Kerry Focused on 5 Possible Running Mates, People Say

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is focusing on five potential running mates, including former party nomination rivals Senator John Edwards and retired General Wesley Clark, according to campaign and party officials familiar with the selection process.

The others under consideration are Representative Richard Gephardt of St. Louis, Senator Bob Graham of Florida -- both of whom also made bids for the Democratic nomination -- and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. Kerry won't name his choice until next month, the officials said.

``With the exception of Vilsack, this is a very safe, predictable list,'' said Stu Rothenberg, editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report. ``You have here a number of people who ran for president, who have already been vetted, who are something of known quantities.''

Naming a running mate before the Democratic National Convention in July would add another fund raiser to the campaign and another voice to promote Kerry's proposals and criticize President George W. Bush. Vice President Dick Cheney has been raising money for the Republican re-election effort and has been using speeches to say voters should have ``ample reason to doubt'' Kerry's judgment on national security.

Kerry has refused to say who he is considering and his campaign declined to comment on the selection process.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=ac2_bSZMZcHU&refer=top_world_news

We need someone exciting... Edwards is my favorite choice!! Howard Dean would be fun, but he's not even being considered, I imagine.

I don't think that is it though. I think that he's considering women as well. Landrieu, Sebelius, and Jane Harman to be specific. If you through them in I still rank Gephardt last of my preference with Landrieu as my second choice overall.

No Bayh!

Wes Clark is on the list.

I can't help but believe that clark would be an incredible asset, with his military experience, economic background and populist ideas. Clark was right about Iraq, and I think he could help get the situation under control. I know he is well regarded by Muslims, in large part due to Kosovo.

he is VERY experienced in foreign policy!

I like the list. I prefer either John Edwards or Wes Clark. I would rank Graham last on this list.

Graham last. Clark first for me. Not once, during the primaries, did Graham impress me.

with the understanding that of course she won't actually get picked?

Just asking.

It's a decent bunch, but, boy, is it male and white.

Gets my vote, that's for sure. Although I will be voting for Kerry/WHOEVER this November.

CLARK!!! :)

We're going to need his focus on getting this wreck of a foreign policy fixed. He'd be a great choice for Kerry.

in 2004 this list is all white and all male. Sadly there are virtually no African Americans in a position to be on this list for our party and only a few women. Maybe if Obama wins big in Illionois and can win reelection in 2010 he can be on our ticket in 2012.

Clark is the way to go.

:thumbsup:

other than I am adamantly opposed to Gephardt. Of the rest I would put Clark first.

He has voted for English Only legislation and against multiculturalism on various occasions.

An acquaintance of mine sent this to another listserv of which I am a part.

Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack appears to be the hot name of the week in John F. Kerry's secretive search for a running mate, having been spotted with the right people recently."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12863-2004May9.html

To refresh your memory, Vilsack is the Democrat who signed the most
recent English-only bill into law (2002):
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JWCRAWFORD/ia.htm

I spoke beforehand with one of Vilsack's aides, who hoped to talk him into a veto, and gave her as much ammunition as I could. She described the governor as very torn about whether to give in to the anti-immigrant sentiment sweeping Iowa at the time. But I suspect she was really speaking for herself. After capitulating to political expediency, he offered these weasel words:

"I recognize that the bill is not without controversy," Vilsack said. "My hope is that we will look beyond the controversy and put politics behind us so we can focus on our commitments and responsibility to improve education for all our children."
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JWCRAWFORD/AP28.htm

With all the criticisms of Kerry these days for running a campaign
without significant input from blacks or Latinos, Vilsack would be just about the worst possible choice for VP. Unfortunately, it would also be consistent with everything else we've seen from this born-again New Democrat.

but I think a lot of people would perceive it as too 'foreign'.
(I know, I know, but a big chunk of the electorate really is that shallow. Kerry's way too "French" for some people.)

:eyes:

He said that national security has to be at the top of the ticket. Kerry's got it.

but if he is asked I would bet he would reverse.

I think it was on Judy Woodruff's program...he said that he was very happy in the private sector. But he sure has been quite visible lately...I like that!

I really think he'd make a stellar National Security Advisor. Can the VP be the NSA?

no to others.

Clark, then Edwards.

Both terrific. :toast:

...and wisely so imho, and I doubt Clark is getting a great deal of attention... Edwards, Gephardt and Vilsack would be expected (although i think Gephardt would be a weak choice and i really doubt that Vilsack would be much better) but there are a number of others and Clark and Graham are not amongst mougst them from what i have seen and heard...

Clark would add media charisma, intelligence, and military weight. Graham is just too boring, Vilsack too unknown, and Gephardt would do more for Nader's campaign than Kerry's.

If the economy becomes the front page news it's Edwards. I think it will be Clark as an experience officer to get us out of Iraq while Kerry works on the domestic front. We need Jamie Rubin in the cabinet, he was the assistant to Madeline Albright. Richard Holebrook, Gary Hart and Edwards as Ag are a few others. Gep would be ideal for the Sec of Labor.

I have the greatest respect for the other men who have been mentioned but there could be no better choice in these times than General Clark. The situtation we face in the world is not going to change substantially between now and November, Bush can not back out of Iraq and things there certainly are not going to improve. Clark is THE man when it comes to a strong national security stance. It simply has to be him.

But I'd be happy with any of them.

Clark may be the ticket.

Take your war on terror and shove it where the sun does shine!

I think it's important to get whomever would get the most votes for that loyalty alone.

Gephardt? SNOOZE

Graham? Big fat SNOOZE

Vilsack-that name alone is a no-go, sorry.

Edwards if the country was still mostly focused on manufacturing job losses. For our democracy (which currently has a shadow government running grave things), I prefer Clark who has said this was what he was worried about.

for months, I thought it would be either Clark or Vilsack ...

Vilsack is appealing because of the midwestern battleground states ... he's a strong campaigner and adds administrative skills to Kerry's legislative experience ... and if events steered this campaign to a domestic focus, I think Vilsack would have gotten the nod ...

but the war in Iraq just will not step to the sidelines ... Kerry was wise to not choose too quickly ...

Clark, unlike most of the other names mentioned with the exception of Graham, has maintained a high visibility ... I've seen him regularly on TV commenting on the status of the war ... and he fits right in line with Kerry's commercials ... the tag line is: strength and service. Clark gels nicely with the military motif Kerry will run on ... and his experience in military strategy and "real world" diplomacy is just what is needed for a conflict that seemingly just gets worse and worse everyday ...

Clark may not be my first choice but he is my prediction for the VP slot ...

this situation pretty much dictates his possibilty unless things drastically change away from the Iraq situation.

No other choice will satisfy me. The gates of Hell are
open in Iraq, and we need a man of Clark's military background
on the ticket to help Kerry solve the problem.

Wait, I changed my mind. Make that Clark.

Clark is my first choice, followed closely by Edwards, then Graham. Then Vilsack (know nothing about him other than him being govenor of IA) and then Geph, way at the end.

I'm having a harder time respecting Gep with the recent happenings in Iraq, because he was so enthusiastic in his support of the war.

Clark, Wesley Clark, Wes Clark, John Edwards, ABG (anyone but Gephardt). Gephardt has anti-charisma. I want to see Clark in the administration, because his country needs him. I'd be happy with him as NSA and Edwards is a great campaigner but I have two issues about Edwards: He has not shone in foreign policy discussions and he'd be the one to debate Cheney. I'd really love to see Clark wipe the floor with Cheney. And I cannot stand to hear the son of a millworker story even one more time. If I do, my head will explode.

Haven't ranked the candidates in a while.

Vilsack and Gephardt could be switched, depending on which one polls better in their home state. Graham ahead of Edwards also assumes that Graham delivers at least a few points of boost in Florida polls, and that Edwards' boost isn't enough to win NC.

Kerry/Clark..........I like the sound of it!

Vilsack is a dark horse, but I agree, his name is just "too foreign" sounding. Kerry doesn't need that when his wife will be the first foreign first lady (that I know of anyway). In the 'not to mention' category: Kerry/Ballsack anyone?

Gephart is going nowhere, for many reasons. I won't waste my time.

Graham is "too weird", and boring. A non-starter. In the primaries, he couldn't even get Fla. excited.

Edwards would be a mistake. He's too pretty, it would be the beauty and the beast ticket. Two guys from Congress. He's entirely too green. He wouldn't bring North or South Carolina with him. Cheney would kill him in the debates. Cheney is a liar (among many other evil traits), but he does have major gravitas. Edwards? Sorry, he's a lightweight.

It's Clark. Of these, he's the only one that makes sense.

With every day that goes by, I'm more convinced. He is an opportunity for our party that we cannot pass by -- especially in these times, in this campaign, with these problems.

Everyone I know here in Florida wishes he would just go away and write a book or something!

Clark, Clark, Clark, Clark or Clark!!