Texas Democrats want Edwards on ticket

[Freddie Stubbs]

Richardson just behind senator as VP pick of Texas party leaders


10:16 PM CST on Tuesday, March 23, 2004


By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News



President Bush's home-state adversaries say John Edwards is best suited to help John Kerry oust the Texan from the White House.

Mr. Edwards narrowly beat out New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as the vice presidential choice of Texas Democratic National Committee members canvassed by The Dallas Morning News

He's smart, energetic and articulate," Jaime Gonzalez, a DNC member and lawyer from McAllen, said of the North Carolina senator. "For purposes of debate, he's a large contrast to the current vice president and would come off substantially better."

But supporters of Mr. Richardson, who is Hispanic, said he would be a bold choice that could help Mr. Kerry make inroads into the Southwest.

more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/elections2004/stories/032404dnpoltxveep.4e659.html

[WI_DEM]

1. ultimately Richardson would be a stronger candidate

particularly in the southwest than Edwards. Being the first latino on a national ticket would bring out Latino voters in droves and undercut Bush's appeal since many Latinos agree with him on cultural issues.

[Thrill]

4. Who really cares

what the Texas folks say? We have no chance winning their state. They have no say in this.

As for Richardson he has already taken himself out of consideration

[WI_DEM]

7. maybe he has or maybe he hasn't

as far as who cares what Texas folks say--it isn't only Texas. Latinos are the fastest growing population group in the country. Strong turnout would give Democrats a chance for several states including New Mexico (very close last time), Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and produce blow outs for Dems in such states as California, New York, Illinois and other states with significant populations. It also might prompt Bush to spend more $$ than he would have in states like Texas which he would still be favored but a huge latino turnout would make it closer than expected. Florida might also be a state where the hispanic vote might be a factor. On top of all of this Richardson has tons of experience in congress, state government, and in foreign policy.

I also tend to think Kerry needs to do something exciting with his choice of VP to mix things up--and while John Edwards is a good guy his selection would hardly be surprising or significant.

[Kahuna]

9. Thank you! Hel-lo! As Texas goes, does NOT go the country.

Thank goodness for that.

[IrateCitizen]

2. Comment, Freddie? Analysis?

Anything?

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. I favor Bill Nelson

Why Bill Nelson? Because of the Electoral College

Bush won the electoral vote 271-266 last time. Due to reapportionment, Bush would win 278-260 if he carried the same states as last time.

Which VP candidate could help swing the election?

Bush won North Carolina by a wide margin last time. I'm skeptical that having Edwards on the ticket would move the state into the Democratic column. He has moved to the left since he started running for President which hasn't exactly endeared him to Tar Heel State voters.

Bill Richardson's home state of New Mexico was carried by Gore last time, albeit by a very narrow margin. Richardson is not even halfway through his first term as Governor. His tenure as Secretary of Energy may also be an issue, with the problems that occurred at Los Alamos.

Some have argued that Richardson being a Hispanic would help the ticket. The are two problems with that argument. First, his name does not sound Hispanic. That is the reason that Loretta Sanchez switched back to her Hispanic-sounding maiden name before she ran for Congress. Secondly, Hispanics are concentrated in states that are not likely to be up for grabs. Kerry will win California and New York by wide margins regardless of who his running mate is. Bush is going to win Texas. The Hispanic voters in Florida are mostly Cuban, and tend to to trust Democrats for federal office.

It would be much more advantageous to lose NM's five electoral votes and win a large state that Bush won last time. If Kerry lost New Mexico but won Florida, he would carry the electoral vote 282-256.

How could he win Florida?

Gore's choice of Joe Lieberman energized Jewish voters in Florida. The state has been trending Republican, but the excitement of a Jewish Vice President made Florida one of the closest elections in 2000. A favorite son candidate may just what the doctor ordered to tip the scales this time.

Senator Bob Graham is pretty much openly campaigning for the nomination. He has an impressive resume (Marine Corps, state legislator, Governor, US Senator). The big problem with Senator Graham is his obsessive note taking of every mundane detail of his day. The press will have a field day with this. And you can bet your bottom dollar that someone is going to sue him for something, and try to subpoena those notebooks. There is a reason that Clinton did not use e-mail when he was President (Bush stopped using it as well when he was elected).

Senator Bill Nelson is the junior US Senator from Florida. He has been a state legislator, Congressman and State Insurance Commissioner before being elected to the Senate. He has been elected state-wide three times in the last ten years, so Florida state voters are familiar with him and are used to giving him their votes.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. Given what the Texas DNC has delivered us lately...

which amounts to exactly squat, and given that we have no chance in hell of winning Texas.... well, let's just say I don't think Kerry will care very much about what they have to say.

[no name no slogan]

21. Don't forget ex-Senator Phil Gramm

He was a Texas Democrat for his first two terms in the House before he jumped ship and became a Reagan Robot.

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. He actually resigned his seat when he switched parties

And was subsequently reelected.

[StClone]

5. Harold Ford, Jr., Mary Landrieu & Graham

Are these all out of the picture for VP as too risky or old?

[Padraig18]

8. Harold Ford isn't old enough.

Bob Graham lost in FL exit polls to Edwards by a 5:2 margin, but Mary Landrieu would be an interesting choice, and we wouldn't lose her Senate seat, either. :)

[Bombtrack]

12. The Florida exit polls are irrelevant towards what a VP can produce for

a candidate. I doubt more than 5 percent of those polled truely know alot about modern political science, not to mention the fact that a 5th of the voters polled voted for Edwards for PRESIDENTIAL candidate, so it's pretty apparent that he has an advantage there.

[Padraig18]

13. Bombtrack, the numbers ARE the numbers.

Rationalize them as you will, but they ARE the numbers obtained from FL Democrats voting in this year's primary.

[Bombtrack]

19. They're numbers having nothing to do with how much a VP would do

for Kerry.

[Cuban_Liberal]

20. They certainly thump the "Graham gets us Florida" argument in the nuts.

They're pretty significant that way, since that has heretofore been 90% of the reason most people keep trying to push Graham off on Kerry.

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. I am more interested in swing voters

The people who voted in the Democratic primary are going to vote for Kerry regardless. The Democrats who stayed home, independants, and some Republicans are the ones we need to find out about. What will bring these guys out to the polls? What will get them to vote for the Democratic ticket?

[DemDogs]

26. Landrieu also lost to Edwards in exit polls in her state

Edwards won as the VP choice in the Feb 10th states including against home state choices like Landrieu

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. Who did they poll?

Did they only poll those who had voted in the Democratic primary? Those people are going to vote for Kerry anyway. We need someone on the ticket who will attract the swing voters. I would be very interested to see some polling of swing voters.

[Darkamber]

10. Ford too young

I know that Ford isn't old enough for the job yet. The other two names have been brought up, but the main support in the South still seems to be with Edwards.

Though, personally, I don't have a problem with Graham though he will leave the race wide open in the future for President in 2012. I don't know enough about ML to comment on her though.

Optimistically hoping Kerry will win two terms.

[Darkamber]

6. The point is the Senate and House...

What I got from this and what the other Southern states are concerned about seems to be the House and Senate races. They want a VP, who they feel is strong enough in the South to stump for their candidates and protect those seats or even win those seats from Republicans.

This is an important consideration. In order for Kerry to do anything effectively or make the changes that he wants, he will need a congress that he can work with. These leaders are seeing Edwards as someone who can get out in the field and stump in the South in the local races. It's a job that a VP can do.

I know out here in Washington State, Chaney has been out here at least twice doing fund raisers and supporting GOP candidates. We have our Governor and Senate seat up for re-election. Hopefully, we won't lose either of them.

The point is there seems to be a strong feeling that in the VP spot that Edwards could help to protect those congressional seats.

[Bombtrack]

11. First of all, Richardson apparently can't rule it out enough times

The guy SHOULD finish his first term and has too much responsibility with that AND chairing the convention to to be doing triple duty as a vp nominee.

And second the obviousness of the racial marketing would backfire completely.

[Thrill]

15. I think Clark should be the choice

But its obvious they have told Edwards to stay out out of the media because he is probably going to be the pick.

[corporatewhore]

16. Well my Mama wants edwards (we live in austin)

because he would make up for the way kerry comes off as aloof and boring and edwards comes across as a young energetic and chasimatic economic populist
I myself dont care cause i dont care that much forkerry

[lams712]

18. WHO CARES???

Texas Democrats have failed to deliver Texas to the Democratic column since like FOREVER!!!!!!! (When was it??? 1964??? '68?). The fact that a great MANY Democrats in Texas supported W in his 1994 and 1998 gubernatorial campaigns and his 2000 election bid should suggest that Texas Democrats are either traitors or that they just have NO "juice". I'd rather pay attention to Democrats in California, Florida, Ohio, New York, or Pennsylvania (you know, states that have a similar # of elctoral votes to Texas AND STATES A DEMOCRAT HAS A CHANCE OF WINNING!!!!!!)

[corporatewhore]

22. not all texas dems are bad look at the killer D's took serious cajones to

walk out and go to new mexico if only it hadnt been for john quitmire....

[MAlibdem]

23. Two points:

1. I agree, a woman in NH campaigning for JE was from Texas...anecdotal, but damn she was a far way from home (btw, some Dean lady went off on her for saying only JE could win the South, it was a funny exchange...i miss the primaries already...)

2. We're not going to win Texas anyway...we should certainly listen to texas dems, and help them grow stronger in their state, but ultimately we should be listening to Ohio, Florida, Missouri, and New Hampshire dems on the veep choice.

[DaveSZ]

24. .

"Who really cares what the Texas folks say? We have no chance winning their state. They have no say in this."



That kind of attitude will forever doom the South to the GOP.

Good luck with that.