The Other '08 Race

By: Chris Guy
Published On: 2/15/2007 1:52:29 AM

The popular inside-the-beltway publication Roll Call has a spread on how the U.S. Senate is basically a farm team for VP prospects. When the Nationals need a pitcher they look to Columbus or Harrisburg. When a Presidential Nominee needs a runningmate, they look under the dome. Senators don't get elected President too often, but Vice-President is a different story. Gore, Mondale, Humphrey, Johnson, heck if Dan Quayle can do it...

Here's an interesting list of who Roll Call says are either auditioning for, or being scouted as, prospective runningmates:

Beyond the "obvious selections" of HRC, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), other possible Dem Veeps include: Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jim Webb (D-VA), Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). On the GOP side, possible veeps include: Sens. John Thune (R-SD), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Judd Gregg (R-NH) and David Vitter (R-LA).

The only one on the Dem side that I don't get is Jack Reed. Durbin doesn't have much offer a ticket either, but he's very well-respected and well-liked. I always thought that Blanche Lincoln was the most appealing female prospect in the Senate that never gets talked about. She really looks like the average American working woman to me. Plus, who wouldn't want the name Lincoln after their's on a bumper sticker? Obama/Lincoln, Edwards/Lincoln...not bad eh?

The GOP names all make some amount of sense. The only one that really worries me is Kay Bailey Hutchinson for her ability to take some of the air out of Hillary Clinton's campaign. Although, who knows, it could make them look kind of desperate.

Comments



leaves out a lot of possibilities (teacherken - 2/15/2007 2:26:23 AM)
because there are lot outside of the Congress who would be considered.

For starters, Wes Clark, Tom Vilsack and Bill Richardson.

in addition Brian Schweitzer, Phil Bredeson, Janet Napolitano, and most of all Kathleen Sebelius.

Stretching the envelope a bit: General Tony Zinni, Elliot Spitzer, George Mitchell, William Cohen, . . .

who is the nominee, and who will be the likely republican opponent?  what are the issues?  the field could expand even more.



Those are some good names (Chris Guy - 2/15/2007 2:36:05 AM)
Here's one: OH Gov. Ted Strickland.

Like Spitzer, only just elected Governor, but he served six terms in the House prior to that. And he was a pastor before he entered politics. He won 60% of the vote in Ohio last year. Ohio's very anti-GOP right now, but Sherrod Brown didn't do that well.



? (DukieDem - 2/15/2007 2:59:47 AM)
56% of the vote isn't good for an unapologetic liberal in a state Bush won by 2 points?


No, it's great (Chris Guy - 2/15/2007 10:45:24 AM)
I'm just saying any Democrat could win in Ohio last year, but Strickland's win was overwhelming regardless of the enviornment.


Ah (DukieDem - 2/15/2007 1:17:50 PM)
Point taken.


I am still betting on Mark Warner in the VP slot. (clarkie - 2/15/2007 10:37:33 AM)
I think that he made a deal for it when he dropped out.
'tis a very good spot to bide his time until 2016.


There are 10 Democrats (Chris Guy - 2/15/2007 10:48:03 AM)
running for President. They've all got their own ideas if they win the nomination.


Well... (Neal2028 - 2/16/2007 12:20:03 AM)
My first choice for VP right now is Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee, but, about these Democratic Senators listed, let me pass judgement on them (I'm discounting Clinton, Obama, Dodd, and Biden, because I doubt, for different reasons, they would accept #2):

Evan Bayh: He's a nice guy, but he's ungodly boring and I really don't think he could bring Indiana into play.  He just seems to bland.

Dianne Feinstein: I like Senator Feinstein, but, in my opinion, she has a couple things working against her.  First, she'll be fairly old in 2008 (75), and she's from a state that is already in the Democratic column (California).  If we're going for an older, very experienced female senator who won't swing any electoral votes, why not just go for Barbara Mikulski?

Dick Durbin: I believe Senator Durbin would be well-served to wait it out in the Senate until Harry Reid retires, and move up as Democratic leader.

Jack Reed: I'm really not sure what Jack Reed would bring to the ticket.

Jim Webb: I think we all know Jim Webb's pluses and minuses.  He's got great ideas, he's articulate on the Iraq War, and he's got a high national profile.  But he has very little experience, so an inexperienced candidate (Edwards and Obama) probably wouldn't pick him.  If the nominee is an experienced Washington insider (Richardson, Clinton, Biden, etc.) then Webb would help balance the ticket.

Ken Salazar: I really like Senator Salazar.  He seems to know what he's talking about, and he knows how to word it so it sounds good.  As one of only 2 Democrats elected in 2004, he's been in Barack Obama's long shadow for a while, and people haven't paid him as much attention as they should have.

Blanche Lincoln: Senator Lincoln is bright, articulate, and from the all-important South.  I just can't seem to get interested in her as Vice President, however.