Since we are playing the "VP Dating Game" I will float two surprising names to pair with Clinton

[Perky]

The First is Bob Graham. This would put Florida out of reach for the GOP and may be all that is necessary.

NOw here is the shocker (and No it is no someone I am endorsing, and No I can't believe I am saying the name)

But it makes sense.

Harold Ford. The rationale is pretty simple:

Hillary and Obama are going to make kissy-kissy at the convention,, but Nominees rarely pick the runner up and I suspect the bad blood is going to rise significantly before this is all over. So I really do not expect Hillary to choose Obama.

My fear is that the African-American community is going to feel like they are owed something having come so close. I don't particularly like Harold Fird...but having him on the ticket puts Tennessee in play and probably meant that the GOP would have to protect the base in a couple of other states in the south. That works well if the election pivots on VA, OH and Missouri.

[FARAFIELD]

1. Anybody that think it isnt going to be

Bayh is out of their head

[Perky]

3. Bayh's ONLY VALUE to such is a ticket is that he MIGHT be able to deliver Indiana

That is not a given and there is not much he offers the ticket beyond that.

[aquart]

4. Creepy choice.

[skipos]

11. Bayh wouldn't win IN

maybe there is another reasons he keeps on getting mentioned as a VP possibility.

NC elected Edwards, and he didn't win it as VP. MA elected Mitt, and he won't win it if he is nominated. Edwards didn't win NC. Even if Bayh is very popular in IN, some states are too red or too blue for the other party to flip. Presidential candidates can get about a 10% boost in their homeststate, VPs @5%. North Carolina is less red than Indiana, and it was still too red for Edwards to flip it.

NC '88: Bush (57.97 - 41.71) = + 8.54% Republican
NC '92: Bush (43.44 - 42.65) = + 6.35% Republican
NC '96: Dole (48.73 - 44.04) = + 13.22% Republican
NC '00: Bush (56.03 - 43.20) = + 13.34% Republican
NC '04: Bush (56.02 - 43.58) = + 9.98% Republican (see the Edward boost?)


IN '88: Bush (59.84 - 39.69) = + 12.43% Republican
IN '92: Bush (42.91 - 36.79) = + 11.68% Republican
IN '96: Dole (47.13 - 41.55) = + 14.11% Republican
IN '00: Bush (56.65 - 41.01) = + 16.15% Republican
IN '04: Bush (59.94 - 39.26) = + 18.22% Republican

Not only would Bayh not win IN as a VP, I don't think he would win it even as a Presidential candidate.

I posted this in another thread btw.

[aquart]

2. You pick the Veep who will not get you shot.

If Hillary wins because the AA community supported her instead of Obama, then they have their choice in the top of the ticket. Hillary is Northeast industrial plus Arkansas. She needs a Veep west of the Mississippi. But NOT California. And NOT popular with maniacs.

If the candidate is Hillary.

This is like decorating the nursery before you feel the baby kick. Me, I don't even give an expectant mother a rattle, I am that superstitious.

Let's wait and see who our candidate is AFTER WE CAST OUR VOTES.

[Alexander]

5. Harold Ford LOST Tennessee, so how would he put it in play?

I think Evan Bayh, Wesley Clark and Tom Vilsack are all more likely candidates for VP than Harold Ford.

On the other hand, I suspect the Clintons wanted Ford to win the TN Senate seat just so they'd have the option of picking him.

[Perky]

8. He barely lost

Just saying.

[skipos]

12. Ford isn't winning TN

Keep in mind that Mitt Romney won MA, and he won't even come close to winning it in a G.E. Some states are too red or blue to flip. Here is the partisan index for the last 5 presidential elections in TN (9r=TN voted 9% more republican than the rest of the country.)

Tennessee: 9r, 1r (Gore VP) 6r (Gore VP) 4r (Gore P) 12r

[Alexander]

15. The fact that it was even close shows he has little statewide appeal...

And could not guarantee the state of Tennessee.

[OzarkDem]

20. All are incredibly bad choices

We might as well let Bush and Cheney have another term.

DLC Dems will pursue the same agenda, so why bother? Americans are expecting candidates who will change the direction of the country, not maintain the status quo.

[tritsofme]

6. Harold Ford couldn't carry TN himself in 2006

In one of the most toxic years for the GOP in a generation.

I happen to like Harold Ford very much, but I don't think he brings a lot to that ticket.

Graham seems out of the political scene and bent on keeping it that way, Floridians haven't cast a vote for him since 1998.

And I also see the ultra-popular, not to mention one of Graham's old political rivals, Charlie Crist as a potential GOP VP candidate.

[Perky]

18. It was close.....

And the DSSC atopped providing money to focus on Virginia. I don't fault themfor that chice...But it was a close race.

[msongs]

7. vp = wes clark nt

[PassingFair]

9. One word after Iowa.

Vilsack.

[Tesha]

13. Ahh -- yet another reason not to support the ticket.

Vilsack, the man who plunged the knife into
Dean back in 2004.

Tesha

[burythehatchet]

10. stroke - stroke - stroke - stroke

[femmocrat]

14. Is no one picking Richardson?

Mr. Resume who can bring in the Latino vote???

[Alexander]

16. He really blew it with his answer on whether being gay is a choice...

Looked like a terrible homophobe in that debate.

Speaking of debates, he's not great at those, either.

Looking good on paper is not the only requirement of a presidential candidate.

[CK_John]

17. Gov K Sebelius is the most obvious choice. n/t

[greendog]

19. It'll be this guy.

[TwilightGardener]

21. What red states can Andrew Jackson help us carry?