Reply #6: Not entirely sold on Sebelius myself yet. However... [View All]

[gcomeau]

1. Foreign Policy/Military

I personally think Domestic/Economy creds in a VP will go further. On Iraq we've already got not only the "everyone knows it's a disaster" angle covered but also the "most people agree what to do about it" angle. Get the hell out. I don't think that's going to be the problem for Obama against McCain that some people seem to think it is.

The economy on the other hand, that's where there's room to improve. Everyone agrees that's a disaster to, but as for what to do about it? That's a lot more murky, and thus takes more work to convince people Obama is the one to handle it. Sure, McCain's whole "I don't understand economics" factor is going to do wonders there, but I still see this as trumping Foreign Policy/National Security when we're looking at VPs

2. Not well known...

No argument. Of course that would change fast.

3. Can't deliver her state

Probably not. But I think this is an over-rated criteria. I'd prefer to have a VP that swung a wide swath of the electorate over one that gave a one state edge.

4. The Bubba vote.

The "Bubba vote" is probably 20 or 25% of the electorate (I think I'm overestimating there, but whatever)... but do you really think the people not voting for Obama because he's a liberal black guy with Hussein in his name are going to change their mind because of a VP?

Women on the other hand are over 50% of the electorate, and they would mostly LOVE to see a woman in the White House, especially after they just got so close to having one as the presidential candidate. I can see Obama consolidating the female democratic vote and swinging a lot of female independents with a woman as a running mate.