If Dean Were the Nominee, Which Opponent Would Make Best VP Pick?

[tsipple]

Simple question to close out 2003 with a possible eye toward 2004. The universe of choices is limited only to those Democratic candidates also running for the nomination in this poll.

"Best" means the VP pick who would most boost Dean's chances of beating Bush. (The game is electoral success.)

Note that willingness to accept such a position is not part of the question here. Ignore that factor.

Happy New Year, everybody!

[Democrats unite]

1. If polls are the worst.

eom

[TexasPatriot]

2. why vermin supreme?

because Figbar man wasnt on your poll...

http://home.epix.net/~wayne26/mrfigb/figbar.html

[tsipple]

3. Figs Are Good!

Plenty of fiber, right?

[jsw_81]

4. Clark, but I really want Graham or Richardson

I'd be happy with any of them.

[liberalnurse]

12. Clark is still in his virginal state

as a politician and democrat. We really need to keep that in mind.

[demnan]

5. Bob Graham

[worldgonekrazy]

13. Yup n/t

[TLM]

16. Yesh, he's the best pick at this point.

of dems who ran...

[Dookus]

6. Graham...

I think Graham's the best choice by far no matter WHO the nominee is.

[poskonig]

7. Clark is probably better than Graham

Graham was really shrill during his presidential campaign.

Though the cuddly, friendly, likable Graham would definitely be an asset. I'm just not sure which one we'd get.

[patricia92243]

8. Edwards sort of grows on you - and he would help with the

Southern vote - maybe - but i'm not sure if the national security might be more important

[worldgonekrazy]

14. Edwards is too much of a neo-phyte IMO

Its the same reason I like him, but it would tough to pair him with an "outsider" candidate like Dean.

[JVS]

9. He'd be better served by picking a non-candidate

[mandyky]

11. I agree, I'd like to see Dean chose

a woman or a minority, or one that fits both, if possible.

[mandyky]

10. Who the hell is

vermin supreme?

[Bucky]

15. Yeh! Who's Vermin Supreme? Oh, and why Clark is wrong

I understand Wes Clark demurring about being a VP at this point in the race. He was nearly sandbagged into being the "VP" candidate back in September. But if Dean really does win the nomination, I'd really want Clark to reconsider. He'd need to have a damn good case why he'd turn down the honor. Right now turning it down makes tactical sense. I support the words. But he shouldn't poop on our nominee--especially a nominee like Howard Dean who will desperately need Clark's gravitas and credibility in the general election--after the nomination fight is over with. I'd rather have Clark as president, but Dean is whale loads better than Bush.

[Northwind]

17. The only two who will even be considered are Edwards and Graham.

Clark has zero chance at this point. He could have been smart and been the VP, but now he won't even be a has-been, he is a never-was.

[poskonig]

21. With Dean-Clark, we get two grassroots campaigns united in one.

That is a very sexy proposition.

[Kathleen04]

18. Voted Clark..

I like John Edwards too, but I'm not sure he's the greatest match for Dean.

[Kathleen04]

19. dupe n/t

[CalebHayes]

20. Clark or Edwards

[burning bush]

22. Dean should not pick any opponent

They all lost my confidence when they refused to stand up for Dean in the New Hampshire debate.

[OKNancy]

23. "I will not be Howard Dean's Cheney"

How many ways can Clark say it? He doesn't want to be Dean's VP.

[dansolo]

24. You forgot Graham

Even though he dropped out, he was technically an opponent for a while. He would make the best VP pick.

[MODemocrat]

25. Clark would be good for any ticket

Sure wish we could have them both, even Clark-Dean would be great.:thumbsup: :loveya:

[KaraokeKarlton]

26. Graham

n/t

[chaska]

27. Any body will do.

He can't possibly win anyway. Just ain't gonna happen.

[Jack Rabbit]

28. I'll go with Edwards

Is anybody surprised? After all, I consider a vote for the IWR a minus. However, that's one of the reasons I would pick Edwards.

First of all, Dean would want regional balance. Right there, Kerry, Lieberman and Shapton, all from neighboring states, are gone. He would probably want a Southerner, to offset his weaknesses there, something Dean does make an effort to do.

That gives us Clark and Edwards. Dean has risen to where he is be opposing the invasion of Iraq. He will want to show the wing of the party that opposed it that there will be room for them in a Dean Administration. Consequently, I'll give the nod to Edwards, who voted for the IWR, over Clark.

As a presidential candidate, I prefer Clark to Edwards. However, I think Edwards would do more to compensate Dean's weaknesses than Clark would.

Kucinich and Moseley-Braun would satisfy regional balance, but since they are more outspoken in their opposition to the invasion than Dean and would do little to help Dean where he is weak.

Another possibility using the same reasoning would be Gephardt, who is from a border state. However, apart from from his vote in favor of the IWR, Gephardt has built up a very liberal record. Since the Bushies seem intent on painting Dean as a far-out liberal (something he is not), it might be better to pick someone who isn't a far-out liberal by any stretch of the imagination.

[GBD4]

29. Bob Graham

it's Graham time

otherwise, Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida of the Foreign Relations & Armed Services Committees

on edit: oops, it's supposed to be an opponent, so I guess Nelson is disqualified :shrug: