2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumIs Potential Clinton VP Tom Vilsack the Best-Kept Secret in Politics?
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"He is probably the best-kept secret in American politics," said Doug Campbell, Vilsack's best friend from childhood and perhaps his biggest fan.
He's not just saying that. People who know Vilsack see him as the George Harrison of the Obama cabinet a quiet talent waiting to be discovered.
"Secretary Vilsack stands out in D.C. not just because of his discipline, his smarts and his competence. His decency is what distinguishes him," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, who worked on Vilsack's brief presidential run before joining Obama's campaign in 2007.
Vilsack has one clear advantage over every other potential pick: a personal relationship with Clinton that goes back more than 40 years. He also has more executive experience than the rest of the field as well as the potential to actually deliver a key state. He also might help mitigate Democrat losses with rural whites.
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/potential-clinton-vp-tom-vilsack-best-kept-secret-politics-n610631
Cirque du So-What
(26,042 posts)He has a sterling resume.
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)mia
(8,363 posts)Just getting to know about Vilsack. Here's another article.
The trust factor: One of the agriculture secretary's most unique strengths in the veepstakes, his supporters say, is that he is actually friends with Hillary Clinton, and has been for decades. Vilsack is reportedly closer to Clinton personally than anyone else still being considered for the job. Their friendship dates to the early 1970s when Clinton and Vilsack's late brother-in-law, Tom Bell, worked together as staffers on the Senate Watergate Committee.
The governing factor: Vilsacks history of being more workhorse than show horse is a reason hes being considered for the job, surrogates say. In nearly eight years in President Barack Obamas Cabinet, Vilsack has been a steady hand, plugging along dutifully on many administration priorities, from school lunches to international food security to expanding ag exports work thats taken him to 23 countries.
Why now? The fact Vilsacks name is apparently circulating so late in the veepstakes has questions swirling among agriculture politicos about which of the three most likely scenarios is true: Vilsack has recently moved up Clintons potential VP list; hes been up there all along and the political media either missed the story or Team Clinton did well to keep it under wraps; or the campaign is floating Vilsack now as a sign of appreciation before naming someone else, like Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who is reportedly the front-runner to get the nod. Pros can read the full story from Bottemiller Evich here.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-agriculture/2016/07/how-vilsack-would-help-clintons-ticket-215351#ixzz4EcZhnStk
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w4rma
(31,700 posts)With Kaine and Warner support, trade bill moves ahead
http://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/dp-nws-trans-pac-20150514-story.html
Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez says Trans-Pacific Partnership is good and deserves fast tracking
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/4/20/1379010/-Secretary-of-Labor-Thomas-Perez-says-Trans-Pacific-Partnership-is-good-and-deserves-fast-tracking
Vilsack confident Congress will pass Pacific trade deal
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/270507-vilsack-confident-congress-will-pass-pacific-trade-deal
farmbo
(3,122 posts)He is a charismatic speaker with a compelling life story, and deep middle class street cred arising from his humble origins in western Pa.