I think there is an exceptional candidate for VP who is being overlooked and brings things to the table in a certain combination that would help Obama the best.
I am talking about former Colorado Senator and Presidential candidate Gary Hart.
What does Gary Hart bring to the table?
- Extensive foreign policy experience and knowledge. But at the same, Hart is not a "war hero" type whose presence on the ticket would scream "Obama's trying to cover his foreign policy inadequacies". Hart would bring foreign policy credentials without overshadowing Obama.
- He is a real Democrat who is not interested in triangulation and centrism. Gary Hart is interested in Democrats keeping their own identities.
- Hart is older than Obama at 71, but he is a young 71. He is still very sharp (unlike McSame) and was considering a run for President just four years ago.
- Gary Hart would ensure that Colorado goes blue in 2008. With that, we would just need a few minor pickups (states New Mexico, Montana, or Nevada, etc.). It wouldn't come down to Florida and Ohio like it always does.
- Senator Hart wasn't afraid to endorse Obama early on and call out Hillary Clinton when she crossed the line during the primaries.
- Gary Hart is white and has a "Western" accent.
- Gary Hart saw 9/11 coming and even warned the Bush administration about it.
- Gary Hart opposed the war in Iraq from the start. Imagine actually having both Dems on the ticket being able to say that.
- Hart goes back a long time with McSame and would be able to hammer him on how much he has lost his bearings.
- Gary Hart was Obama before Obama. Look at these ads and tell me they don't look like Obama's 2008 campaign. Hart was all about bringing change and new ideas to the White House, shunning the special interests and lobbyists, and a new kind of politics.
- Hart was a Democrat in the JFK mold. Imagine having him on the ticket to reinforce Obama's message of the return of idealism and hope.
- The convention is in Denver. Imagine favorite son and elder statesmen Gary Hart accepting the VP nomination.
- While Obama doesn't look like any of those other guys on various currency, Hart, with is unique hair, sort of does.
- Gary Hart would appeal to independent voters while staying true to the progressive base.
- Listen to him talk about the soul of the party.
- Gary Hart has been outside of Washington for 20 years while at the same time staying relevant in politics through writing and other activities. He'd be an outsider, which goes along with Obama's theme. The Dems don't lose an Senators or Governors.
- His experience and knowledge would help reassure voters who are uneasy voting for a newbie like Obama.
- All his skeletons are already out of the closet. No need to worry about a last second scandal.
- Gary Hart would do a GREAT job in the debates.
- He has made profound observations linking energy policy to national security. Hart would be great discussing energy.
- Gary Hart knows about intelligent campaigning. He has floated the excellent idea for some time now that the Democrats must focus on winning the West rather than keep trying to regain the old South or depending on the Rust Belt. That strategy has shown to be a good one.
Yeah, I know. Donna Rice, blah, blah. That was over 20 years ago. No one cares. Millions of Americans didn't mind putting Bill Clinton, who had a more recent and far more scandalous affair, back in the White House with Hillary. People forget and it is the year 2008.