WHO SHOULD BE VP ?!?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Dean's problem is that when he says he'll do stuff that's unpopular, he scares 70% of the country.

Agreed.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I think that Kerry should pick someone from the South as it would balance the ticket and might help him compete in a few extra states.
Possibilities are:

Senator Edwards (reasons discussed already)
Senator Landrieu (see what Nym wrote)
Governer Warner (could be used as part of a "Virginia's strategy")
Senator Breux (moderate, popular in LA)
Senator Graham (moderate, might help in FL)
Ex-Senator Cleland (war hero, revenge)
Senator Lincoln (moderate, might help in AR)
Ex-General Clark (the word General)

Or he could go for a Mid-West strategy:

Govener Vilsack (might help shore up Upper Mid-West)
Senator Bayh (moderate, balances ticket)
Representative Gephardt (would help in rust belt)

Or South West:

Governer Richardson (reasons discussed already)
Senator McCain (heh, heh, heh...)

[Nym90]

What about Jay Rockefeller for Kerry's running mate? He could secure West Virginia and also possibly help in Ohio. Plus he's got the famous last name. Are there any real drawbacks to him that I'm not seeing?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Rockefeller is another possibility actually...
West Virginia would almost certainly go Dem (although if Kerry wanted a 100% chance of victory in WV he could always go for the Octogenerian, Byrd), and the rustbelt as a whole would probably swing towards Kerry... he might also be able to play the "Virgina's Strategy" as well...
I'm not aware of any drawbacks... he's a popular senator and was a popular governer.
Could also be useful for "reminding" people about Dubya betraying thr steelworkers...

I would guess that Rockefeller, Warner, Edwards, Landrieu and Bayh would be the most likely to gain Kerry extra votes.

[© tweed]

My VP choices:

1. Sen. Bayh-Indiana
2. Sen. Edwards-North Carolina
3. Gov. Bredesen-Tennessee
4. Gov. Richardson-New Mexico
5. Sen. Breaux-Louisiana (But I don't think he would accept)

Bayh would tilit Ohio our way and solidify Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisoconsin.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Kerry with Warner

[opebo]

Rockefeller is another possibility actually...
West Virginia would almost certainly go Dem (although if Kerry wanted a 100% chance of victory in WV he could always go for the Octogenerian, Byrd), and the rustbelt as a whole would probably swing towards Kerry... he might also be able to play the "Virgina's Strategy" as well...
I'm not aware of any drawbacks... he's a popular senator and was a popular governer.
Could also be useful for "reminding" people about Dubya betraying thr steelworkers...

I would guess that Rockefeller, Warner, Edwards, Landrieu and Bayh would be the most likely to gain Kerry extra votes.

I don't think Rockefeller would help at all in Ohio or Virginia.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

He would certainly help in South West Virgina and the far east of Ohio.

[opebo]

He would certainly help in South West Virgina and the far east of Ohio.

Well, maybe but those are precisely the areas the Democrats do relatively well in those states.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Normally yes... but not in 2000.

[MAS117]

im starting to dislike edwards as VP

[M]

I'm also starting to think Edwards may not be the best choice. Kerry will have to say Bayh-Bayh to him.

You hear that, PD et al? When I talk, Gustaf considers the GOP. When you talk, he gets turned off. Hey, Gus,wecould always just form our own party with McCain and Lieberman, Bayh and Giuliani. Wants we really get started we'll kick posterior!

[© tweed]

He would certainly help in South West Virgina and the far east of Ohio.

Good point...but maybe Bill Nelson?  Florida's crucial 27 would be a HUGE bonus to the Kerry camp.

[Gustaf]

I'm also starting to think Edwards may not be the best choice. Kerry will have to say Bayh-Bayh to him.

You hear that, PD et al? When I talk, Gustaf considers the GOP. When you talk, he gets turned off. Hey, Gus,wecould always just form our own party with McCain and Lieberman, Bayh and Giuliani. Wants we really get started we'll kick posterior!

That's a good idea...I wish there was a moderate party for me to support on a constant basis but you Americans...what can I say... *SIGH* You seem to like having to choose between ultra-conservative gay-bashers on the one hand and protectionist big goverment socialists on the other.

[MAS117]

Yo!  This would be my first post ever here.  

Little background.  I'm only 16, I don't know how that compares to the rest of you, so bear with my limited intellegence, and my lack of ability to actually vote.  I'm the only 16 year old I know that actually cares about comething that matters in the world, so I'm happy about that.  I got into all this political stuff after the 2000 election and feeling totally bummed after Gore wound up not bein prez.  

Anyway, I thought Edwards was the best pick for the nomination right from when I first heard of him.  Now that it looks like its Kerry, I'll have to say he'd easily make the best VP.  

1)  He's younger, a lot of passion, and a rising star.  I think that's a proper image for a VP.  I don't want to see an older guy on the ticket.

2) I think his background and "Two Americas" theme pulls in the big midwest states for the Dems, and gives them a chance to pick up a couple Southern states.  (Although they are the Dems are so opposed on social issues, it'll be hard for any Dem to do anything there)

hockeydude... im a 15 who cares... ive had over 300 posts

[Mort from NewYawk]

I'm also starting to think Edwards may not be the best choice. Kerry will have to say Bayh-Bayh to him.

You hear that, PD et al? When I talk, Gustaf considers the GOP. When you talk, he gets turned off. Hey, Gus,wecould always just form our own party with McCain and Lieberman, Bayh and Giuliani. Wants we really get started we'll kick posterior!

That's a good idea...I wish there was a moderate party for me to support on a constant basis but you Americans...what can I say... *SIGH* You seem to like having to choose between ultra-conservative gay-bashers on the one hand and protectionist big goverment socialists on the other.

I'll join that party.

In the 60's and 70's, moderates had a place of influence in either party - the Rockefeller Republicans (social progressives, fiscal conservatives), the Henry Jackson Democrats (social moderates, conservationists, strong on defense).

[Michael Z]

Yo!  This would be my first post ever here.  

Little background.  I'm only 16, I don't know how that compares to the rest of you, so bear with my limited intellegence, and my lack of ability to actually vote.  I'm the only 16 year old I know that actually cares about comething that matters in the world, so I'm happy about that.  I got into all this political stuff after the 2000 election and feeling totally bummed after Gore wound up not bein prez.  

Anyway, I thought Edwards was the best pick for the nomination right from when I first heard of him.  Now that it looks like its Kerry, I'll have to say he'd easily make the best VP.  

1)  He's younger, a lot of passion, and a rising star.  I think that's a proper image for a VP.  I don't want to see an older guy on the ticket.

2) I think his background and "Two Americas" theme pulls in the big midwest states for the Dems, and gives them a chance to pick up a couple Southern states.  (Although they are the Dems are so opposed on social issues, it'll be hard for any Dem to do anything there)

hockeydude... im a 15 who cares... ive had over 300 posts

15? Wow. I thought you were older.

But you're right, who cares. It's not age but ideas that matter here.

[Gustaf]

Yo!  This would be my first post ever here.  

Little background.  I'm only 16, I don't know how that compares to the rest of you, so bear with my limited intellegence, and my lack of ability to actually vote.  I'm the only 16 year old I know that actually cares about comething that matters in the world, so I'm happy about that.  I got into all this political stuff after the 2000 election and feeling totally bummed after Gore wound up not bein prez.  

Anyway, I thought Edwards was the best pick for the nomination right from when I first heard of him.  Now that it looks like its Kerry, I'll have to say he'd easily make the best VP.  

1)  He's younger, a lot of passion, and a rising star.  I think that's a proper image for a VP.  I don't want to see an older guy on the ticket.

2) I think his background and "Two Americas" theme pulls in the big midwest states for the Dems, and gives them a chance to pick up a couple Southern states.  (Although they are the Dems are so opposed on social issues, it'll be hard for any Dem to do anything there)

hockeydude... im a 15 who cares... ive had over 300 posts

15? Wow. I thought you were older.

But you're right, who cares. It's not age but ideas that matter here.

Another noble high-minded statement from Mike...

[Platypus]

Lets consider Governors of swing states that are Democratic, and also senators in those states...

I have also included people who would make that state a swing state.

GOVERNORS
Janet Napolitano (AZ)
Tom Vilsack (IA)
Bill Richardson (NM)
Ted Kulongoski (OR)
Ed Rendell (PN)
Phil Bredesen (TN)
Mark Warner (VA)
Jim Doyle (WI)
Bob Wise (WV)

lets eliminate Wise, Doyle, Rendell, and Kulongoski leaving possible governor VPs:

Napolitano
Vilsack
Richardson
Bredesen
Warner

Trim it further, lets get rid of Napolitano and Bredesen, which leaves three viable democratic governors as VP candidates, imho. Napolitano, Bredesen and Wise might be viable too, ish.

Senators next post

[Nym90]

Patton is no longer Governor of KY, and O'Bannon died last year.

[Platypus]

SENATORS
Evan Bayh (IN)
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
John Breaux (LA)
Robert Byrd (WV)
Mark Dayton (MN)
John Edwards (NC)
Russ Feingold (WI)
Bob Graham (FL)
Tom Harkin (IA)
Herb Kohl (WI)
Mary Landrieu (LA)
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
Zell Miller (GA) I remind, this is just the initial list...
Bill Nelson (FL)
Mark Pryor (AR)
Harry Reid (NV)
John Rockerfeller (WV)
Ron Wyden (OR)

lets cull it to 8:
Rockerfeller (WV)
Reid (NV)
Nelson (FL)
Graham (FL)
Edwards (NC)
Breaux (LA)
Bayh (IN)
Kohl (WI)

The four most-viable would be Bayh (IN), Nelson (FL), Rockerfeller (WV) and Graham (FL), imho. The rest of the last 8 would also be viable,m but less likely to make their states DEM then these four, and the rest of the country, i'd say.

Which leaves the MISC. section. That's basically only Gen. Clark and Al Gore. I'll start a new poll with these 10 names

[Platypus]

Patton is no longer Governor of KY, and O'Bannon died last year.

I knew it was time for bed. Night guys

(When was Patton defeated?)

[M]

He wasn't. He had a sex scandal and didn't run for reelection last October. A Republican named Fletcher won the open seat against Chandler, who is now running in that special election  which he is favored to win.