So much for the Rev. Wright effect, at least for now.  That is, if you believe Pew (PDF file), Rasmussen and Gallup:

http://www.surveyusa.com/clien...

As you can see by the latest tracking, Jim Webb would hardly hurt Obama in Virginia.  In fact, he'd likely fire up Virginia voters!

The 64% approval by Latinos is a surprise. It looks to me like his only really weak area is Tidewater, which I don't quite understand, given his promotion of increased spending on the shipyards there. If he could find a way to make Tidewater voters happier, I think that would be the secret to getting into really robust, healthy approval rather than the slight majority of 51%.

The good news is that his disapprovals aren't bad. In the mid thirties, which is about what anyone with a partisan affiliation will have. Jim Webb is certainly not disliked by Virginia. I think that having him on ticket would be likely to carry Virginia for Obama, given the extremely strong grassroots party operation that Virginia Dems now have.

Having Mark Warner on the ticket for Senate at the same time might help, too. Warner really underscores what Virginians have come to like about Virginia Democrats, and his presence on the ticket might remind swing voters of the fact that Virginia Dems are different from the national Dems. To a wavering Republican, it could result in pressing the button for Obama/Webb, since 'Jim Webb and Mark Warner aren't like those Ted Kennedy Democrats. I can trust them.'

Ok, so lets say that Tim Kaine gets tapped as either a VP or a member of Obama's cabinet. He vacates the office of Governor in late January and Bill Bolling becomes Governor.

Does Bolling then do an about-face on his stated plans and start running for a full term as governor, figuring that this sort of incumbency gives him a sudden leg up against Bob McDonnell?

Or if Bolling would not do such a thing, then does the fact that Bolling is not running for Governor make Tim Kaine's potential decision to accept an appointment a little easier?

Incidentally, Virginia Democrats just totally rock. We SO have our **** together.  We've got two prominent Virginia Dems on the short list for VP and we've got the number one Senate race in the country expected to flip blue. Wow.

We're awesome. 7 years of busting our butts in the trenches is paying off in a huge way.

Together with Obama, building a coalition of hillbillies and african-americans around a shared refusal to accept the marginalization, and neglect of their interests - as America gets sold to the highest bidding corporation, or narrow self-interest.  Two founding demographics that have demonstrated their complete faith in the promise of America, and yet have been so disrespected.

And yes, I believe Obama could do it with Jim Webb.  It would be change America, and thereby, the world.  

It is still early.  We want to focus on the upcoming states and do what we know the Obama campaign is capable of doing.

I like Jim Webb a lot but, there are two other people I can think of at the moment who I'd have on (not from VA)  a VP list.  They are Joe Biden and Bill Richardson. Governors Sebelius and Napolitano get mentioned, but we do need someone with foreign policy gravitas.  On paper, Bill Richardson looks like a compelling choice.  And, they looked pretty good together up there on stage.

Biden would be good in so many ways, but when the spotlight is on him, he says a lot of dumb stuff. Like that comment about Delaware actually being part of the South on account of having been a slave state. He has foot-in-mouth disease. Good for a cabinet appointment, but I'd be wary of him as a running mate.

What Obama already has going for him, in fact his biggest asset, is his willingness to re-evaluate America's current disastrous foreign policy course and to point the helm of ship in a vastly different direction.

If Sen. Webb is someone he thinks can help him do that, then by all means he should consider Senator Webb for the slot.

But having an engaged foreign policy set of views is more than just military policy. It's about re-thinking our trade and immigration policies, and global economics in general.

The most important thing a VP brings is an ability to strengthen the brand of what a candidacy is about (unless you nominate Dan Quayle).

I can't see any scenario in which Tim Kaine is the VP pick. I could see any of Webb, Sebelius, or Richardson easily fitting the bill, and there are another group of 5-10 that wouldn't surprise me either, including some (Clark, Strickland) that were Hillary supporters (that might in fact be one savvy way to strengthen and unify the party).

I can see a scenario where he nominates Sebelius to be his VP, and then decides to strengthen his foreign policy bona fides by announcing that Bill Richardson will be his SoS, that Wes Clark or Jim Webb will be his SecDef (I continue to think that Webb would be a natural at the Pentagon, but still hope he stays in the Senate), and announce strong advisors like Richard Clarke, Rand Beers, etc., to complement Susan Rice and Tony Lake. With that kind of team, he doesn't need a VP with foreign affairs experience.  

But Obama would strongly benefit from a running mate who has extensive national security, military and foreign policy experience.  Come to think of it, any Democrat would, given the swiftboating b.s. the Republicans like to throw at Democrats as "weak" on national security, blah blah blah.  Yeah, trying telling Jim Webb he's weak, I can't wait to see that one! :)

Though it may have 'faded' from the frontal lobs of the head-in-the-sand American electorate, it remains the sucking maw that's undermining everything that's great and good about our country.

Senator Obama does not have the standing -- yet -- to confront the intersection of flag-draped establishment interests that Iraq embodies without being immediately vulnerable to the right's default rock to hurl:  patriotism.

On that score, Jim Webb is invulnerable.

in terms of the positives Webb would bring on that front. I just see it as, even if Webb IS on the ticket, McCain and the right-wing noise machine exemplified by Fox News will make those scurrilous charges and accusations, anyway. It's the ultimate Rovian tactic -- attack fiercely on the issues that you yourself are most vulnerable.

The attacks are going to happen. My point was that there are ways to blunt those that don't require adding a military man to the ticket.

j_wyatt, I agree with you on the war -- however, I actually think the public is strongly with you on that. It's the establishment media that is trying to make the issue fade away. And since Obama has the strongest and most consistent voice on ending the war, since he's the most aligned with the people on the issue of primary importance, the Republican anti-patriotism card is going to fall flat. They've gone to the well 10 or 100 too many times. It's over.

If Webb and Obama get along and if Webb would truly be happy in a VP role, and if Obama is comfortable with Webb as his VP -- then it's absolutely a great choice.

I just look at everything Webb has said and done the past two years, and I don't see a man that wants to be in that role. He's far too cerebral (which makes Senator actually a great place for him), and it looks from my vantage point that he's really enjoying building up his relationships in that body to accomplish significant tasks down the line.

That's why I, personally, would like to see him stay in the Senate for the next four plus years and see what he can accomplish leading from a much larger majority in 2009. Or see him running the Pentagon if he so desired. But I also think there is potential in VP -- especially if the role as President of the Senate is rekindled and used to help pass legislation. I'd be more than happy to see him on Obama's ticket if both men saw it as advantageous.

[I still favor Sebelius for VP.]

Hillary's choices for VP are far better than those names being floated for Obama.

Strickland, Bayh, Obama, and Bill Nelson are all no-brainers for Hillary.

I think Webb and Richardson are the best choices for Obama. But Webb is still very green politically. Also, why can't Webb come out and endorse Obama despite his overwhelming support here in Virginia? And I wonder if an all-minority ticket, in the case of Richardson, is too much change too soon for some people.

Webb is about as green, politically, as Barack Obama was a year ago. They both had a single Senate victory under their belts. Before that, Obama had experience in running for state senate. I reckon that Webb's experience in navigating insider DC politics for decades as Sec. of the Navy, Undersecretary of Defense and as a staff lawyer for the House Veterans Affairs Committee is to be no less dismissed than Obama's experience in state politics.

Both of these guys know how to win a marquee federal race. Obama is extremely good with retail politics, while Jim Webb is extremely good with the back room stuff. It's like Kennedy and Johnson. A highly complimentary pairing, both on the campaign trail and in terms of getting things done once they are in office.

for the past 12 years, Webb less than 2. Obama has run for State Senate, House, US Senate, and now President.

often looking uncomfortable when speaking before crowds and prone to make the occasional impolitic remark

Webb has amazing life experience, including Secretary of the Navy and US Senator, not to mention his journalism, writing and war experience.  Also, I think that by the end of the 2006 campaign, Webb was doing great as a stump speaker and much better with crowds.  Finally, I'd point out that Barack Obama doesn't need another superstar campaigner, but he would benefit greatly from what Jim Webb has to offer.

Sen. James Webb.

I'm just saying none of these choices are slam dunks is all.

That phrase suggests more than once. Now I can't remember any "impolitic remark" by our Senator. You don't mean the time he stood his ground with the President?? If that was impolitic than it was also deserved. What others?? Good example of how the media like to stereotype our leaders based on one single impression.

What about Bob Grahm for V-P if Webb doesn't want it?

all considered him, but ultimately passed. Now he's much, much older. Same age as McCain I believe.

But Tim Kaine's eyebrow disqualifies from being the Vice-Presidential candidate...people wouldn't take him serious, they'd always think he was being sarcastic....

/snark

Webb alone. We need him in the Senate, with Warner (Mark). We need as many Dems in both houses of Congress as possible, just in case -- God forbid -- McSame sneaks into the White House and needs to be fought off on nominations and such. And even if we get a Dem president, we still need a strong Dem majority, so that the Repubs don't get to foul things up again. There's Augean stables to be cleaned post Bush's mafia...

While I would love to see Webb as VP, desire to keep him in the senate working for us far out ways that. He is getting too much done in the senate now to put him back on the campaign trail.

I also think he has two weak points that would hurt Obama. First he is just as green if not greener compared to Obama when it comes to Washington politics. People might start to think they would be electing a couple of novices, that wouldn't know what to do to get things done in DC. Second Webb  did not have a lot of female support when he got elected to the senate. The comments he made about women in the military would come back to haunt the campaign. Which is the last thing they need after stopping a woman from becoming president.  

with the Washington politics part....remember, he was Secretary of the Navy.
The military background takes out the "Democrats weak on defense" argument, he would increase the ticket's appeal to independents, moderates, and disaffected Republicans.
About the female support, hell, there's ALWAYS a weakness. I don't think that would be an overreaching deal-breaker.
Remember his son's boots? That package will carry more weight, I think.
I like Webb for VP, personally. Kaine appoints his replacement, Warner runs and wins handily.
Obama/Webb. Richardson at State, Edwards at AG, and (please do not smite me) Hagel at SecDef.
Any takers?

Frankly, I think it would be disastrous if Dems nominate a Republican for SecDef for the second straight Dem Presidency. It would totally validate the Republican talking point that Dems can run military affairs.

I actually think Webb would be a great fit for SecDef -- but I think he's even better suited temperamentally and intellectually to be a Senator.

Clark as SecDef would probably be the best deal, but he'd need a waiver b/c he hasn't been out of the services for 10 years yet. I do think Richardson is tailor made for State, and Hagel for VA. If we're going deep, how about Jack Welch at Homeland Security?

I think this may be even more critical than having a civilian SecDef at this point. DHS is a department that could have serious lasting impact on our personal freedoms far beyond anything else Bush and Cheney have brought us. They're a bureaucracy that no one says no to, and their entire institutional focus is on controlling the behavior of people, mostly American citizens, inside the US. Limiting their scope must be a priority for the new president.