The Candidates
That’s the speculation:
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (Reuters) - Two men often mentioned as possible running mates to U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama joined him on the campaign trail in Indiana on Wednesday, further stoking speculation about the Democrat’s closely guarded search for a No. 2.
Former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh appeared flattered that their names were being bandied about in the media as vice presidential contenders.
But neither would comment on whether they had been contacted by the Obama campaign about the job.
“It’s an honor, but I have no expectations of being offered any office. I am not in any way sitting on the edge of a chair, waiting to go back into government,” Nunn told reporters.
“Certainly I would to talk to Sen. Obama if he wanted to talk about it,” he added. “But I think the chances of an offer are pretty slim and I would have to do a lot of thinking … about what was really the best role for me.”
Bayh said he was enjoying his current job as a senator and added, “I think any questions about the vice presidential thing are understandable and it’s good for my ego but I should probably let Sen. Obama and his campaign address those kinds of questions.”
Nunn and Bayh are both respected voices on national security issues.
Read the whole thing.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
“Nunn and Bayh are both respected voices on national security issues.”
No they are not! When did Reuters start to include unscientific commentary in their reports?
July 16th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I think he should choose Howard Dean. His tack to the center would end pretty damn quickly if he did that
July 16th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Both Senators? Does anyone value executive leadership anymore?
July 16th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
#3, Bayh was a Governor.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
bob,
Nunn is well respected on matters of national security.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Top Seven Mitt Romney lies;
7. I am a hunter
6. I cried when my church announced it would recognize blacks
5. I don’t get $400 hair cuts
4. I got tough on meth
3. I am tough on illegal immigration
2. My boys have served this country
1. I watched my father march with Martin Luther King
July 16th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Romney, who vows to “fight for jobs,” oversaw job losses and factory closures as CEO of a private equity firm: AP
Yes, this is the message McCain needs to send.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Bob, this is a post on Obama VP options Nunn & Bayh. Romney can have a separate thread, and in fact already has dozens.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Nunn would be an interesting choice for Obama, as it signals a need to cover his security credentials, and indicates a play for Georgia.
However, Nunn is unlikely to run for POTUS in 2016. He’d be like a Cheney pick.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I’ll laugh if it’s Obama-Nunn/Bayh vs. McCain/Palin.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
#10, why?
July 16th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
The other advantage of a VP Nunn? It would allow Georgia to reclaim credibility on the national stage as a producer of capable politicians!
July 16th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Don’t want to toot my horn, and I still say Kaine & Sebelius are the favs, but I gave both great chances when they were 50/1!
July 16th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
oh, and is that you son Josiah, I have been meaning to ask?
July 16th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Do people agree with the following:
Obama/Nunn has more chance of winning GA then Obama/Bayh has of winning IN?
I too think Kaine has got to be in the running, as he probably would flip VA.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
The MSM thinks McCain is too old, what will they say about Nunn if
he is selected? It’s ok, the Veep can be old, say that 3 times
with a straight face.
And yest #10, why or why?
July 16th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
#15, It would be very hard for a Senator to carry a state as VP, at least a Governor has an organization and stronger roots in a state. A popular Governor has shaped the lives of his/her constituents. GA is going McCain.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Kay, the MSM will argue that McCain is 72, Nunn is 69, and that 3 years is a long time in politics.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
One thing about Kaine that I realized when talking with someone about it is that when you say the ticket together or read it on signs or whatever it sounds like Oba/McCain. Kind of a silly thing, but every time someone says or hears the name of the ticket, they’ll be hearing McCain. It’ll be like a subliminal reinforcement thing that I don’t know would help Obama.
Kaine also has no foreign policy o nat’; sec experience, or any real econ creds for that matter. It would be the least experienced ticket in US history.
Nunn is 72 and would not be a hit with the left and the netroots. He was pretty much pro life for most of his Senate career, led the charge on DADT and against Clinton’s gays in the military, and was generally conservative on a whole host of issues. I don’t see him getting the nod.
Bayh has more of a shot I think, but the guy is pretty boring and I odn’t think he adds much.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Obama/Nunn has more chance of winning GA then Obama/Bayh has of winning IN?
Hell no.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
One other thing I heard in talking with a dem friend who supported Clinton is that she thinks Obama’s poll #s are somewhat inflated because a lot of the Clinton backers expect Hillary to end up on the ticket. She thinks that once Obama announces his VP(assuming it’s not Clinton), and the Clinton backers and “Reagan Dems/working-class/more moderate and conservative” group of voters realized that Clinton is finished and that the party is really going in a different direction and forgetting about them and moving on, his numbers will drop by a few pts.
I think it’s plausible, although I wouldn’t count on it.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
#15: I actually think it’s the other way around.
I think that the GOP of today is largely a southern entity and that a lot of Indiana’s GOP-ness is wearing off for the same reason that Ohio’s did. In 2006, for example, the GOP actually had a shot at picking up House seats in GA while we lost 2 or 3 in IN. The IN polls thus far have shown a single digit race in the state this year. The current GOP doesn’t really speak to Northern voters and Bayh could basically win an election for Emperor in the state. I think Obama/Bayh will ensure that McCain gets only a single digit win out of IN and could maybe even win the state. Obama/Nunn might make GA a little closer, but GA is still ultimately very comfortable with the GOP as it is currently constituted.
Incidentally, Bayh’s popularity spilled over into the southern MI community where I grew up due to our presence in a Northern IN media market. I imagine Bayh would help among voters along the IN border in MI and OH, and Obama needs every vote he can get out of those states. Bayh would help counteract a Romney or Ridge pick and would signal that Barack is planning to set a centrist path for governance. He’s a former governor with many years of governmental experience who is Midwestern, mild-mannered, sensible, and sane. All in all, he’s the best pick.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
If Bayh is so loved in IN and such a great asset there, how come the best he could do for Clinton was a 51-49 squeaker of a victory? During a primary in which he was her top surrogate and blanketed the state for her.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
#23: Dude, you know endorsements mean nothing. If John Engler couldn’t deliver Michigan for Bush in 2000, then endorsements are basically worthless.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Jim, a 51-49 victory was a good achievement for Clinton, and actually reflects well on Bayh. The problem was that Hillary inflated expectations, so it came across as a loss.
Obama is from nearby IL, and he won all the other surrounding states during the primary. IN was the only one Clinton won against him.
Interesting point Dave that Bayh would not only take IN close but also help in OH and perhaps lock in MI. There’s a lot of electoral votes in those three.
Jim (#21) I consider that unlikely. Interesting thought though.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
The other advantage about picking Bayh is that he was an early & vocal supporter of Clinton. So Obama can point to healing wounds, as well as picking an experienced candidate.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Maybe, but in those SUSA polls Obama did tend to drop when they added a VP to the mix. Certain VPs helped in a given state, but generally he lost a few pts once they added a VP.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Obama will not get a boost from his VP unless it is Clinton.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Obama is not going to pick Clinton. It would show weakness, and he’s regret it for the rest of his national political life.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Bayh had to be at the event because it was in Indiana. But flying in Nunn made it clear that he is the choice if the national security inexperience storyline against Obama continues in August.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
July 16th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Did you know that Mondale tied Reagan in the polls when Mondale selected Ferraro. Unfortunately for Mondale he was destroyed in the debates.
If Obama does not select Clinton, McCain should select a woman within a week.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Did you know that Mondale tied Reagan in the polls when Mondale selected Ferraro. Unfortunately for Mondale he was destroyed in the debates.
If Obama does not select Clinton, McCain should select a woman within a week.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
“If Obama does not select Clinton, McCain should select a woman within a week.”
That would be very easy, if there were women of the calibre of Sebelius, Clinton, Napolitano in the GOP field. However, each woman contender has a major weakness:
- Palin, inexperienced. Undermines the key “pick McCain not Obama” theme.
- Fiorina, no national security experience, no campaign experience.
- Hutchison, Texas Senator, no buzz.
- Other GOP governors (Lingle, Rell, etc) are pro-choice.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
#33, JayPe,
By your credentials, almost everyone is disqualified for VP, including almost all male candidates.
Palin - Has more executive exec. experience than Obama, and not just as Governor.
Fiorina - Has done work for the CIA.
Hutchison - Probably the most popular statewide official in Texas. She is on par, if not a better choice than Dodd, or Bayh, or Nunn.
Oh, and today, Scott Rasmussen endorsed Palin for McCain’s VP today, and he is one of the most prominent pollsters in the country.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
#28 I don’t think so. You have to remember that she got 18 mil primary votes and so did he for the most part. A couple hundred thousand separated the two. Alot of people on the GOP side hate the Clintons with a passion and so do some other dems and Ind too. In Obamas case, they just do not like his politics. There is a difference. I think we are hoping he does not get a bounce.
Alot of the Hillary voters that are not supporting him at this time went to the undecided col. McCain’s support amound the Hillary supporters keeps slipping it is now at about 5%, which is what I said he would probably get.
Bye may be boring but as far as a picture goes, it is ironically a conservative good looking ticket when you put the two families together. Boring and plane on one side and savvy on the other. He is also not too old for Obama when if he does choose Nun he will not be able to have his surrogates talk about McCain’s age that would in a way be good for McCain.
McCain looks wise would be wise to choose Romney as a VP, however base wise sad to say because he is a MORMON would make some in the base who are not 100% for McCain to not vote for him at all because it gives them more of an excuse to sit this one out. There are other good safer candidates out there that the base likes okay and can attract independents
July 16th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Kristofer, you miss my point. McCain has a massive opportunity to hammer Obama for his inexperience. The guy has just 4 years in the Senate. McCain can hammer away saying that we shouldn’t risk such an inexperienced person as POTUS.
However, by picking Palin, he says that he’s comfortable with her as a “heartbeat from the Presidency”. He therefore validates Obama’s inexperience.
So he can pick her, but in my view he takes away his best argument against a President Obama.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
And saying “Hutchison is a better choice than Dodd” isn’t saying much. I think she’d be an inferior pick to Bayh or Nunn.
She is not a bad pick. But it would be very obviously a token pick, as there are much better Senators out there (let alone other candidates). But she would be better than Steele or JC Watts (other token picks suggested on this site!)
July 16th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I believe ESG (What’s his name now, I know he’s currently a contributor on this site… Sorry) once mentioned Nunn as a possible candidate for third party. Look like ESG was the only one of the bunch on this site who have thought of Nunn, and dared to bring his name up. ESG, good work with your thinking ahead of the thread (no pun intended)!
July 16th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
#37, KBH is considered one of the most effective Senator’s, and is adored by her voters.
McCain’s argument against Obama is not “lack of experience”, it is judgement.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Fiorina worked for the CIA? When? Was sge teamed up with Valerie Plame?
Mondale also got hurt wgen it turned out Ferraro’s husband was a crook, but yeah, he did get a pretty decent bounce from his VP selection and convention.
And JayPe, women the caliber of Sebelius, Clinton and Napolitano? What caliber are they? None of them have any nat’l security or foreign policy experience. Clinton has no executive experience. The other two have more exec exp than Palin but really the difference between two years as Gov and 6 yrs is negligible. Sebelius and Napolitano don’t have any buzz, at least none that I see.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
#35: Link to Rasmussen’s endorsement of Palin?
July 16th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
I got a question/favor to ask yall. I’m doing a 1 question straw-poll at my local GOP club tomorrow. It is “Who do you want as McCain’s running mate”? Who are some names you all think should be on the list?
July 16th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Palin is my top pick. Jindal second, and Romney third. The first two add the excitement McCain needs.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
#41, http://hannity.com/ listen to the podcast, 1 hour and 26 minutes in.
“I’ve just finished listening to Monday’s edition of the Sean Hannity show, and Palin got some major kudos. During the first hour, Hannity spent roughly four minutes discussing Palin’s stands on drilling issues, noting that she is often mentioned as a potential VP for McCain. Then, in the third hour, he asked big-time pollsters Scott Rasmussen and John Zogby who they would advise the candidates to select as running mates. Rasmussen said that McCain should choose Sarah Palin! (Zogby wanted Charlie Crist, and both said Obama should take VA Gov. Tim Kaine).”
Adam Brickley, aka “ElephantMan”
July 16th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
mitt’s brother scott is now working for mccain as a co-chair in michigan. would the romeny’s be this much involved if mitt wasn’t the pick???
July 16th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
There is no downside to Palin, and calling Obama inexperienced won’t work anyway, experience is overrated.
It’s not his inexperience, but his lack of achievement that is the issue, he has nothing he can put on a resume. Palin with her limited experience, has quite a few achievements already. If she gets the gas pipeline done that will be a major coup.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Maybe it’s just me but I don’t see the VP taking away from McCain’s experience card. He’ll still have way more than Obama no matter who he picks.
And if Obama picks someone with more experience it only highlights his own lack thereof. Going with a new face like Kaine does the same thing.
I can’t imagine too many people who like McCain because he’s more experienced saying to themselves, “well, I was going to vote for him but I don’t know about his VP. Even though I think Obama has no experience, and McCain has way more, I’m going for Barack because McCain’s VP worries me”. I just don’t see that happening.
Besides couldn’t McCain’s pick of Palin also mean that McCain is so experienced and qualified that he can pick a relatively inexperienced VP to groom. He can say. “Obama is so unqualified that even my VP has just as much if not more experience than he does”
And Obama has proven very adept at deflecting the experience attack. If it really matter he never would have won the nomination nor would he be leading in every poll the past 6 weeks. He can just say “McCain does have more experience than I do, I admit it. He has way more experience in Washington, way more denying you health care, way more losing jobs, wat more shipping jobs overseas, way more voting with President Bush, etc…
In this election, I actually think the lack of expreience is a positive.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
33 JayPe and 40 Jim
Speaking of, “women the caliber of…”, I’m still ridiculously PO’d at CFG and those screwballs Republicans in NM for not voting for Heather Wilson. With her track record of military service, and her ability to repreatedly get re-elected in a closely divided district, I thought she had a future in the GOP nationally. Hey, at least I’ll get to watch Pearce lose by 20.
Thanks again, Toomey! You’ve almost squandered all the sympathy I had for you when you got rick-rolled by Specter and W.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Heather Wilson is not a fiscal conservative.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
BTW, AOL is currently doing a poll asking if Congress sgould repeal the offshore drilling ban?
With over 50,000 votes in nationwide, the result is 74-24 for Yes.
Even CA, with over 5,000 votes is at 68% yes.
OH, PA, MO and other battleground states are all well over 70%.
And Sen McCain is going to Mexico and giving speeches to La Raza and the NAACP.
Go figure
July 16th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
#50, I am not sure you understand. McCain must achieve 1/3 of the latino vote in NM, NV and CO to win the those ECV.
AND, the biggest applause given at La Raza was when Hillary was mentioned.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
The McCain campaign should be on that every day like white on rice. He should run against the dem congress as well which is currently at 9% approval and dropping fast. This is the one domestic issue that he can win on. The one issue where the public overwhelmingly supports the GOP and massively opposes the dems(probably the only such issue where the public even supports the GOP on anything). He needs to tie Obama to Pelosi on this.
Some of the Congressional dems see this and are going to lift the ban by October, with Obama signing on a la FISA. McCain can’t let that happen, he needs to get out in front and own this issue. He needs every voter to know that he will end the drilling ban and Obama will keep it in place.
A VP from an oil rich state to push this issue and connect with working class and married women in northern/rust belt battleground states and get them on our side on this issue wouldn’t hurt, either. There are other good VP choices as well.
Bur McCain needs to take advantage of this before it’s too late.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
“A VP from an oil rich state to push this issue and connect with working class and married women in northern/rust belt battleground states and get them on our side on this issue wouldn’t hurt, either.”
Who would tis person be, Jim?
Agree with you that McCain needs to drill this issue (no pun intended) into the minds of the voters and nail Obama on it much more vigorously.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Planned Parenthood’s Attack Ad Against McCain
July 16th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
http://oo7angel.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/keep-the-change-ad-iraq/
This is a site that has a wonderful Youtube video that shows Obama’s flip flop on the surge and the war. It has a segment in it where Obama is grilled by Tim Russert on what he had said in the past about the Iraq war and what he is saying now. Of course, this video is a little while back because Tim Russert is sadly not with us any more. I wish he was still here. He was a man, father, husband, and journalist of great integrity, and he would have grilled Obama even more. This would make an AWESOME ad by the GOP or a 527.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
I agree. There is one good governor with a high executive approval rating based on reform that can help lead this issue now.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
#44 - you seemed to have missed stating that Hannity made it abundantly clear that he himself wants Romney. Romney was on the phone, and this time Mitt would not deny that he was being vetted. He deferred the question to the McCain campaign. Shortly thereafter Mitt hit 35 on intrade. Coincidence?
July 16th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Woah, well, if Hannity wants Romney, then all bets are off, IllinoisGuy!
July 17th, 2008 at 12:26 am
#57, I noticed that Mitt didn’t deny he was vetted, unlike Pawlenty who did deny it.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:27 am
I am not recommending this but it is an interesting observation…….I think at least strategically a Mitt VP seriously damages Obama’s options for his Veep selection and rationale for his candidacy.
Why?
Obama can’t defend two flanks. He can only chose one with his Veep pick. Either he pick someone to strengthen his foreign policy weakness or he picks someone to strenghten his economic policy weakness. He can’t do both.
If Obama picks a Veep strong on foreign issues, then Mitt becomes a very strong selling point to the nation. The Obama team would be stronger on foreign policy but it would be very weak on the economy. On the other hand, if the Obama team picks a Veep with a strong economic background then McCain becomes the very strong selling point on foreign policy.
It’s interesting a McCain/Romney ticket would be a two front attack and I don’t think Obama could defend it. Well, he has only option to defend it but the risk maybe too high. His only pick to cover two fronts is……….
Hillary.
Let the screaming commence…
July 17th, 2008 at 1:25 am
#60, you are correct. Hillary may bring Obama as much as $100 million dollars and protects his flank.
Mitt does nothing to damage Obama, but a female or blue collar VP does.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:31 am
Bayh was Hillary Clinton’s first choice for VP anyway. In the immortal words of Nelson Muntz, HA HA!
July 17th, 2008 at 1:31 am
candidate of change, Obama is NOT.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:34 am
#54. That clip wouldn’t be as damaging if McCain hadn’t rolled his eyes.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Obama / Bayh would beat McCain / Romney.
McCain / Huckabee would beat Obama / Bayh.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:37 am
#14,
What?
July 17th, 2008 at 1:54 am
#66, when I click your link, there is a pic of an adult male and a child, is that you and your son?
July 17th, 2008 at 1:56 am
I’d be the first to cast my vote for McCain-Hillary if it was the only way to beat Obama-(fill in the blank). I know I’m not the only one here who thinks that way.
If course, Hillary would probably accept that offer…
July 17th, 2008 at 1:58 am
HearMeRoar,
Damaging is Obama changing his positions on choice. My mother, the feminist icon, was none too happy. It will not matter, as McCain will have a VP that happens to be a woman.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:05 am
for those who are counting, 4 hostile deaths in Iraq for this month of July over the span of 17 days. One for the record books to be sure. No wonder Obama has purged his site of badmouthing the surge. Change Barack can believe in….. Now there’s a guy who’s unable to respect his voters….. Keep it up Barry!
July 17th, 2008 at 4:27 am
Nope, an Obama / Bayh would NOT beat McCain / Romney. Obama/Bayh would stink on both foreign policy and economics. It would be a horrendous scenario for Obama.
McCain/Huckabee would lose horribly though. A populist would not sell well for moderates. Populists are only popular when economic times are good. At least that has been true in American politics. Americans tend to be squishy but they become serious when we reach the end of the rope of a crisis. A populist approach is not a serious one.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Romney not getting his $45m back
Says he won’t seek gifts to repay campaign loans
July 17th, 2008 at 8:03 am
“I frankly don’t think that Senator McCain, despite his service and his length of experience, that that’s going to be able to stand up to the message that Barack Obama has brought forward.”
Did Romney Predict McCain Defeat to Obama?
July 17th, 2008 at 9:01 am
#57 - Hannity wanted Romney all along. Well, we don’t have Romney, so I don’t think Hannity has all that clout when it comes to choosing the nominee and veep.
Romney was on with Laura Ingraham yesterday as well, and basically said that he’s not expecting to be asked, and no one from McCain’s camp has talked to him about it.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:31 am
#54
Does Planned Parenthood still have credibility after all those phone calls from people who wanted to donate money for “black abortions”?
I really wondered how that would affect their reputation. Has it at all?
July 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I, for one, am inclined to believe Romney when he says: (a)McCain is not vetting him, and (b)he doubts McCain will ask him.
Oh certainly, McCain will wine (so to speak) and dine him and make kissy-kissy with him. Romney was his number one opponent in the Primaries, and he still has a large, loyal following. McCain may have the temper of a spoiled two-year-old and the vengence memory of an elephant, but stupid he’s not. He is not going to risk alienating such a large group of Republicans in a bad GOP year. As long as Romney continues to work supporting McCain, McCain is not going to slam him. But asking him to be Veep? That is an entirely different story.
So I suspect McCain will continue to play coy with his pick for running-mate. It keeps Obama off-balanced. The convention schedule is such that Obama has to make the first move. He has to make his decision without knowing who McCain will choose. McCain would be a fool to give that up. And as stated above, he is no fool.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Haha. I like that. McCain can sparkling apple cider and dine Romney.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
You guys make all the fun you want, but its pretty darn apparent that Mitt is the frontrunner as of right now!
July 17th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Illinoisguy #78,
That and a buck ten get you about a quart of gas.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Oh yes. ESG’s name is Doug Forrester. He predicated on this site that Nunn will be considered to be on ticket earlier this year!