Obama begins VP search process

Source: CNN

(CNN) — Barack Obama is quietly beginning his search for a running mate.

A veteran Democratic activist in Washington confirms to CNN's John King that former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson has accepted Obama's request for him to begin a screening/selection process for the No. 2 spot.

...

Johnson performed the same role in 2004 and 1984 for then-Democratic presidential nominees John Kerry and Walter Mondale.

The activist, a party operative who has been involved in democratic presidential campaigns and conventions dating back more than 20 years, said it was his information that the process was "at a very early point but that within the campaign itself they have been informally thinking about it for awhile."

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/22/obama-begins-vp-search-process/

I can see the attackers going after him.

:sarcasm:

:rofl:

...the "go fuck yourself" vote.

would you please explain it to me.

btw, I was being sarcastic (that's why I posted :sarcasm:) - I don't have qualms with the fellow he picked, I don't know him and couldn't find any smear about him - being a CEO isn't a crime and the fella has done the review and vetting of potential VP's before.

Deadeye Dick's famous quote is a bit of a running joke.

Which has to put Edwards in the lead.

He's going to end up picking Hillary. She can help him in the national election.

Also, I disagree Clinton helps.

1. She polarizes the opposition.
2. She negates Obama's claims to be a different type of politican.
3. The Democratic party will win New York without her.

And then some.

promised to run his administration differently.

1 - Clinton as VP won't galvanize the opposition. The opposition will be against BO.
2 - VP doesn't make policy and she adds experience with the executive that would help him
3 - true, but will he win Michigan, PA or Ohio without her - doubtful

She will help out considerably in the above 3 states, plus it stops the defection of her voters.
I think she would be a net asset as VP. However, I do think Bill might be a problem unless BO also appoints him to some position (at large ambassador to the world?)where he's away a lot.

I am hoping for the GE sake, that he offers her the job publicly. Whether she takes it or not, that will be a big boost for party unity. In fact, it might even be better if she declined, and accepted his offer of a nomination for the next supreme court spot?

be great for several reasons: lend foreign-policy gravitas to the Obama-Richardson ticket, appeal to Latinos and Latinas, come across as very easy-going but also very serious.

although he'd really like to be the AG.

There's been a war going on. Both Clinton and Edwards were all for the war, while Obama was against it. I see that as the biggest issue that separated him from them in this primary. No way would he or should he pick one of them - they're poison.

This gives him more credit in that department.

I still think it should be Webb or Clark. I was stronger for Clark, but Jim Webb has gained in my eyes as of late.

1 Views and connections to Appalachia.
2 Military experience; both combat and man power studies.
3 His history would resonate with disenchanted Republicans.

I haven't paid a lot of attention to him, voting-wise, but I've gotten the impression that he's even more conservative than Obama, who isn't really as left as I'd like already. I also don't know if the Dems would be happy giving up a hard fought senate seat that Webb just won. I always thought that Clark was a Clinton buddy, so I'd be surprised if he got involved. I'm not even sure if he'd be interested. I'd LOVE for it to be Howard Dean, but he has a massive job on his hands for this election already. I'm sure that Obama will make the right choice, and if it is Clinton or Edwards, so be it. I won't be happy about it, but I trust the man to make what he feels the right decision is. I'm proud that Edwards has tried to make things right for his past mistakes, but those mistakes are so huge, that, at least for me, they aren't really forgivable. "Sorry" doesn't make a war go away, and I wouldn't want to have a president (I think it's best to think of the VP as being a fall on the ice, or a heart attack, etc. away from the presidency) with a history of making such mistakes. It's not just about the election, but about who he wants to be there with him for 4 (I'd like to think 8) years.

That I am not happy about.

Sam Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones.

7 year old Arab girls were shooting at American forces....helps to justify a lot of bigotry.

He was credited for the story or story idea.

Still...I'd like to see him explain his involvement or repudiate it. The thing is, it probably plays well with typical voters and apologizing for it would make him look week.

to kneecap him, even at the expense of the GE or the party, should not be rewarded with a VP offer.

The antiwar base hates her, but the Republicans hate her more, and thus she'd motivate the Rs to come out and vote even if they hate McCain or otherwise don't care.

Not to mention it undermines Obama's message by putting somebody so dirty on the ticket.

junior!

though I did just read that her dad would like her to run for office someday.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3321378&mesg_id=3321378

Something tells me Ferraro is not going to make the cut this time.

Although I believe it needs to be a white candidate with ties to the south and to the right of Obama; Webb. :shrug:

is too much diversity,
Joe Biden?

Getting the Hispanic vote is more important nationally than and one State IMHO.

Or do I wait for the phone call?

Decisions, decisions...

:P

Sebelius
Richardson
Clark
Biden
Edwards
Strickland
Clinton

Anyone have any other possibilities?

Brian Schweitzer (governor of Montana) would be excellent, if he'd take the job.

How about Anthony Zinni? He's a retired Marine General (four stars) who's been very outspoken against this war.

So that these Hillary white fans would be hooked.

A Wesley Clark or Bill Richardson come to mind right away. If there was a real strong Democrat from Florida or Ohio I would go that way too (Bob Graham is a guy that would hand Florida to Obama but he was passed over in 2004 and is basically out of the game).

shore up the middle. she does seem to have morphed herself into that candidate who "feels your pain" and cares about the working class.

that said, i wouldn't want her and her husband traipsing around the white house, acting like it was theirs. but i do believe in a general election, she would be a plus.

That would help him take the bigger states like CA, NY, FL and the southwest. Richardson is good idea.

As goes Ohio, so goes the election.

others? -

Gore - an inconvenient VP since he won't take it

Webb - too sticky

Richardson - name is not hispanic enough

Clinton - food tasters union gets a boost, but Bill will be 2nd Lady-man

So all of the silly reasons agree - Strickland!