Comments on: VP Watch: Wild speculation, but very few answers http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/08/20/vp-watch-wild-speculation-but-very-few-answers/ Obsessive political analysis Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:29:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: TJ http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/08/20/vp-watch-wild-speculation-but-very-few-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-3230 TJ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:12:07 +0000 http://campaigndiaries.wordpress.com/?p=1841#comment-3230 I think Biden would be the best choice because he would most easily play the role of VP candidate attack dog, has experienced loss and tragedy in his life but recovered strongly, and is a Democrat that many Republicans could at least be comfortable with because of his hawkish image. The only drawback for Democrats (his endless talking and off-the-cuff remarks are really only minor) is his age, but not due to vigor or travel requirements. If McCain loses at 72, it will attributed at least partly (if not significantly) to his age, which means that at 73 a Vice President Biden would likely NOT be running for president in 2016, then Obama would have no successor and we would again have a wide open election. Obviously a lot can happen between 2008 and 2016 with a VP, but its got to be something that the Obama camp is considering. I think Biden would be the best choice because he would most easily play the role of VP candidate attack dog, has experienced loss and tragedy in his life but recovered strongly, and is a Democrat that many Republicans could at least be comfortable with because of his hawkish image. The only drawback for Democrats (his endless talking and off-the-cuff remarks are really only minor) is his age, but not due to vigor or travel requirements. If McCain loses at 72, it will attributed at least partly (if not significantly) to his age, which means that at 73 a Vice President Biden would likely NOT be running for president in 2016, then Obama would have no successor and we would again have a wide open election. Obviously a lot can happen between 2008 and 2016 with a VP, but its got to be something that the Obama camp is considering.

]]> By: Guy http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/08/20/vp-watch-wild-speculation-but-very-few-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-3229 Guy Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:59:42 +0000 http://campaigndiaries.wordpress.com/?p=1841#comment-3229 True Biden would be 73 at the end of two terms. McCain would be 72 at the START of his term (80 at the end). So any criticism of Biden goes double for McCain who would actually be President not VICE-President. True Biden would be 73 at the end of two terms. McCain would be 72 at the START of his term (80 at the end). So any criticism of Biden goes double for McCain who would actually be President not VICE-President.

]]> By: drg3750 http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/08/20/vp-watch-wild-speculation-but-very-few-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-3228 drg3750 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:22:32 +0000 http://campaigndiaries.wordpress.com/?p=1841#comment-3228 Biden may be picked, but I don't think he's going to help Obama much. Biden has a deep grasp of foreign policy but he's 65. He would be at least 73 at the end of Obama's second term. Also, I would expect the VP to be required to do a lot of traveling, to be Obama's surrogate around the world. Is Biden going to be up to all that traveling in two or three years' time? Bayh's support of the Iraq invasion does not recommend him well to a lot of progressives. It's uncertain that Obama will even invest heavily into winning Indiana anyway. At any rate, Obama has held off on his choice for so long now that choosing Bayh will surely be greeted with yawns and groans in many activist quarters. Not a good thing going into a convention. As for Kaine, he's young, untested, largely unknown. However, he comes from a key state, and is no slouch when it comes to brains. Picking Kaine would not exactly be a surprise, but it would certainly be a more interesting pick than the other two mentioned above. Kaine would be a good Obama surrogate as VP: a fresh, youngish face, willing to see things in a new light. In my opinion, Kaine is clearly the best choice of the three, but that's not saying much. Biden may be picked, but I don’t think he’s going to help Obama much. Biden has a deep grasp of foreign policy but he’s 65. He would be at least 73 at the end of Obama’s second term. Also, I would expect the VP to be required to do a lot of traveling, to be Obama’s surrogate around the world. Is Biden going to be up to all that traveling in two or three years’ time?

Bayh’s support of the Iraq invasion does not recommend him well to a lot of progressives. It’s uncertain that Obama will even invest heavily into winning Indiana anyway. At any rate, Obama has held off on his choice for so long now that choosing Bayh will surely be greeted with yawns and groans in many activist quarters. Not a good thing going into a convention.

As for Kaine, he’s young, untested, largely unknown. However, he comes from a key state, and is no slouch when it comes to brains. Picking Kaine would not exactly be a surprise, but it would certainly be a more interesting pick than the other two mentioned above. Kaine would be a good Obama surrogate as VP: a fresh, youngish face, willing to see things in a new light.

In my opinion, Kaine is clearly the best choice of the three, but that’s not saying much.

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