Algorithm determines 'ideal' VP candidates for Obama, McCain

[Rosco T.]

Algorithm determines 'ideal' VP candidates for Obama, McCain

June 30, 2008 (IDG News Service) It turns out that the ideal vice presidential candidate for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is the same person as the ideal vice presidential candidate for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the presumptive Democratic nominee, according to a sophisticated online survey by Affinnova Inc.

For both candidates, the best running mate is Colin Powell, a former U.S. Army general and former secretary of state under President George H.W. Bush, according to the survey, which was powered by an Affinnova algorithm it calls "evolutionary optimization."

"We never imagined that the same candidate would show up for both parties," said Steve Lamoureaux, Affinnova's chief innovation officer.

(snip)

Affinnova typically uses its survey algorithm technology to help companies test new products and do other kinds of marketing research, but the company turned to politics to demonstrate the technology, Lamoureaux said. The Affinnova methods, based on technology developed at MIT, doesn't use the typical polling method of asking respondents to pick a name from a list. Instead, Affinnova's methodology gives respondents larger concepts, including photos, biographical information and possible first-term priorities.

(more)

http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9104798

[Hydra]

1. Oh, that would work well...

:sarcasm:

McCain needs some sort of fundie wacko as his VP, so that wouldn't work.

Obama needs someone he can trust who didn't carry water for Bush, so that's out too.

How about we just forget Powell ever existed?

[Make7]

2. Yellnick McWawa ( n/t )

[bikesein]

6. Makes sense to me Cliff

I think the Al Gore ithm is the key....

[greyshade]

3. Far from Reality

Obama would never choose Powell, because - aside from the racial composition of the ticket - Powell rolled over for the Bushies regarding Iraq and presented that farcial mummery at the UN.

[Catch22Dem]

4. Powell was not Secretary of State

Under George H. W. Bush. He was SecState under W. I'm supposed to trust this algorithm?

[Warpy]

5. I heard that meme from a right winger last night

and wondered where in Satan's realm it had come from, the idea that an all black ticket with a GOP liar on it would somehow be attractive. I asked the dope if he thought the two black guys would cancel each other out somehow and turn the ticket white or something. He got purple and stomped away. Probably just as well, he looked like he was ready to stroke out.

There are people I often think would be great VP choices, most out of the public eye and few I agree with on many subjects. The very last person he needs is some GOP.