Kerry running mate

[Bandit3 the Worker]

You do know that Kucinich was rejected by the Democratic primaries as too extreme?  Mainstream America would be shocked.

Kucinich's views are closer to those of the average American than any of the other well-known contenders for the Democratic nomination.

He's one political figure who everybody I know speaks highly of.

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Unless he does something astoundingly dumb, Kerry will win Wisconsin anyway. Feingold helps him in other states because of civil liberties issues,

[Lunar]

Yet what did Kucinich get slaughtered in the primaries?  Because he is way to the left of the Democrats and thus way, way to the left of the moderates Kerry needs to win.  He can "care" about the average American, but that doesn't make his position mainstream.  For example, you are a socialist.   That could be the best policy for America, but that doesn't mean that mainstream America would accept you.

Kerry is not guaranteed Wisconsin.  Gore won it by less than 1%.  If Kerry wins by 10% it doesn't matter who he chooses as his VP, so he is forced to base his strategic decision on who will boost him that extra 1% or give him those last electoral votes he needs.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Yet what did Kucinich get slaughtered in the primaries?

Because he had no money.

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If he can't win Wisconsin then he might as well just forget the whole election.

[Lunar]

A candidate has no money when he has no large backing of people who support his ideas.  Without this, you can't get contributions.

If he can't win Wisconsin then he might as well just forget the whole election.

A close election would have Wisconsin close.  Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, etc. would also be close.  

[??????????]

I hear the Kerry campaign is requesting papers from the state of Iowa in regards to letters and the such. Could this be a hint at a Kerry/Vilsack ticket?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

 For example, you are a socialist.   That is be the best policy for America, but that doesn't mean that mainstream America would accept you.

correction made.

The only problem with Feingold is he's also up for reelection and in Wisconsin a special election is held if there's a vacant Senate seat, so even if he runs for both and wins like's expected, that doesn't guarantee keeping the seat. He would've been better in 2000, since he would've brought out the Jewish vote in Florida and not have driven off 527 voters like Lieberman's stupid whining about video games and music did.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

I saw a poll that said Vilsack doesn't even help him in Iowa, since he's so obscure.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Yes, the whining about video games and music is exactly the type of thing that scares off voters and causes them to support a third party instead.

That sort of thing appeals mostly to people who wouldn't in a million years vote Democratic anyway.

[Lunar]

I hear the Kerry campaign is requesting papers from the state of Iowa in regards to letters and the such. Could this be a hint at a Kerry/Vilsack ticket?

Kerry also has done research into Wes Clark and his campaign currently has Edwards doing a bunch of practice speeches and fundraisers.  All of them are being seriously considered when the campaign is dumping money into their research though.

[Smash255]

I hear the Kerry campaign is requesting papers from the state of Iowa in regards to letters and the such. Could this be a hint at a Kerry/Vilsack ticket?

Kerry also has done research into Wes Clark and his campaign currently has Edwards doing a bunch of practice speeches and fundraisers.  All of them are being seriously considered when the campaign is dumping money into their research though.

As far as most likley

1.  Edwards

2.  Richardson

3 Clark

4.  Vilsack

5.  Feingold

Edwrads (my  choice for VP) i think has the best chance for VP,  Richardson & Clark both have somewhat chances at it, Vilasck & Feingold have an outside chance of getting the Veep tickt, but more than likley it will come from the top 3 with Edwards having the best chance

[??????????]

Hillary, etch it.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Hillary Clinton is just too right-wing (just like Bill Clinton was).

[zorkpolitics]

Bill Richardson is the best choice for Kerry
Richardson is well quualified, has excellent experience, is a governor not another Senator.  He would clearly be a help in the SW swing states AZ, NM, NV, CO and woudl not hurt Kerry anywhere, has no strong negatives.

[??????????]

Bill Richardson is the best choice for Kerry
Richardson is well quualified, has excellent experience, is a governor not another Senator.  He would clearly be a help in the SW swing states AZ, NM, NV, CO and woudl not hurt Kerry anywhere, has no strong negatives.

Wen Ho Lee?

[Nation]

Bill Richardson is the best choice for Kerry
Richardson is well quualified, has excellent experience, is a governor not another Senator.  He would clearly be a help in the SW swing states AZ, NM, NV, CO and woudl not hurt Kerry anywhere, has no strong negatives.

He would be the best choice, but he doesn't WANT THE JOB. He's said it repeatedly, yet his name keeps popping up.

[ThePrezMex]

I hear the Kerry campaign is requesting papers from the state of Iowa in regards to letters and the such. Could this be a hint at a Kerry/Vilsack ticket?

Kerry also has done research into Wes Clark and his campaign currently has Edwards doing a bunch of practice speeches and fundraisers.  All of them are being seriously considered when the campaign is dumping money into their research though.

As far as most likley

1.  Edwards

2.  Richardson

3 Clark

4.  Vilsack

5.  Feingold

Edwrads (my  choice for VP) i think has the best chance for VP,  Richardson & Clark both have somewhat chances at it, Vilasck & Feingold have an outside chance of getting the Veep tickt, but more than likley it will come from the top 3 with Edwards having the best chance

What about Evan Bayh??

[Smash255]

I hear the Kerry campaign is requesting papers from the state of Iowa in regards to letters and the such. Could this be a hint at a Kerry/Vilsack ticket?

Kerry also has done research into Wes Clark and his campaign currently has Edwards doing a bunch of practice speeches and fundraisers.  All of them are being seriously considered when the campaign is dumping money into their research though.

As far as most likley

1.  Edwards

2.  Richardson

3 Clark

4.  Vilsack

5.  Feingold

Edwrads (my  choice for VP) i think has the best chance for VP,  Richardson & Clark both have somewhat chances at it, Vilasck & Feingold have an outside chance of getting the Veep tickt, but more than likley it will come from the top 3 with Edwards having the best chance

What about Evan Bayh??

Bayh may help Kerry in Ohio, Michagin, WI, but no more than Edwards would.  Indiana is just too Republican to make it competitive with Bayh on the ticket.  The other choices are either from battleground states or make their state battleground, Bayh does neither with Indiana

[© tweed]

Hold on everybody.  Look at the recent North Carolina polls.

POS: Bush up 6%
Mason-Dixon: Bush up 7%

Considering that Bush won NC by 14% in 2000, this is big.  I, for the first time, believe NC is in play, and believe that Edwards could move it over to the Kerry column.

Kerry is an idiot if he goes with Geppy.

[Smash255]

Hold on everybody.  Look at the recent North Carolina polls.

POS: Bush up 6%
Mason-Dixon: Bush up 7%

Considering that Bush won NC by 14% in 2000, this is big.  I, for the first time, believe NC is in play, and believe that Edwards could move it over to the Kerry column.

Kerry is an idiot if he goes with Geppy.

That MAson Dixon poll had a 1 pt Bush lead with Edwards as VP

[Ben.]

 

 For example, you are a socialist.   That is be the best policy for America, but that doesn't mean that mainstream America would accept you.

correction made.

The only problem with Feingold is he's also up for re-election and in Wisconsin a special election is held if there's a vacant Senate seat, so even if he runs for both and wins like's expected, that doesn't guarantee keeping the seat. He would've been better in 2000, since he would've brought out the Jewish vote in Florida and not have driven off 527 voters like Lieberman's stupid whining about video games and music did.

Feingold is principled guy, but he is just another liberal who will scare off moderate voters and not address one of Kerry's biggest weaknesses, his liberal voting record. Feingold isn't even under consideration and that is a good thing as where he chose Kerry would be in a very very bad position.

Hillary has many of the same problems as Feingold, she's too liberal and too much of a divisive figure and grants Kerry no votes he would not have won anyway... but I am looking forward to State's reaction when she doesn't get picked.

The Best Choices are....

John Edwards
Mark Warner (Like Vilsack only a credible and useful candidate)
Blanche Lincoln
Evan Bayh
Bill Nelson
Mary Landrieu
Bill Richardson

The Worst Choices are...

Wes Clark
Dick Gephardt
Tom Vilsack
Bob Kerrey (just wouldn't work)
Russ Feingold
Dianna Feinstein
Hillary Clinton

The most Likely are, probably...

John Edwards
Dick Gephardt
Tom Vilsack
Evan Bayh
Wes Clark

...What have we learnt from this? Kerry's either getting advice from idiots or is very enamoured of the opinion that he knows best... [shakes head in abject exacerbation].  

 

[Citizen James]

There'll probalbly have to be a careful vetting, as you can bet Rowe already has the plumbers working overtime on all the possible candidates.  He'll have to counterballance the likely smear campaign against the pluses.

Richardson - probably lock NM and increase competitiveness in AZ (and possibly CO and NV as well), but you can bet that the past energy controversy will be in the rep talking points within the hour if he is nominated.  Also, expect Bush to fire up the evangelicals amongst his supporters by pointing out they're both Catholic.  

Vilsack - he's in the heart of the battleground midwest, and he's boring - which can be a double edged sword - little to attack but little to excite either.

Edwards - an interesting strategy.  He definitely has a fair amount of charisma.  I don't think he would deliver NC, but he could help amidst blue collar 'reagan democrats' in Ohio and PA and the other battleground states.  Of course, you can bet Rowe has the billboards from his days as a tort lawyer all lined up and ready to go.

Gephardt - nah.  He had enough trouble in the primaries.  for a midwest strategy, Vilsack has less baggage.

Napilitanmo - Could help deliver Arizona, and maybe help in NM, but probably not much more.

Clinton - don't bet on it.   Highly divisive, and New York's a lock anyway.

Clark - He'd be a wild card.  The 'WW3' comment from British general Michael Jackson might be a liability, as would upstaging the top of the ticket.  I'd still like to see him somewhere in the administation though.

Biden?  I think I'll see if I can copy someone elses notes.

Other Possibilities:

Mary Landreau - If he want's to pick a woman, she's a much better choice than Clinton.  Might even make LA competitive for a change.

Ed Rendell - A DLC-leaning Governor in the battleground of PA.   He'd probably help in PA and possibly parts of OH as well.  He might still be a bit green for prime time, though that didn't stop Bush 4 years ago.

So, Best bets:

Rendell
Vilsack
Edwards
Richardson

[MODU]

Kerry's running mate has been disclosed:

http://www.brokennewz.com/displaystory.asp_Q_storyid_E_989moqtadavp

hahaha . . . sorry, it was too funny not to post.  

[??????????]

Vilsack, Edwards or Clinton. In that order of choice. Edwards is to green and is the obvious pick. Dean was the obvious pick in the primaries and the Bush camp was prepared to hammer him from day 1. Suprise Suprise it wasn't him. Edwards will outshine Kerry. Kerry is to egotistical to like that.