Lets talk Vice Presidential picks

[JaJae]

One of the few things Obama could do to make me second guess my decision to vote for him would be to nominate an unethical politician, especially one that goes against everything he has told me he stood for. If he nominates Hillary I may swing third party.

[kinggovernor]

Sen. Webb has declined an opportunity for the VP slot
In Case You Ask: Webb Declines Veep Role - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog

[motivez]

So, Obama is planning to announce his VP pick by text message, potentially in the next day or two before returning home from vacation:

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Barack Obama will announce his vice presidential pick to his supporters by SMS text message, the Democratic White House candidate's campaign said Monday.

In an email sent late Sunday to supporters of the Illinois senator, campaign chief David Plouffe said: "Be the first to know" who Obama will pick as his deputy on the ticket for November's general election.

The message asks supporters to leave their names, email addresses and cellphone numbers so they can receive an SMS text message "the moment Barack makes his decision."

"No other campaign has done this before," said Plouffe, who asked Obama supporters to pass the email along.

The Obama campaign includes some two million helpers who ply the Internet for funds and put out the candidate's message.

Obama is on vacation in the US state of Hawaii until August 15 and could announce his VP pick before he returns home.

His vice president would be expected to speak at the August 25-27 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

AFP: Obama to announce VP pick by text message

Anyone signed up?

Barack Obama | Change We Can Believe In | Be the First to Know

[kinggovernor]

that is pretty cool

[motivez]

I signed up. I don't have a text message plan, so they better not send me a bunch of shit.. I want to know who the VP is going to be, and that's it.

[DosEquis]

Thank you for signing up -- now make a donation!

[Smull]

sounds kinda gimmicky to me

[motivez]

Originally Posted by Smull

sounds kinda gimmicky to me

If I'm not around a tv or radio, this is a good way for me to know early

[motivez]

I have to say, if Obama picks anyone other than Clark I think I'm going to be disappointed in the decision.

I can't think of anyone else who's on par. I mean, the guy is a 4 star general, loads of foreign policy experience, former Supreme Allied Commander, finished first in his class at West Point (McCain was like, 4th from the bottom in his at Annapolis), and has a degree in Economics from Oxford.

Who compares to that? People like Bayh are boring, and Biden.. ugh. I like the guy, but he's not right for this campaign.. he's too entrenched in Washington, and has that whole credit thing behind him.. Hillary has too much baggage, and if he picks that lady from Kansas (Sebelius or however you spell it), Clinton supporters will take it as him picking a 'token woman' instead of Hillary..

I'm expecting the text message today or tomorrow I hope

[Scrum]

I'm still really hoping for Clark as well. I just can't see any of the other people fitting into this campaign.

[kombayn]

I don't think he's going to pick Wesley Clark, he threw him under the bus after he criticized John McCain's military service. Barack Obama will do anything to get elected, if he does pick Evan Bayh or Joe Biden, I will be campaigning against him in California for the Nader/Gonzalez ticket. I personally want to see Kathleen Sebelieus, Bill Richardson or Wesley Clark (though I think he's a complete long-shot). I'm interested in who John McCain will pick, Mitt Romney has fallen off the map so it looks like Tim Pawlenty, Tom Ridge and Joe Lieberman as the final 3. Pawlenty is the only safe pick. I think Obama's personal top 3 is Sebelieus (but no one from the base wants her), Evan Bayh or Joe Biden.

[Smull]

I thought this was interesting
CARPE DIEM: VP Odds on Intrade

Current Intrade.com odds for GOP VP (last trade):
Romney: 25.2%
Pwalenty: 25%
Ridge: 10%
Palin: 10%

Current Intrade.com odds for Dem VP:
Bayh: 27.8
Biden: 25%
Clarke: 17%
Kaine: 13.9%

I'll be happy if Obama chooses Clarke, and disseminated if McCain chooses Romneny, I dont really know enough about the other names mentioned there to have much of an opinion.

[motivez]

The news is that Clark wont even be at the Democratic convention, he'll be in Milan doing business because the Obama campaign didn't have him speaking or really with any major role at the convention

This was confirmed by his son who posts on Daily Kos, which really pisses me off.

I think Obama is making a huge mistake by picking someone else.

Of course, it could be all some kind of ruse to throw everyone off.. the conflict in Georgia, IMO, boosts the need for Clark even more, because he knows the area well. Obama doesn't.

Obama is going to really have to show off a better grasp of policy details and whatnot in this election or McCain is going to have an easy time going after his lack of experience in these matters..

Having Clark by his side, advising him, and so forth, would really negate that line of attack.. because Clark's military credentials trump McCain's by a lot.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Smull

Current Intrade.com odds for Dem VP:
Bayh: 27.8
Biden: 25%
Clarke: 17%
Kaine: 13.9%

where's edwards?

[kombayn]

We should find out soon who will be Obama's VP. After this weekend with the 100,000 Against Evan Bayh facebook group and Biden's bankruptcy reform bill he sponsored. I'm holding out hope that he picks Sebelius, it means he's got the balls to stand-up against everyone and really go for this "CHANGE" message.

John McCain has to pick Tim Pawlenty, I just don't see how he couldn't. He's the only one on all sides of the GOP could be at least, "At least Pawlenty follows the platform." Ridge will be a disaster for McCain if he picks him but you never know... McCain might double-down on the security issue.

[kombayn]

Originally Posted by kombayn

Democratic VP Top 3:
1.) Obama/Sebelius
2.) Obama/Clark
3.) Obama/Richardson


Republican VP Top 3:
1.) McCain/Crist
2.) McCain/Palin
3.) McCain/Pawlenty


I think Obama needs to choose Kathleen Sebelius, because I'm pretty certain John McCain in any other situation will pick Sarah Palin, though Pawlenty is getting a favorable boost right now. Why? Because both are very well-liked female Governors and they'll appeal greatly to Hillary Clinton's supporters. If Obama picks Sebelius, McCain has to pick Crist in hopes of securing Florida.

If Obama picks a male, it should be Wesley Clark because he's a long-time Clintonite and extremely respected by the Democrats and I think he would put up the best fight at Sarah Palin. Trust me, if Obama goes male, McCain HAS to pick Palin because she can possibly be the only candidate to put this election into play for McCain. Only reason she's not #1 in the GOP Top 3 I have is that I don't think she'd put up a good fight with Sebelius.

At first I was a big advocate for Kathleen Sebelius to be Obama's VP but with her sons "prison rape" game, it's too much of a scandal to conservatives for Obama to combat. So I've been joining the Wesley Clark bandwagon too. He's extremely well-liked with-in his party and he has the foreign policy credentials to smack McCain upside his head. I'm still rooting for Sebelius though and from what I've read McCain is going to choose Pawlenty even though I think he should pick Sarah Palin, a very attractive young governor with a good amount of executive experience and she can attract Hillary's voters.

I just wanted to show how awesome I am for bring her up before. Plus, isn't Sarah Palin hot?

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by kombayn

I just wanted to show how awesome I am for bring her up before. Plus, isn't Sarah Palin hot?

You crashed and burned in your democratic pics but picking Palin in your top three is pretty amazing. I don't know anyone else who did

[kombayn]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

You crashed and burned in your democratic pics but picking Palin in your top three is pretty amazing. I don't know anyone else who did

Yeah, I did crash & burn in the Democratic picks. But if Wesley Clark didn't get thrown under the bus, I'm sure he would be in contention. Sebelius was on the short-list and Richardson was getting consideration at the last minute. But he went with goofy ol' Joe and that could hurt him in the end or not, really depends how Joe tries to win over the blue-collar voters.

[motivez]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

You crashed and burned in your democratic pics but picking Palin in your top three is pretty amazing. I don't know anyone else who did

northunter said he hoped McCain would pick her too