Kerry's VP

[Wakie]

I think any one of these 8 could possibly get the VP nomination.  Each has their own strengths.

Edwards has loads of charisma, is somewhat known, and would help in the South.

Hillary has name recognition and is much loved within Democratic circles.

Graham would be a boost in FL.  And we all know how important FL is.

Gephardt would bring a great deal of labor support.  He could also serve to unify Congressional Democrats (which was something Clinton never had).

Bayh helps the moderate image.  He also brings additional support from the Industrial Midwest.

Feingold is one of the most active Senators in Congress.  He alone opposed the Patriot Act.  Putting him on the ticket would secure Wisconsin.

Vilsack is the popular Gov of Iowa.  He would secure Iowa and would help in other Midwestern states which are traditionally Republican strongholds.

Richardson would be worth a significant number of votes in New Mexico (where he is Gov).  His Hispanic ethnicity could also be played up to help win over some of the growing Latino vote (helping in such key states as CA, FL, NV, and AZ).

[Wakie]

Which are the "traditionally Republican strongholds in the Mid-West"?

Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas come to mind.  Missouri and Iowa are states which can waver one way or the other.

[Wakie]

I've always classified the states as follows ....

New England = ME, CT, MA, VT, NH

Mid-Atlantic = PA, NY, RI, NJ, DE, WV, MD

South = VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, MS, AL, LA, AR, TX, TN

Industrial Midwest = OH, IN, KY, MI, WI, MN, IL

Midwest = IA, NE, KS, ND, SD, MO, OK

Mtn States/West = MT, ID, NV, CO, NM, AZ, UT, WY

Pacific Coast = CA, OR, WA, HI, AK

[Wakie]

We can win in the south, but we need the midwest more.

Ifr the Dems lose WI, MN, and IA, they've lost the election. If they gain MO or OH, they've won.

Vilsack, Gephardt, Evans, Harkin, Bayh, Dayton, O'Bannon, Doyle or Durbin would all be good choices from this area, although some might disagree with some of them....

The most recent NC poll I seen shows Bush leading Edwards 52-45%, but it was taken at 11/22-24/03, way before Edwards started to rock. I think he could pull some southern states close, at any rate.

There was a CNN poll out yesterday I believe which had Edwards over Bush 49%-48%.

[Wakie]

Southerners are going to vote for a lib from Massachusetts because Edwards is on the ticket as VP?  Uh, OK.

I don't think Democrats have a chance in the South REGARDLESS of who the Pres and VP candidates are they put up.  The only Southern state they could win is FL.

Facing this the Democrats need to campaign in go after other GOP areas (like AZ and NV).  Facing that I think the best move by the Democrats would be to put Bill Richardson on the ticket.  Charismatic, from NM, and Hispanic.