Graham on short list to be Kerry's VP (more vp confusion)

[JI7]

notice how after about a day of news that kerry was going to pick from either gephardt or edwards, we hear different news such as richardson and graham still being in consideration. just before the gephardt and edwards rumor i heard that kerry was going to pick clark. but this is good to the extent that it keeps kerry in the news. it might actually result in people not really knowing for sure who kerry will pick when he does make his decision and therefore the news would be bigger.

<WASHINGTON - As Sen. John Kerry narrows his list of possible running mates, it appears Florida Sen. Bob Graham is still a contender.

People familiar with the selection process say the leading candidates are Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and Graham. It appears Kerry has ruled out Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana.

Graham has met with Kerry several times recently and has appeared with him at many Florida events. Graham also has provided documents to the Kerry campaign for the vetting process.

People close to Graham say that he has revealed little to them about how seriously he is being considered and that he may not know where he stands compared with the other candidates. Kerry campaign officials have been tight-lipped about the selection.>

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/25/Worldandnation/Graham_on_short_list_.shtml

[JI7]

1. Edwards is still the best choice out of Edwards, Gep, and Graham

kerry is embracing clinton on the economy and gephardt opposed many of those things such as welfare reform and the trade agreements. these could easily be attacked as a throw back protectionist old democratic party policy which kept losing. i think kerry's position which leans more towards clinton but with more emphasis on environment and other things are better. and the welfare reform thing would make it easy to attack kerry as an old tax and spend democrat. and we already know kerry is looking for a vp that will balance the northeastern liberal image.

unlike others on here i don't think the rose garden thing really is an issue. but gephardt's differences with kerry on some of these economic policies matter much more.

i can't see what graham would bring to the ticket that a kerry/edwards ticket combined already would bring.

24. A VP Ready To act as President.

Nothing at all against Edwards, I just don't believe he's got the years of experience required to jump in as the leader of the free world.

[incapsulated]

2. Round and round she goes...

And where she stops...

nobody knows!


:crazy:

[Bombtrack]

3. Hell YEAH

Number 1 in the senate on Bush's foreign policy fuckup's, particularly as how rushing into Iraq distracted us from prosecuting the war on terror, and number 1 in the senate on voter security.

These should be the top issues we need to spread to the public to win this election.

[JI7]

4. i'm not sure

he will bring anything in addition to what we already have. i don't think he will hurt the ticket in any way. but i can't see him bringing much. florida will still be decided based mostly on how kerry does. graham doesn't really add many points to the state when he is added on as vp.

[Bombtrack]

7. He ads 5 points in the last poll where that was asked

in Florida. Once again I reiterate. Do you think having a vice-presidential candidate who is the number 1 senate proponent of voter security and bringing attention to the dangers of BBV counts as anything? I'm sure you would if it was someone you weren't trying to make the case against. He's better qualified than anyone else. Being qualified to do the job isn't everything. But he's also the most popular politician the biggest and closest almost swingstate which alone, without everything else he does bring, is solid evidence that he both meets the combination of ability to help Kerry win and perform the job of vice president.

[Padraig18]

8. Does anyone else add %5 to Kerry in Florida, Bombtrack?

I haven't been keeping up with my polls, and didn't see the one where than info came from. Is there a link to it? Thanks!

:hi:

[Bombtrack]

27. Not in the last poll. Graham added the most.

the only other names offered in that poll that I can remember were Edwards, Bill Nelson, and perhaps Gephardt and perhaps Hillary Clinton. I think Edwards didn't add anything(maybe 1 or 2 points) and the others took away.

[Padraig18]

33. Do you have a link? Thanks!

:hi:

[mzmolly]

14. His Anti-Iraq War and Senate Intelligence experience are things we *don't

have* :shrug:

[JI7]

16. isn't Edwards on the intelligence committtee ?

[mzmolly]

19. Oh, he is. Good point, but he still voted for the war, while Graham

voted against. ;)

Dont get me wrong, I love Edwards too. But, I think Graham could help woo a few wounded anti-war voters ?

[JI7]

20. if Kerry picks him, I hope so

rather than people saying "but kerry still voted for it". because i think sometimes people look for excuses not to vote for kerry.

if kerry picks graham, kerry can go on doing as he is now campaigning at large rallies and speaking on domestic issues. and he can leave the national security/foreign policy discussion to bob graham. kerry would be more free to hold campaign rally type events and meet with people. while this may seem like the bush/cheney thing, the difference would be that kerry would still have knowledge of the issues graham discusses and will make final decisions unlike bush. he would just allow graham to focus on the one area to free him up to focus on domestic so they can cover 2 areas at once.

[Darkamber]

21. Will anti-war voters vote for Bush?

I'm curious how many of those voters would stay home or vote for Nader if Edwards were on the ticket.

I have no problems with Graham. He was impressive in the one Debate that I saw him in. More impressive then Gephardt, who seemed lost in the past and in anger toward Bush.

One thing that I am concerned about is how the younger voters will respond to a Kerry/Graham or Kerry/Gephardt. Both of those are safe tickets. They hope for the VP to give Kerry a key state and give Kerry a very experienced older running mate with Foreign Policy experience and policy making experience.

It also is a statement to the Democratic party that once his term for office is done that is it. The VP will not run for President and you can all go for it then. Both Graham and Gephardt will be too old to run in '12. This leaves the door open to Edwards or Hillary in the future.

It will be interesting to watch. I would be happy with Edwards, Gephardt or Graham, but I think it will be making a statement whatever direction Kerry decides to go.

[mzmolly]

22. Actually many will stay home or vote Nader if Kerry doesn't balance

his auth for the IWR, with a candidate who was not supportive of the resolution. *At least that's my humble opinion*

I think Graham would appeal to younger voters because of his position on Iraq. I also think he'd appeal to older voters for obvious reasons. ;)

I'm with you here:

" I would be happy with Edwards, Gephardt or Graham"

Though *happy* is a strong word regarding Gephardt for me. I'll vote for the duo, but ... would not quite happy about it just yet.

[JI7]

25. also

younger voters aren't going to be against someone because they are "old". i'm 25 years old myself and have been voting ever since i could. al gore's 2000 run for president was the first time i was old enough to vote. but most of us vote based on the issues. in fact younger voters are more likely to vote on issues which is why they heavily favor democrats. the only problem is many of them don't vote. that's what i notice when trying to get support. younger people aren't into politics usually because they just don't care. it has nothing to do with needing motivation or anything. they care about things like what movies are playing and other crap. but when you find ones who do vote they are more likely to support democrats by a huge amount. in fact most of the "heroes" in my age group tend to be older people like ralph nader, noam chomsky, and many others which most liberals look up to. no question, bob graham could attract this support.

in iowa, kerry won the younger voters because of things such as his record on the environment and the way he presented his life story of volunteering for war but coming back and protesting it. kerry's record helped him in showing his vote for iwr was not for war as bush conducted it. polls showed even though kerry voted for iwr along with gephardt and edwards he was still less likely to be seen as pro war than they were.

that being said i personally still favor edwards for vp. but would have no problem with bob graham.

[Bombtrack]

28. I'm a Graham-for-vp supporter, but Edwards didn't "vote for the war"

Noone in congress ever voted for or against this war. Their was never such a vote held. And their was never anything called the "Iraq war resolution". It's really sad that people never tire of this revisionist history.

[GBD4]

30. Graham was Chairman!

Graham was on Select Intelligence for a very long time and was Chairman for several years, which increases his gravitas contribution to the ticket

additionally, his position as chair allowed him to be the lead investigator in the post-9/11 report which you may remember the Bush admin redacted most of

also, on September 7, Graham's book "Intelligence Matters" will be released in bookstores which is said to criticize the Bush admin both pre and post 9/11

tenure and ultimately chairmanship has given Graham the most intel experience of any Senate Democrat

[bklyncowgirl]

5. Nobody knows anything

Except for Kerry himself and a few close associates. The people who know what's really going on aren't talking.

I get a feeling they're having fun driving everyone else crazy with speculation.

[saracat]

6. Graham had the guts

to be anti war before anyone else. He actually voted against the war. That is something to bring to the table for all the libs who don't like Kerry's vote.And he was chair of the itel committee at the time.

[mzmolly]

15. EGZACTLY!

:hi:

[wjsander]

9. If all we needed was Florida...

Then Bob Graham would be the PERFECT choice.

Unfortunately, we might lose some states while gaining Florida. I would prefer someone who is more widely popular than someone who can almost guarantee us a state.

[Upfront]

10. Edwards Vetting ?

I have a feeling Edwards is not vetting to well. Kerry appears to be unsold on Clark as well. If this is the case Bob Graham would be a far better choice then Gep. He would help in the south and Gep. won't help much anywhere. I hope it is Graham.

[mzmolly]

11. While flawed - as is everyone, I think Graham is an EXCELLENT CHOICE!

:toast:

In a nutshell

Pros:

Anti Iraq War *thus bringing back some of the left who ah (left) ;)

Florida *he'll be a great watch dog, and inspire Floridians to swing in the D column.

Foreign Policy experience *Chair and respected member of The Senate Intelligence Committe

Former beloved Governor of Florida

Very Pro-environment

Pro-Choice

ect...

http://www.issues2000.org/Bob_Graham.htm

[chimpymustgo]

13. I worry about Graham's age and energy level.

Another reason I like Edwards. He is a tireless campaigner, and we have so much work to do in the South to win those Senate seats, as well as the Presidency.

[mzmolly]

17. He's not running a marathon. He's running for President.

;)

I dont worry about Grahams energy level, or his age personally. Reagan was about the same age as Graham when he took office.

[JI7]

18. Graham's age and health is one thing i don't worry about at all

he is fine there.

[WI_DEM]

12. Graham would be a good choice

It could swing Florida--already a close race.

[Nashyra]

23. My first choice is still Clark

but I could get seriously behind Graham. He would definetly add another demension to the ticket, plus I do believe it would leave the door open for more Dems to look at running in 2012 which would mean some younger, aggressive and bright women and men in the Dem party to make a name for themselves.

[salonghorn70]

26. Graham and Florida

I wish there were some recent polling in Florida regarding how Graham would help Kerry. I recall some about two months ago that showed that Graham on the ticket might not be a big factor. Of course, two months is a long time.

[Bombtrack]

29. The LAST poll that compared vp choices showed he added 5 points

to Kerry in Florida. There was one months before that in which that wasn't the case but anti-Graham people can only seem to rememer the one held that wasn't the most recent, that helped their case, even though it was done right after the primary when Edwards and not Graham was still fresh in everyone's mind on the national stage.

Graham being the most popular democrat in the state and perhaps the most popular politician isn't something that's fluid, it isn't going to go away by election time. He's been it's favorite son for 30 YEARS.

[salonghorn70]

31. 5 Points!!!!!

I don't believe that I saw that one. Link? Boy, if Graham could add 5 points, then he is a more interesting possibility. If Kerry can win Florida, I think he wins it all.

[Bombtrack]

32. Here is a link

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/8367375.htm?1c

<snip>

The statewide survey of 625 registered voters gave Bush a 51-to-43 percent edge over Kerry in Florida, a vital state for both parties because of its strategic mix of minority and elderly voters and because of its symbolic importance after the 2000 electoral stalemate.

<snip>

"The poll showed Graham narrowing Bush's lead to three points, 49 percent to 46 percent, while Nelson would make it 51 to 44."

<snip>

[Padraig18]

34. Could you copy + paste it? The link requires registration. n/t