VP Candidates Front and Center

With the Democratic (please note the spelling and pronunciation all you Republic(an)s) National convention rapidly approaching, the Vice Presidency is entering it's brief, and only, shining moment. Never shall these men and women shine so brightly. At least, until their candidates presidency is over and they themselves get nominated.

That said, on Meet the Press, their, unfortunately abbreviated analysis:



And on the Today show, their report:



The skinny?


Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) is the current front runner. Most national security experience. Heck, he just visited Tbilisi at the invitation of the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to discuss the Russia-Georgia conflict. Great attack dog persona for destroying whomever the Republic(an)s pick in debate. Downside: he is a little long in the tooth. He is in the old white guy to balance the ticket mold that the Obama people may want to avoid. At least he isn't from the south.


Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) is a close second. Safer pick. Less likely to do damage or embarrass with his (lack of) bravado. Has decent foreign chops. Was a governor for eight years. Been in the senate for 10. Downside: He is a little plain vanilla. He isn't the debater Biden is and might have some issues holding his own against certain Republic(an) counterparts. He also suffers some from the 'safe white male' pick that the campaign may be intentionally avoiding.


Governor Tim Kaine (D-VA) would be a great pick, except for his lack of experience. He has the vision, the idealism and the passion but not the credentials. With a candidate that also has a credentialing issue, that is not a particularly good thing. That said, he and Obama have good chemistry and picking him would signal that Obama is confident in his message and would rather have someone who he considers comfortable with rather than someone who would help him shore up his own shorcomings. Whether that is a good thing is debatable.


Former Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA). His name keeps popping up. I have no clue why. Serious foreign policy and a defense chops. Not very charismatic. Why you would want to pick a cranky old southern white guy completely baffles me. Credentials smentials (or something like that). This would be an awful pick. Even worse, I have the feeling that if they did want him, he would rebuff them.


Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY). Yes, I know everyone has her written off. But seriously, she has no weak spots that haven't already been messed with. You know what you are getting. There is some serious potential bonus for the woman candidate. And, after essentially giving her a non-consider for the last two months, you may bring Hillary supporters who have drifted into the nether back into the fold and give the campaign an extra infusion of life. That said, I consider this a long shot, but I don't think the odds are as long as some pundits would have you believe.


Senator Chistopher J. Dodd (D-CT). Chris was the original 'Biden' candidate. Serious foreign policy chops, as well as some super relevant domestic chops (Banking Committee) after 28 years in the Senate. Not quite as ferocious a debater as Biden. Also, apparently, not as interested in campaigning for the position as Biden. Both of which have relegated him to the end of the line. He could still be a dark horse though.


Finally, although I doubt it will happen, I shall mention Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM). A seriously major contender early on, his vice-presidential prospects seem to have mimicked his presidential prospects. He also has some serious chops on issues that Obama is perceived to be weak on. He is not exactly an attack dog though. For reasons that I may never fully understand, I fear this man, whom I respect greatly, may fade into obscurity.

I'd like to see Evan Bayh. Why? Because, intellectually, he is more akin than the vast majority of potentials to my own views. I supported him for president until his very early dropout. I would love to see him as president. I would love to see him as Vice-President.

Likely choice: Sen. Joe Biden. Again, as I said, he is a little long in the tooth but he is the Dems answer (and revenge) for Dick Cheney. I will not be unhappy with this pick. I have been a great fan of his since I started politics. (I thought is was super cool that he was elected at age 29 since he would be 30 before he took office in the senate.) I think he has the right combination for Obama now.

Truth be told I would not be unhappy with any of the above candidates. There are, of course, many not mentioned whom I would be equally happy with but who have no chance.

I don't know that this decision makes that much of a difference in this election. To the extent that it may, Biden will help you the most, particularly since he will be a near slam dunk in the Vice-Presidential debate regardless of his opponent.

We will find out in the next week or so who it is. We will find out in the next 10 weeks or so if it matters.

Comments welcome,

Pat McGovern

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