be giving up a year as NYC mayor, right?

[Lincoln Republican]

Obama would not pick a woman. 

Obama would not pick a hispanic.

Forget Napolitano, Lincoln, Sebelius.

Forget Richardson.

Obama picks a safe, white, male.

My choice is Governor Mike Easley of North Carolina, an experienced and accomplished chief executive.

[Verily]

Why would Bloomberg end his reign as mayor of America's largest city for a job with significantly less power and convenience to him?

Isn't Bloomberg term-limited after 2009 anyway?  If so, he'd only be giving up a year as NYC mayor, right?

He is term-limited. I could see him agreeing to be a VP candidate, maybe. There are more likely choices.

[HappyWarrior]

I know people will get on me about my Joementum stuff but Biden really would be Obama's best choice.  Obama's main weakness is his perception as inexperienced and who better to pick than a Senator of over thirty years to balance that out?

[Verily]

I know people will get on me about my Joementum stuff but Biden really would be Obama's best choice.  Obama's main weakness is his perception as inexperienced and who better to pick than a Senator of over thirty years to balance that out?

It also destroys the image of wanting to avoid the corruption of Washington.

[Aizen]

I would support Biden. I know he's a gaffe machine but he really is a master debater

[HappyWarrior]

I know people will get on me about my Joementum stuff but Biden really would be Obama's best choice.  Obama's main weakness is his perception as inexperienced and who better to pick than a Senator of over thirty years to balance that out?

It also destroys the image of wanting to avoid the corruption of Washington.

Huh?