Pros/Cons of these guys for VP?

These are all guys that look good on paper to be Obama's VP but don't get talked about.

Dave Freudenthal - Governor, Wyoming

Phil Bredesen - Governor, Tennessee

Brad Henry - Governor, Oklahoma



P.S. Does anyone else think it's too bad Mark Warner decided to run for the Senate? He seems like he'd be the perfect VP candidate. I mean it's a good thing because he'll probably win that Senate seat, but still...

I'd seen clips of him and really liked his no-bullshit approach. Then a DUer (I think it was anonymous) posted great info about him which further impressed me.

What sticks out most in my mind is that he lived in the Middle East for several years -- speaks the language and UNDERSTANDS the culture. Attributes we sorely need.

I'm sure they are great guys, but they don't bring anything to the ticket.

As far as Warner, I'm happy to have him take a Repuke seat. And he will.

But he brings an energy, and he would make an impression on those who hear/see him speak.

Political outsiders. Not corrupted by Washington. Not known by everyone.

It fits with his change mantra.

And being well known isn't always a good thing. Ask Hillary.

As for Schweitzer - I didn't mention him because he HAS been brought up before. The 3 I brought up are names I have never heard tossed around.

Schweitzer is tied with Strickland at #2 on my VP short list (Webb is #1).

I'm happy that both are democratic governors in very red states, though. I don't think Henry is prepared (or necessarily interested in) politics on the national stage, and Freudenthal has staked out some positions that are pretty critical of the DNC, so he has some baggage there. (I know he endorsed Obama in the primary, but IIRC he refrained from endorsing Kerry in the 2004 general election.)

If Obama starts picking typical politicians who do the typical things, he taints his "change" mantra. A maverick is what he needs. Someone like Hagel, but Democratic (Webb is the closest we have I think).

Henry has universal appeal. He is also extremely popular.

This is Oklahoma when he first ran:



And then when he ran for his second term:

His first election was very closely contested. There were a few unusual factors that put him over the top, such as a republican opponent (Steve Largent) who thought he had the election in the bag from the beginning and ran a horrendous campaign, a third-party candidate who pulled votes from Largent, a proposed cockfighting ban that drew a large number of voters in that solidly blue southwest corner of the state, and the endorsement (and jingle-writing capabilities) of Barry Switzer. His re-election was much easier, but that is not so much because he won over the opposition as it is that he didn't give people a reason to throw him out.

An unconventional pick is fine, but I think it should be someone who can play on a national stage. I happily voted for him for governor, but I'm not sure Henry is really ready for prime time.

As for Webb, I love having the guy as a democratic senator, but he's been hostile to liberals in the past and hasn't been a democrat for long. I don't think that's what Obama (or the party) needs.

he's colorful--but different enough from Obama that he wouldn't overshadow him. The innovative energy ideas, Middle East familiarity, outreach to the west.

he's a Democrat by Wyoming standards, which makes him pretty darn conservative on a national scale. I'd rather keep him here in Wyoming where he can make a difference...

I'm not sure if we've crossed paths before, but I wanted to say hi since we don't see a lot of Wyomingites here on DU :hi:

(I don't currently live in Wyoming, but I grew up in Sheridan :))

and howdy to you, too.

(Yes, folks, we really do say 'howdy' in Wyoming. Not only that, but people reply, "Fine, thanks.")

He's going to need a moderate/conservative Dem on the ticket, preferably someone with a high NRA rating.

His campaign style is basically to ask each voter to vote for him, one by one, until he's asked everybody in the state, then to start over again the next week. It might not work so well on a national scale :-).

Geography is a crappy reason to pick a candidate.

In State and County Forums?Tennessee

I really can't say enough about Phil he is one heck of a guy a great Mayor and Governor. He has the support of a good number of Republicans he works across party lines. With Bredesen on the ticket Tennessee would be in play...without him it will remain a red state...