Rank your favorite VP choices for Kerry

[WillyBrandt]

Mine:

1. Gen Wes Clark, Frmr Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, Oxford Graduate, Tetraglot
2. Sen John Edwards, Clarence Darrow revived
3. Sen Bob Graham, wonderful guy to came to my high school and was very impressive
4. Eliot Spitzer, a Teddy Roosevelt Democrat (!)
5. Bill Richardson, Nice Guy
6. Dick Gephardt, Decent choice, but not a terribly inspired one.

On Edit: Added Graham

[ignatius]

1. Here are mine:

Clark
Hillary
Edwards

[goobergunch]

2. Not Applicable Yet

On Grounds Of:

Failure to receive 2162 Convention Delegates

[Joe Momma]

42. the sun rising tomorrow is not applicable yet either...

but it will probably happen.

[goobergunch]

52. I can predict the orbit of the Earth around the Sun with some certainty

However, it does not lie to me to read the minds of others.

[bucknaked]

3. Clark, Richardson, Yet to be Determined...

I'm hoping for Clark, but I'm still thinking his choice will be a "come out of nowhere" surprise.

It'll probably (have to be) someone with a strong record on defense and national security. This will be the only issue Bush can run on, and the proper choice of Veep will end it all, smartly.

[HFishbine]

4. Dennis Kucinich

for balance and Ohio.

[Renew Deal]

10. Balance Yes, Ohio probably not.

I don't think Kucinich has the statewide appeal to do this. He is not even close in the democratic primary. I do agree that Ohio is important and winnable.

[texasmom]

5. VP choices

for Kerry if he gets the nomination:

(of your choices)

Clark

Richardson
Graham
Edwards

[Imalittleteapot]

16. Ditto, sort of. Richardson, Graham, Edwards

I'd like to see Clark as SOD.

[chelsea0011]

6. Ratings in no particular order

Feinstein, Richardson, and Graham

[gate of the sun]

7. can we please just forget about Richardson.

he's one of the major nafta supporter's can we just forget this man.Please.

[Renew Deal]

11. He has good VP potential

Very popular governor. Hispanic, Swing state, some FP creds. He would be a tremendous choice.

[gate of the sun]

45. He's my governor and not as popular as you think

most of the people political minded in Santa Fe I know can't stand the man. He is not a man of the people for instance recently he line item vetoed the budget cutting the executive auditing committee, while expanding his staff (one of which is in the largest of any governor). The veto was overturned by the state congress. I think he is a terrible choice and I will not vote for him.Kerry and Richardson I can't think of a worse combination.

[mac2]

74. Richardson because he's Hispanic

Hispanics are 13% of the population...well you know. Why not a Black person...well you know. Jews are 3%...even less...well you know. We shouldn't cater to special groups. Many non-minority American feel left out of the process. We are all Americans who have families, want jobs, our freedoms, etc.

Hispanics are strong in some areas. Many are concerned about the same issues as most Americans...jobs. The pro-WTO guys won't be liked. Fact is, NAFTA created problems in their country for lower wages,etc. so they had to come here. Now, they are having the same problems here.

[justinpower]

76. I will never forgive him for W.I.P.P.

[hedgetrimmer]

46. If you want the same ol same ol....

who cares if you win if what you are winning is a kinder gentler same ol same ol....

i do not just want to win, i want to win something better... if it is just for democrat in name only this party can take itself right to the shitter 'cause it ain't no better than the otherside of the row...

at least the repukes go out and kiss the asses of the fringe right, the dems fuck the fringe left and want us to go along with them to get fucked again... not this time... this party needs backbone not some d*ck s*cking horsesh*t to "WIN"... i want a party for the people with the people manifesto not some ppi... (a kinder gentler pnac)

outside of that i think it is way to early in the game for a vp selection.

[magnolia]

56. We can forget....

...Richardson because he has said quite firmly without a hint of a "maybe" that he is not in the running.

Forget Dean. His attacks on Kerry have been way too vicious. Most criticism I can handle...it's all part of the game...but saying Kerry is no different than Bush is too much like the Green slogan in 2000.
Besides that...in his own words...it would be a mistake to have two New Englanders on the ticket.

My choices:

1) Edwards
2) Clark
3) Warner

[BL_Zebub]

69. Not to mention he's been on FAUX News even more than Lieberman!

Something's odd when a Democrat aids the enemy that much.

[adadem]

8. None of the above

Max Cleland. Who is at Kerry side at nearly every event?

[Renew Deal]

13. Max could be good.

I heard someone talking about VP choices yesterday. They also liked him. They said he has a lot of sympathy in the democratic base. Then again, I don't think we are going to have trouble with the base.

[Joe Momma]

44. haven't you heard

Max is not a real war hero. You really need a hero like the current veep. He has sacrificed his time running a huge corp., never had military experience, and is so loyal, that he helps his old friends to billions in blood money.

[NewJeffCT]

57. Don't forget

Don't forget that our illustrious VP did not serve in Vietnam because he "had other priorities"

[Renew Deal]

9. Clark, Richardson, Edwards,

Then maybe Breuax (for Louisiana), Gephardt (I am not crazy about this one, but if it is a winner, hey), Graham (I don't think he is up to it.

Maybe even Max Cleland

[ModerateMiddle]

61. Breaux

I think is going to be up there on the short list. He has massive appeal in the south, and is a moderate on many things.

[Tinoire]

12. None of the above to your Centrist/DLC poll n/t

[Renew Deal]

14. So make your own picks.

I am sure you have to have some in mind.

[MoonRiver]

15. Clark, Spitzer, Richardson, Graham, Gephardt, Edwards n/t

[Zech Marquis]

17. on my very short list at the moment

Edwards
Clark

I really don't know about anyone else at the moment. Richardson sounds good, but I'd hate to lose NM. wild card--Anthoney Zinni, the fomrer Marine commandant (Unca Dick wouldn't try any nonsense with HIM!)

[polpilot]

18. Howard Dean. He could ACTUALLY get people to go to the polls.

Dean '04...

[Bombtrack]

22. Yeah, for Bush

MA and VT are the 2 worst states a democratic nominee could possibly come from, and you want 2 eastern establishment Yalies from them both on the same ticket, talk about not reaching out

[polpilot]

31. No. Dean would begin to neutralize the pro-war DLC, pro-establishment

characteristics of Kerry ticket. Edwards wouldn't.

Dean '04...The anti-Iraqi War candidate

[feistydem]

33. He hasn't so far...

If his record so far is any guide, he hasn't even gotten out the people Trippi said he would.

[polpilot]

35. You're right. It's shaping into "I'm more for war than you are", a game

that demos can't win.

Dean '04...The Anti-Iraqi War Anti-DLC candidate.

[feistydem]

36. I don't think that's what's going on

I think it's boiling down to the majority of Dem voters want to beat Bush so badly they can't think about much else.

While I believe there are lots of Kerry supporters out there who like the man and his message (as well as his anti-war record after Vietnam), I think there are lots of others who simply think Kerry can win and Dean cannot. And they REALLY want to win.

[polpilot]

59. The inattentive demo can thank the DLC for the 'Dean's not electable'

mantra. Go to the DLC site and review their anti-Howard, pro-war Kerry, pro-establishment agenda. The DLC and their supporters HAVE BEEN THE ENEMY this nominee season and have given us the pro-war, pro-status quo agent. Go to the DLC site for their 'all is well' mantra.

Dean '04...

[ModerateMiddle]

62. that's silly

many of us came to the conclusion all on our own that Dean wasn't electable post-9/11 because of his lack of national security credentials. And that was at the beginning. Dean's lack of "stature" throughout the rest of the campaign (2003) added credence to that early assessment.

You give the DLC way too much power.

[George_Bonanza]

53. Kerry himself is electrifying enough

Nevadans and DCers voted in large droves on Valentine's Day for "boring old Kerry".

[mgarretson]

68. hahahahaha

Howard Dean, because he can get people to the polls? You mean like he has so far?

You might think this is a flame, but its more common sense. Dean did a good job kindling our anger about what George II has done the country but he's now floundering.

My choice for VP is a toss up between Clark and Edwards. I like the idea of a strong National Security ticket but I wonder if Edwards wouldn't have wider appeal as the Boy Wonder from the South? Beyond that, I'd say Richardson...

And how about for laughs, the Rev. Al Sharpton as Press Secretary? Imagine how fun those Press Conferences would be. :evilgrin:

From Clark Country,
Another Clarkie for Kerry!

[krkaufman]

19. tetrawhat? N/T

[NV1962]

43. hee speeks for langadges, unlake mee - n/t

[Bombtrack]

20. Graham, Graham, Graham, Graham, Graham

Every other choice is so far behind it's stupid. Kerry won't have Florida as a potential pick-up if Graham isn't on the ticket for him. And it's just moronic to say any other potential swingstate is more important than Florida

[NewYorkerfromMass]

21. And why wouldn't Clark help him win Florida?

or for that matter Dean (though I don't see that happening).
Can't people vote for the guys no matter where they are from?

[Bombtrack]

23. Yeah, some people can

But all you have to do is look at the electoral maps from the last 40 years and see how obvious it is that the voters you might call the nascar moms and dads of today vote relatablity more than people in other parts of the country and stigmas work against democrats in these areas of the country.

Other than his Vietnam, Kerry is an idealic candidate to run against for the GOP, and his constantly bringing up his service will become another joke about him really quick

[NewYorkerfromMass]

39. Kerry's work for veterans is no joke

His service after the war weighs as much if not more than what he did in it.

[JCMach1]

54. Clark would bring Arkansas to the ticket

[Renew Deal]

24. Ohio

Missouri are arguably more important. Anyway, is that the only reason you are high on Graham. I think the guy is barely conscious. I remember him falling asleep at the wheel during the debates.

[Bombtrack]

26. Ohio has 20 votes, Florida has 27. Floridas almost 1/3 more important

And Missouri only has 11. And It's not the only reason he'd make a good vp candidate for one he'd be a compitent commander in Chief as he would be a heart-beat away from it in peoples minds. He'd also soften people's image of Kerry all around the country to people in non-urban areas, as although he is a Miami area guy, he comes across as a middle american grandpa type. And Considering Kerry already screwed himself with his comment about not needing the south to win(which was twisted by people more than it should have) he needs to be competative in at least one big part of the south, Florida, to not make that be a self fullfilling profecy even more and something the GOP can use in say, the 5 freaking open senate seats now held by dems

[Auntie Bush]

66. But if Graham campaigns all over Fl

he can be a great help to Kerry and possibly the state.

[mot78]

25. My picks in order

1. Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Outsider would help serve as counterweight to insider POTUS candidate. He's also from an important swing state.

2. Edwards, would help balance out geographical deficit

3. Clark, but I'm afraid he won't add as much to the ticket compared to if someone like Edwards or Dean got nominated

I'm not counting Graham because I've heard there's an incident involving his family and Hispanic immigrants. I saw a thread about it a few days ago but I can't remember what it was about. Richardson is not even in the running, especially since he's helping to organize the convention. Gephardt would make the ticket too insiderish.

[DjTj]

Edwards...

would do the most for Congressional candidates in the South. If the VP candidate, I would like to see him do nothing but stump for Congressional seats.

If we want to give ourselves the smallest margin of error for winning the White House, you have to go with Graham or Bayh and maybe Gephardt.

If you ask me who could do the most as VP, I would say Clark if we let him work with our European allies and play a large role in the war on terror.

If you ask me who could give us our best shot at 2012, I would pick Edwards again - the best campaigner of the bunch.

So, I guess my rankings are:

1. Edwards - helps with seats in Congres and sets us up for 2012
2. Clark - could make a real difference in the position
3. Graham - can deliver Florida
4. Bayh - can deliver Indiana
5. Gephardt - can deliver Missouri

[bushwakker]

27. Gephardt brings the most politically

It may not be inspired but it's safe and it makes alot of sense. Gep has been around the track and will not screw up. He's been vetted as they say. He is a known commodity throughout the country and passes the "can he be president" test. He has a national constituency in labor which is vital in the midwest where Dems MUST win. He can bring along MO - always a tuff swing state. He should be the choice.

[mac2]

73. I liked Gephardt but....

I've always liked Rep.Gephardt but think the anthrax thing changed him a lot. He voted for the war when he knew it was wrong. Was his fear clouding his mind?

I thank him for his years of fighting for the union guy..anti-WTO, etc. His fight against those huge tax cuts for the rich, abortion, education, etc. He's about as union as Kucinich. The rest...like the WTO. No union worker likes the WTO.

Is this why the large government union stopped it's support of Dean? He's pro-WTO?

[poskonig]

28. 1) Cleland 2) Clark 3) Edwards 4) Warner 5) Graham

1) Max
2) Wes
3) John Edwards
4) Mark Warner
5) Bob Graham

[oasis]

1. Edwards...2. Clark...3. Mary Landrieu...4.Dale Bumpers...5.Deb Stabenow

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[SEAburb]

30. Mel Watts, Bob Menendez, Dick Durbin

Thinking outside the box.

[thelocalkgb]

34. I think all of these guys would be a good choice

n/t

[feistydem]

32. VPs and more

1. J. Edwards
2. J. Shaheen
3. B. Richardson
4. H. Ford, Jr.
5. W. Clark

And other than Edwards in the #1 spot, the rest are flexible.

I've got some jobs in mind for Elliot Spitzer, Paul Krugman, Carol Mosley Braun, and Dennis Kucinich too!

[oasis]

41. Harold Ford jr. ineligible for Veep. I'm told he's too young.

[NewJeffCT]

58. My list for VP and more

I would prefer that it not be Edwards, as we need all the Democrats in the Senate that we can get... (if the governor in NC is a Democrat, then that would be okay for the short term)

So, my short list is
1) Wesley Clark
2) Max Cleland

Other choices:
Sec of State: Bill Clinton or Al Gore
Attorney General: Eliot Spitzer
Treasury: the guy under Clinton (Reich?)

[Woodstock]

37. Kerry needs Edwards in so many ways

He makes up for all Kerry's vulnerable spots.

They will go after Kerry for:

looks (Lurch, etc.)
privileged upbringing (hilarious because Bush is even more so)
stiffness/dullness (they will "Gore" Kerry)
Yankee (I am so sick of the northeast being dissed)

and Edwards with his good looks, working class origins, and charm, along with that southern drawl, will dispell much of that, particularly if he has an active role in campaigning. Also I believe Edwards has no "intern skeletons" - real or imagined.

[Auntie Bush]

67. Are those important reasons to vote for Edwards? n/t

[Crunchy Frog]

38. Clark, Clark and Clark

in that order.:D

GrovelBot might also be a good choice. :P

[Adjoran]

40. Okay!

1. Bill Richardson - tons of varied experience in congress, UN, cabinet, state gov., and Hispanic

2. Dick Gephardt - helps in Missouri and among union voters in the midwest.

I am becoming convinced it will be one or the other.

[hedgetrimmer]

47. Kerry would make a good V.P. candidate

For whoever wins the nomination.... because out of the remaining selection I prefer anyone of them for president over him.

[Kathleen04]

48. 1) Clark, 2) Edwards...

then I'm not sure who else..hopefully someone charismatic and from a swing state that would be a good president in 2012. :)

(1000th post! :bounce:)

[MontecitoDem]

49. How about:

1. Rep. Marcy Kaptur
2. Mary Landrieu
3. Diane Feinstein
4. Wesley Clark

[Leilani]

50. Of course I'm prejudiced

Clark

& then go after Arkansas, Louisiana, & West Virginia.

Other states would also be in play, but John Breaux said Clark would win La.
Clark will win his homestate.
Clark can win W.Va. I know, I used to live there.

[flaminbats]

51. Not alot to pick from...

Mark Warner
Wes Clark
John Edwards
Dick Gephardt
Max Cleland
John Breaux
Evan Bayh

Blanche Lincoln...would not pick her because Democrats need this Senate seat.

Bob Graham...threw his name out because of age.

Mary Landrui..could leave another seat vunerable.

[mikehiggins]

55. Clark, Spitzer, Richardson

The only candidate I can see as VP is Clark, because he is a dramatic character able to stand on his own two feet. Apparently he is a lot closer to Kerry than it appeared early on and they might work well in harness together.

Spitzer wasn't interested in being Clark's VP but he did endorse Kerry very warmly. Still, he is the great white hope in NY to run against George Pataki for Governor and it would be great to grab that office back from the forces of evil.

Richardson is a bit too anxious for some but he brings solid credentials and ethnic diversity to the ticket.

There is no particular value in picking one of the other candidates for VP.

Edwards might be a great orator and there is little bad to be said about him, but is that enough to make him a viable VP? He's already demonstrated that he will not carry the South so if Kerry was looking for a Southerner, Clark would be the most likely choice.

Dean would bring a large group of sincere volunteers with him that might otherwise be lost to the Party BUT any reconciliation between Kerry and Dean would be strained at best, and an obvious ploy at worst. There will be no place for Dean in a Kerry administration and in 2008 Howard will be thought of as a Democratic version of Ross Perot.

Graham is simply too old. Unlike Lloyd Bentzen he isn't needed to add "gravitas" to the ticket. If Kerry had anymore "gravitas" he'd be a black hole. Bob is a great guy, and a good campaigner, but he would hardly be a likely candidate for anyone's list of people they'd like to see take over the Presidency in case of some accident. He would be the Clinton's favorite candidate, of course. No way he would run for President in 2008 or 2012.

Sooner or later Hillary will rule...


{edited for clarity)

[wndycty]

60. I think this is my position

[Progressive420]

63. mine are

Clark or Warner

[mac2]

72. Warner...I like but...

I like Warner but Virginia needs him until we get these RWer out of our government. Is he anti-WTO, NAFTA?

It is ironic is it not that Virginia has the most democratic historical leaders of any state...yet has Pat Robertson and Jerry Farwell trying to ruin it for a theocracy government (under their rule of-course).

[mndemocrat_29]

64. Here are my choices for Kerry's VP

1. John Edwards
2. Mark Warner
3. Evan Bayh
4. Tom Vilsack

By the way-here's who I'd go with for Edwards, just in case anyone cares

1. Blanche Lincoln
2. Mary Landrieu
3. Wesley Clark
4. Evan Bayh

[tameszu]

65. Clark or Spitzer

Clark is actually from a swing state and would cement the ticket's lock on the vet vote, whereas Spitzer is just a badass (even if he comes from a lock state)--if got Spitzer, though, wow would the "Ken Lay" boys ever start cutting those $2000 checks.

Richardson seems like a solid pick that would straddle "exciting" (hispanic) and establishment (Clinton guy).

Edwards: too inexperienced and his probable inability to carry either of the Carolinas don't make up for it.

Gep would be a bit too dull. The base would stay in bed. Plus, I don't buy that he'd necessarily deliver MO.

Graham has very good ideas and his state could turn the election by himself, and he'd be a solid VP pick, but could he handle the rigors of the campaign? He seemed kinda out of it as a Pres candidate.

[Zynx]

70. Clark, Breaux, Edwards, Graham, Napolitano In that order.

[mac2]

71. Where's the anti- War & WTO guy?

I want the WTO abolished. Were's that guy on the list? Gephardt? NAFTA and WTO is killing our country. There's no other way to see it.

Gephardt not inspired enough? Nope...he was in there for years tellig about his vision. I'm just worried about their pro-war stand.

This group is not pro-union. Democrats are pro-union. We are having our party ruined by corporate supported politiicans. Senator Graham is glad for FTAA in Miami. What!!! This is alarming for workers.

You wonder why 60% of citizens don't vote.

[mvd]

75. I think Cleland would be very good

So would Clark. Gephardt would also be good because of the labor support, and we need the midwest. Even Bayh might help, even though he's a conservative Dem.

I'd rank them like this:

1) Cleland
2) Clark
3) Gephardt

As a Presidential candidate, many people saw Clark like I did - prone to mistakes and without a sewn-up platform. But, as a VP candidate, I think Clark might sure up Kerry's support from independents and moderate Republicans. Edwards would also be nice, but I don't think he'd be the best match for Kerry because he'd add the trial lawyer spin to the attacks on Kerry.