Ah yes - the excitement of the warm weather - late spring, early summer, ice cream, popsicles, barbecues and...running mates of course! With the primary season officially over, the media has focused their ever so acute attention on the glorified process of selecting the vice presidential candidates. While Barack Obama and John McCain would probably like to avoid discussing this issue at all costs, they are likely to be powerless to the onslaught of questions that they will receive in the coming weeks regarding the matter. Nevertheless, I feel inclined to comment on the relative pro's and con's of the media's personal vice presidential preferences, even if they differ quite strongly from those of the campaign's themselves.
We'll start with Mr. Obama. So many options so little time. Or are there? With calls for the addition of Hillary Clinton to the Senator's ticket being screamed so loudly in his ear, it is hard to remember that he did actually win the democratic nominating contest only three days ago. As the furor dies down in the coming weeks, it will become easier to evaluate all of the choices at hand with a clear and rational mindset. So long as the media lets this go, mind you.
Hillary Clinton - Not much of a surprise here. Not only the first female Presidential candidate to run a strong and serious campaign to the brink of a major political party nomination, but the first female candidate to lose it all in the end to a black male. The often quoted statistic that at least half of her 18 million primary supporters still insist that they will not vote for the Senator from Illinois is not an inspiring figure for the Obama campaign. It will be a true risk to predict that these voters are bluffing, or at the very least slow to admit defeat (not unlike their presidential hopeful). On the other hand, the Obama campaign must be fully aware of the potential disaster awaiting the addition of Hillary Clinton to a ticket with Barack Obama. Yes, the same Hillary Clinton that could possibly be the single most hated politician in political history. While that may be a bit of a stretch, so is the idea of her sneaking another 5 months under the white, working, middle class banner she waved so proudly in the primary contest. I guess it doesn't take much to be Joe Amerrica when your opponent has the name Barack Obama, but what about when the opposition spent five and half years in an enemy prison camp and has a name not too different than your local bartender's? Sounds like a different story.
If the Obama camp is really interested in joining up with the Clintonator(s), they will have to take a long and hard look at the message they are trying to push and the one that may end up actually coming out. If only those under the age of 8 will be feeling the "change," does it really still count?
Al Gore - The Messiah of Democratic politics, that is, next to Barack Obama of course. Many feel that Gore on the ticket would end this process pretty quickly, and they're right.
John Edwards - He has made no secret of the fact that he is very good at denying his desire and potential to be on the ticket, but this time he may in fact be telling the truth. There is no saying that Edwards would even help the Obama campaign win over southern voters outside of his home state; just because he's southern and white doesn't mean he's southern and white. His mansion highlights the fact that he isn't quite a part of the working poor that he fights to protect, and his slight demeanor and perfect hair don't always fly with the huntin' and killin' crowd. Nobody likes a loser, and in 2004 his ticket did just that. John Edwards is an unlikely choice, but he's not the only southern gentleman on the radar.
Jim Webb, Senator (VA) - A newcomer to the national political sphere, an ardent opponent of the Iraq War and a -- decorated military man who served under Ronald Reagan?! If he sounds like exactly what Obama needs to broaden his mainstream appeal while maintaining his message, perhaps he is. A moderate, southern democrat who narrowly grabbed a Senate seat in the 2006 elections, Webb is a very strong option to fill out the ticket. His inter-party appeal (a blue Senator from a red state) fits quite well with Obama's message of unity, and he is sure to lend credibility to Obama's positions on Iraq, foreign policy and security issues. He has few political enemies and is likely to be well received by those dismayed by the issues most disastrous to the campaign: Reverend Wright and the Muslim thing. Webb's biggest downfall? An article he penned 27 years ago strongly denying the ability for women to instruct men in combat issues. If the Clinton voters are crying sexism now, this could ignite a spark that sends a few too many voters over to the McCain team. The Democrats need women voters, losing them is losing the election.
A second list of potentials includes Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, Wesley Clark, Ed Rendell, and yes, even Republic Chuck Hagel.
Soon to come.
