The New Vice Presidents

Staying bipartisan, whom do you think Obama and McCain should choose for their running mates for the November general election? And why?

Just something to toss around if you've got the time and an opinion or two on the subject...

Don't look at me...see no evil, hear no evil, ?smell? no evil?

The old poli-sci major in me can't turn this one down!

At this point, I am about 75% sure McCain will go with Mitt Romney. He's young and is a proven fundraiser, and he's got enough executive experience that he'll be a capable replacement as president, which HAS to be a consideration considering McCain's age. Plus, Romney performed well in some battle-ground states and his being a Mormon could help give a boost in Wyoming, Nevada, Montana, Colorado, and even Washington and Oregon. Plus, he's more of a conservative and party-line guy than McCain, so he should help with voter turnout among conservatives.

He's not flawless by any means, but I think he's the most suitable and useful choice for McCain, if nothing else than for his fundraising abilities.

Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is an interesting choice and if McCain opts for a younger candidate with less baggage than Romney. And look out for Sarah Palin (governor of Alaska) as a wild card. She's young, she's attractive, she's popular... would be totally out of the blue, but she probably has more ability than anyone else to inject life into McCain's campaign.

As for Obama, I think everyone assumes at this point that Hillary will not be the choice, and I agree. Just too much baggage with her and Bill. I think she over-played her hand by openly lobbying for the job right after conceding the primary, and Bill hasn't done her any favors with his attacks on Obama during the primaries.

Bill Richardson of New Mexico was the popular front runner and he still may end up with the job, but I think in the end Obama will go with someone who has more Beltway experience... Joe Biden seems to be the name that is cropping up the most, and it makes sense. For me, he's the odds-on favorite.

Close behind him would be (believe it or not) Al Gore. It's no secret Gore wants back into the game, and his presence on the ticket would counter any questions about Obama's lack of experience in Washington and with foreign policy matters. But again, there's baggage with Gore.

People have also talked about Chris Dodd and Chuck Hegel, but I really don't see either of them being good fits. If it's not Biden, Richardson or Gore, it will be a wild card.

Tops on my wild card list? Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. I mean... a woman and a Democrat getting elected as governer of Kansas? She's a rising star in the Democratic party and would definitely fit in with Obama's message of change. Problem is, a ticket of Obama and Sebelius would be seriously light on Beltway experience and have literally zero in foreign policy.

And all things being equal, I think the best choice and Obama's number one choice if he could just name his VP candidate would be Colin Powell. I seriously doubt Powell would want to get back into the foray of White House politics, but if he were too somehow agree to it, he would provide Obama with an unimpeachable character with tons of experience that I think everyone in the country can agree is a capable and sound leader.

But if I were a betting man, I would wager on McCain/Romney and Obama/Biden.

Wow!!! I just got a great primer on VP candidates going into the two party's nomination conventions. I think I'm going to print it out and keep it with my other notes as I watch the "events" on television.

Great info, Stonehouse!

Anyone else care to make their picks for vice president, both major parties, to be named by Obama and McCain in the coming weeks?

Just take a stab!!!

Give it a shot!!!

You just might be wrong!!!

(I don't have picks because I can't remember names for longer than ten seconds...)

I have excuses for everything, don't I?

Time to update this thread:

Stonehouse wrote:Joe Biden seems to be the name that is cropping up the most, and it makes sense. For me, he's the odds-on favorite.[...]If I were a betting man, I would wager on McCain/Romney and Obama/Biden.

MSNBC appears to agree with Mr. Stonehouse's prediction. Well done, sir.

Thanks for resurrecting the thread, PPT. I had forgotten about it for lack of interest. (By everyone except Stoney, that is.)

Great work, Stonehouse. You're halfway home. (We'll see if McCain picks "Mitt" in the next week or so.)

Stoney predicted Obama would pick Joe Biden well over a month ago, on the morning of July 14th. Hooray for the StoneMan!

Joe Biden is a very good choice. Now if McCain will only name a smarmy type, like Mitt, maybe we can get some good change for our country.

1 for 2 ain't bad Stoney.... Sarah "Barracuda" Palin.... What I wonder is how someone nicknamed "Barracuda" can win Miss Congeniality in a beauty contest....

I sense that McCain is so desperate that he will try anything to get elected. His decision on "the barracuda" is nonsensicle. So much for the experience factor! It seems to be nothing but a callous attempt to put a wedge between Hillary supporters and the Obama camp. However, Palin's virulent strain of conservatism will not entice true progressives. My conclusion is that once again "the Manchurian candidate" has over played his hand in a feeble attempt to win the presidency.

It's an interesting choice for sure... Politically it makes sense in that she appeals to the Conservative base, is well versed in energy and domestic policy, does have executive experience (unlike any of the other candidates), potentially snags a few Hillary supporters (although she is a pretty green politician, not nearly as experienced as Hill, not to mention is FIERCELY conservative), and in the whole historical aspect of things she counters the Obama 1st black president with her own potentially historical precedent as a woman. It definitely is a bold move on McCains part, and definitely baffled a lot of the so called pundit experts... All I can say is the all-Catholic throwdown VP debate battle royale should be VERY interesting, from what I've read she is very good in the debate forum, and while perhaps not as eloquent as Biden, makes up for it with poise.

I don't necessarily support her, I definitely am far from conservative, am appalled at the notion of opening up the Alaska wildlife refuge for drilling, and would be nervous at the notion of someone so new to politics being 2nd in line for president with a president being the older at the beginning of their first term than anyone in history...

These next few months should be absolutely fascinating to watch, but I have a feeling by the end I am going to want to punch anyone who uses the words "maverick," "change," or "green"... I hate buzz words...

I don't think she's Catholic. I was under the impression that her family belonged to an "Assembly of God."

Besides, no self-respecting Catholic mother would name her children Track, Trig, Piper, Willow, and Bristol.

Haha I looked it up, apparently a few Catholic priests and articles incorrectly identified her as big C catholic.... Although technically she is catholic...

I'm not sure if people were trying to tie her to Catholicism because of her pro-life stance or what, but I swear I read it on CNN somewhere... Everything else says evangelical Christian... Hmmm interesting... I'm just going to go ahead and be quiet before I start offending people.

(Is this really what I'm doing at 11:30 on a Saturday night?? Sigh....)

Dwight Jaynes seems to have the same fascination with her as you guys do.
He dug this up http://deadspin.com/5043889/sweet-lincolns-mullet-the-sarah-palin-sportscast-video-is-here

It's pretty funny, you can see why she sought alternate work as Governor...

I don't even want to go there but I feel like I have to... This whole underage daughter having a kid business somehow being OK because they are getting married... at 17 and 18 respectively?? Why do I feel that if this were Obama's daughter Republicans wouldn't be so forgiving?? It boggles my mind, haha and makes me laugh that Alaska is one of the few states without mandatory sex ed... himmmmmm

DaTruRochin wrote: and would be nervous at the notion of someone so new to politics being 2nd in line for president

Hmm, not that I want to take this thread "there", but you aren't concerned with a President so new to politics?

I will try to keep this bipartisan.

I find it interesting that the GOP has been making morality such a political issue in recent years, but as soon as there is a question about their own VP candidate, it is suddenly "off limits"... Well, you can't have your cake and eat it, too....

My gut just tells me that there is more "dirt" about Palin that has yet to surface...

For once, I think the VP debate will be quite entertaining to watch!

Yes, PN, the VP debate will be a very interesting one between Biden and Palin.

The two are polar opposites and Biden is well known for his hard punches.

How well Palin can talk the talk with Biden may well go a long way in establishing a bit of an edge for one side or the other.