While everyone else is focused on who will be our presidential candidate in 2008, I think we should pay some attention to who will be on the ticket with that person. Many times the VP can make or break a ticket. If we look back through history, we can see this. Kennedy would not have been elected president without LBJ in '60, Bush1 gave national security credit to Reagan in '80, and Gore was a big boost for Clinton in '92. On the other hand, Quayle was a downer for Bush1 (there's no E in potato), and Droopy was not the attack dog Gore needed in '00. So let's take a look at the top contenders and play match-up with our potential presidential candidates.
Here are the top 8 in order in my opinion...
- Bill Richardson--(if he doesn't win pres. nomination) Congressman, Sec. of Energy, UN Ambassador, and current popular governor of a Western state, he would be dynamite for any ticket. His foreign policy experience is second to none. He is very smart, very articulate, plus he is Hispanic. However, he does have some baggage and he could stand to lose a little weight.
- Barack Obama--(if he doesn't win pres. nomination) One term senator from Illinois, many see him as this generation's John or Robert Kennedy. Smart, articulate, and charismatic, he is everything you would want in a candidate. A very diverse background that aids in his understanding of the world. Being African-American helps too (it is about time we get some diversity on the ticket). He is light on experience though and while his stump speeches leave you breathless, you could say there is a need for some more meat on the bones.
- Wes Clark--Supreme Allied Commander, he has the national security credit that the rest of the candidates wish they had. A Democratic General is a dream come true for the party. He is also originally from the south. Problem areas for him are that he has no domestic policy experience and sometimes I think he tends to get lost in the crowd, to not stand out as someone who will get your attention.
- Brian Schweitzer--Governor of a western BLUE state (Montana), he is exactly the type of Dem that can bring back white males to the party. Fantastic governor that has a great idea to get us off of Middle East oil, plus he helped get Tester elected. However there are questions if he would want to leave Montana for the national spotlight.
- Russ Feingold--The best Senator in the caucus, he would definitely get the attention of us on the activist wing of the Dem party. Has the foreign policy experience and all the right votes where it counts, plus he would also be the attack dog the Dem party has been lacking on our national ticket the past 2 elections. However, the media would throw everything in the book at him, making him into this crazed, hippy, socialist-liberal that will take your children away in the middle of the night.
- Mark Warner--One term Governor of a BLUE state (Virginia), many compared him to Thomas Jefferson before he pulled out of the presidential race. He was a spectacular Governor that helped elect another governor (Kaine) and one of our new favorite Senators (Webb). Would give the ticket a southern/middle America feel. Downside is he was only governor for 4 years and didn't really have a feel for international politics in the last interview I saw.
- Evan Bayh--Former Governor and 2 term Senator of a red state turning purple (Indiana), his resume is golden for the national spotlight. When you look at him, you think of a more experienced John Edwards. That is, until you hear him talk. No excitement, hardly any energy. Plus his voting record reads like that of a senator from Indiana. However he does get credit for voting against both Roberts and Alito.
- Kathy Sebelius--Governor of a red state turning purple (Kansas), she just won re-election in 2006. Diversity on the ticket is key, and I think she would be the perfect balance of grace and toughness to round out a national ticket. Downsize is that she has almost zero name recognition.
Others--Joe Biden, Jack Reed, Janet Napolitano, Tom Vilsack, Ed Rendell, and Barbra Boxer
Poential Match-ups
If Clinton wins the nomination, I see her looking strongly at 4 possibilities: Richardson, Obama, Bayh, and Vilsack. Richardson gives her foreign policy experience, Obama gives her intelligence and charisma, Bayh gives her middle America touch, and Vilsack also gives her middle America touch (plus they have that DLC connection.
If Obama wins, I see him looking strongly at 4 possibilities: Richardson, Clark, Biden, and Bayh. He needs foreign policy experience and all 4 have plenty to go around. Biden and Bayh may have some trouble with some of their votes, and Richardson may be too much diversity too soon.
If Edwards wins, I see him looking at 4 as well: Richardson, Obama, Clark, and Sebelius. He would be pressured to have diversity on the ticket. Richardson and Clark give him foreign policy experience, Obama gives him intelligence and charisma (is there a limit to charisma allowed on a ticket?), and Sebelius gives him middle America touch.
So what do you think? Who is your favorite? Vote in the poll.