Gov. Bill Richardson should be Obama's VP pick

[Iosif]

He's very dull and a bit of an idiot. But he's also hispanic, from a swing state, very experienced and hispanic.

The other touted possibilities all have pretty huge flaws.

[MatthewZD]

Richardson could be a strong choice for Obama.  On paper, he had one of the strongest resumes of all the candidates -- former Congressman, cabinet official, ambassador, and now Governor.  Legislative, executive, and foreign policy experience all in one package, as well as being of a fast-growing ethnic minority.  If he were a more exciting speaker he'd be at the top of the ticket.   

The only thing that concerns me is the effect of two non-traditional candidates on the ticket.  It's one thing to pair Obama with Jim Webb or Wesley Clark, but how would having two minorities play with Joe Sixpack in Smalltown USA?  Having an Anglo surname could blunt that, though. 

[Iosif]

Between them the ticket would be half white. And if Joe Sixpack has problems voting for a black/hispanic ticket the chances are he has a problem with a black ticket.

Cementing the latino vote far outweighs losing the handful of racist morons you never were going to get in the first place.

[Albus Dumbledore]

We need both parties to tell the white heartland types that the future doesn't belong to them and that their hatred of everyone else will be overruled. basically no more non-bicoastal, non-catholic/atheist white candidates.

[Sam Spade]

Just what Obama needs - a corrupt, bribe-taking running mate.  Ugh.

[ChrisFromNJ]

Richardson is a gaffe machine. He'd be the worst VP pick since Dan Quayle.

[J. J.]

We need both parties to tell the white heartland types that the future doesn't belong to them and that their hatred of everyone else will be overruled. basically no more non-bicoastal, non-catholic/atheist white candidates.

Unfortunately, it does, much more so, at least, than it does to black people.  It's a question of demographics.  The "white heartland types" at worst, are going to be the single largest group in the US, with the Latino population coming in an increasingly strong second.  An "alliance" of whites and Latinos (who are white, BTW) are going to dominate for the remainder of this century.

[Albus Dumbledore]

A mostly catholic, anglo-latin US is different in many ways than a majority protestant anglo US(current situation). Odds are the 2050 census will have a significantly lower nonwhite percentage of nonwhite americans(latins/light biracials transition to 'white' will be finished by then plus increasingly rapid intermarriage).

[YRABNNRM]

Terrible choice.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

He's very dull and a bit of an idiot. But he's also hispanic, from a swing state, very experienced and hispanic.

The other touted possibilities all have pretty huge flaws.

The first affirmative action VP hire since Geraldine Ferraro?  Terrific.

[Verily]

The recent storm over Wesley Clark should remind everyone why Bill Richardson and Joe Biden are terrible VP choices.

[WalterMitty]

i dont think i can vote for obama if he picks this judas.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Richardson would have made a good presidential candidate, not a good VP one.  He is incredibly dull, he just has sound policies.  That woudl be terrible for the hopes, dreams, and empty promises Obama camp

[opebo]

The only thing that concerns me is the effect of two non-traditional candidates on the ticket.  It's one thing to pair Obama with Jim Webb or Wesley Clark, but how would having two minorities play with Joe Sixpack in Smalltown USA?  Having an Anglo surname could blunt that, though. 

Yeah I doubt joe-sixpack would be able to tell Richardson was hispanic.

[elcorazon]

Richardson would have made a good presidential candidate, not a good VP one.  He is incredibly dull, he just has sound policies.  That woudl be terrible for the hopes, dreams, and empty promises Obama camp

not surprisingly, I feel exactly the opposite.  he would have been an awful prez candidate.  I'm not crazy about him, but he has some benefits, mostly his resume, plus obama is so magnetic a personality, it might be nice to have more of a lackluster guy on the ticket, rather than have someone else who will seek too much of the spotlight.

that said, I don't think he should pick richardson.

[Joe Biden 2020]

BR wouldn't be a bad pick.  In fact, Richardson was my original favorite way back in December-January 2006-2007

[opebo]

A fatter, shorter sidekick is always the best.

[NDN]

Richardson would have made a good presidential candidate

[ilikeverin]

Wonderful on paper, terrible in execution.  I do appreciate his strident anti-podium position, though.

[Torie]

He's a hack, and was a huge disappointment in his presidential run.