VP Race: Clark, Clinton or Edwards

[seventhson]

If the choice was right now - just these three

Please say why

[phillybri]

1. It's still Edwards for me...

But any one will do!

[truhavoc]

2. Its funny that all but one (Edwards) has said directly that they don't...

want the job

[LandOLincoln]

6. Clark has NOT said he doesn't want the job.

His standard line is that he's "not interested in that job," he's "interested in getting Kerry elected president," which is not at all the same as saying he doesn't want the job.

The implied meaning, of course, is that if by accepting the vice presidency he can help get Kerry elected, he'll do it.

And BTW, what any of the former candidates said about the vice presidency during the primaries is completely irrelevant now.

[IronLionZion]

7. Edwards said long ago he didn't want it

but it's not what they want, its what we want. Clark had no intentions of running for president until he was drafted. And people want to draft Dean for VP too.

[jobycom]

9. They all say that

Well, almost all.

[JohnLocke]

3. The Constitution says Clinton cannot run for vice president (nt).

[IronLionZion]

4. dupe...sorry

[IronLionZion]

5. I didn't know the constitution hated women senators so much!

[JohnLocke]

8. Oh! Hillary Clinton!

Whoops.

[theivoryqueen]

15. what part of the Consitution says that? I have heard the opposite

as far as Bill goes.

[JohnLocke]

17. Amendments 12 & 22

"No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States." (Twelve Amendment)
"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once." (Twenty-Second Amendment)

[jobycom]

10. Not necessarily my opinion, but an argument for Clinton

Candidates don't like to pick the obvious choice. It destroys the surprise factor, and that surprise factor gets people talking. Also, since Clinton, candidates have done best picking VPs with national appeal. Before, they chose candidates who could strengthen them in a part of the country they were weak in. Clinton picked Gore, instead, because Gore helped to reinforce Clinton in the south, and as a national figure already, Gore didn't need as much selling.

Clinton has a lot of that going for her. She's not the obvious choice (Edward's is). She's not the geographic choice (again, Edwards is). And she has the biggest national name of the three mentioned. Yes, the name will drive Republicans crazy, but since Bill had a 60+ approval rating when he left office, she obviously has or can get a positive reaction from a lot of people.

And, her strengths in the country are New York and Chicago, which shores up the Dem base and allows Kerry to focus in swing states.

Plus, she has the female factor. In any given race, statistics show that, all things being equal-ish, women have a polling edge because a lot of people, men and women, will choose a woman over an equal man just because she's a woman. Often either party will run a woman in a close race against an incumbent just hoping that edge will help them.

There are a lot reasons not to choose her (and I'm sure some will blast a few of them off with quite a bit of enthusiam), but those are reasons to consider her. There are a few more, specific to Kerry. He supposedly doesn't get along with Edwards. He is looking for a clever surprise to give him the edge, and we all know Kerry likes to analyze, too a fault. He's the kind who can talk himself into a tricky option just because the obvious one is so obvious.

I'm not saying it would be the right choice. But I wouldn't be too surprised to see it happen. I'd be less surprised to see Edwards.

[IronLionZion]

13. that's not what Big Dog says

he says the VP should be someone you can communicate with and work with. and also be able to take your place when the Republicans remove you. That is the first presidential decision a candidate makes.

That is waaaaaaay more important then where s/he's from or how popular s/he is. Can anyone honestly say that Dick Cheney is wicked popular or that Wyoming was so damn crucial to win? Or Al Gore and Tennessee.

And I get what you're saying about Hillary but she swore not to screw NY by leaving mid-term. NY does not nead George Pataki to appoint some Republican as Senator.

[jobycom]

14. Well, yeah, okay, I was assuming the list would be narrowed

to qualified candidates first. LOL. You're right, though, I did sound rather overly political, there.

Remember Bill Clinton swearing he wouldn't leave Arkansas to run for president if they re-elected him? Bush never actually made public appearances in Texas when running for re-election, but if he had, he would have said the same thing in 98.

The argument that Pataki would appoint a Republican senator is a strong one. Do you know New York's laws on that? Would he have to call an election within a set period, or would his appointee hold the seat for the next two years?

[Doosh]

11. Edwards

.

[democratreformed]

12. Clark, for me

For the same reasons that I supported him for the nomination. He has diplomatic experiece and is well-respected in other countries. He will, I believe, be able to bring lost allies back to our side. He will be able to restore some of our lost respect. I believe that.

Wes Clark is an intelligent man who truly loves our country and will work for the betterment of all its citizens - however he can. Sure, during the primaries, he made some rookie mistakes. But, his heart remained true and, in the end, he never once let me down. Even in dropping out, I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do at the time. Sure enough, the announcement came just a few hours after my heart sank and finally admitted it.

That being said, there are many good Democrats that, I believe would be great VPs.

[theivoryqueen]

16. Clinton. I'd like to live to see a woman in at least the VP office

although it would also be great if Kerry were able to find a person of color to run with. I know a lot of eligible voters who have stated that would impel them to vote - in some cases for the first time.