The Candidates
According to the very reliable Liz Sidoti at the AP:
Presidential candidate Barack Obama is hours away from naming his running mate, as little-known Texas congressman Chet Edwards is emerging as a finalist.
Democratic officials say that Edwards was one of the few Democrats whose background was checked by Obama’s campaign, and he was a finalist for the job.
Edwards is among a small circle of people mentioned, including Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Evan Bayh of Indiana.
Obama was expected to text message his choice later on Friday or Saturday.
Chet Edwards? You have got to be kidding me. I know Nancy Pelosi has touted him in the past few months, but I figured she was just trying to flatter him. I didn’t think it was possible but if this is true, it could end up being a significantly worse pick for Obama than Tim Kaine or Kathleen Sebelius. Chet Edwards has a national name recognition around 1%. Indeed, I live and breathe politics and I had never heard of him until Pelosi brought him up in June. He’s a very conservative Democrat and is completely unproven on the national, let alone state, level. He doesn’t bring much to the ticket at all. He’s not going to help turn Texas blue (he is definitely not LBJ), he doesn’t have any military experience. He’s not going to help woo the disaffected Hillary supporters. This has to be some kind of last minute disinformation, right? I just don’t understand.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:47 am
LJ - Chet Edwards had military creds if you count his oversight of the military construction committee…
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
The Obama campaign can’t possibly be stupid enough to pick someone other than Clinton/Gore/Clark/Biden/Bayh. Anyone else is just setting them up for a slaughter.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Shocker of a story from Politico… Hillary got snubbed… by Obama? Who’d have thunk it!! Hahahahah
Tear ‘em apart in Denver Hillary - come on!!!
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12713.html
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
#1 Jeff, “military construction committee…”
Do you really want to stand by that statement? Think about it.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,408981,00.html
King pushes Lieberman, again.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Chet Edwards isnt a very conservative dem at all
He voted against banning partial birth abortion, against the lacy peterson act. He has a lifetime F rating from the NRA and border security/illegal immigration groups.
He’s even more of a lightweight than Kaine
Please, Barry, go with Nancy’s boy.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
La la la…smoke and mirrors…
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Does King want the Conservative base thrown out of the party?
Anyway, one big mistake King makes is assuming that we need to double up on foreign policy. In reality, we need to start gaining ground on domestic issues. Thats why someone like Portman or Romney would be the best picks.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Does Obama really want to name a VP with the last name Edwards? I think that would generate some, uh, unwelcome confusion.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Anyway, one big mistake King makes is assuming that we need to double up on foreign policy. In reality, we need to start gaining ground on domestic issues. Thats why someone like Portman or Romney would be the best picks.
Still waiting for that evidence that Romney is perceived as an economic genius by the electorate.
If we want to do well on economics by the electorate, why not just go with Huckabee?
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
[...] Race42008.com is flummoxed by the AP’s revelation that Rep. Chet Edwards was a finalist for Veep: Chet Edwards? You have got to be kidding me. I know Nancy Pelosi has touted him in the past few months, but I figured she was just trying to flatter him. I didn’t think it was possible but if this is true, it could end up being a significantly worse pick for Obama than Tim Kaine or Kathleen Sebelius. Chet Edwards has a national name recognition around 1%. Indeed, I live and breathe politics and I had never heard of him until Pelosi brought him up in June. He’s a very conservative Democrat and is completely unproven on the national, let alone state, level. He doesn’t bring much to the ticket at all. He’s not going to help turn Texas blue (he is definitely not LBJ), he doesn’t have any military experience. He’s not going to help woo the disaffected Hillary supporters. This has to be some kind of last minute disinformation, right? I just don’t understand. [...]
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
“If we want to do well on economics by the electorate, why not just go with Huckabee?”
because Huckabee has shown himself to be clueless on economics, and has no cred. on the issue.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Man!! I really hope Husain picks him!!!
Who is this guy??
If the Hilliary voters are disinfranchised I am thinking Maybe Alaska Gov Sara Palin could be a really good pick can she get some of the Hilliary supporters?
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
because Huckabee has shown himself to be clueless on economics, and has no cred. on the issue.
Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo?
Anyone home?
It’s how the ELECTORATE perceives him.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
ACT,
The voters in IA, where Mitt Romney spent a year and millions of dollars to win the Presidency may disagree
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Here’s the video of Congressman King explaining why he believes Lieberman is “an ideal selection.”
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
It’s misdirection: Chet Edwards considered; Clinton not even vetted? I’m buying Hill-Rod.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I’d go with misdirection. The only semi-rational explaination for picking him is that “W” technically resides in his district, which would give Obama’s campaign an angle to mention Bush even more than he currently does. (I said it was a SEMI-rational reason).
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
So if Obama does pick Edwards, I guess the bumper stickers will say Obama/Edwards? Obviously, they will. Now who do most people who follow politics associate with the last name Edwards? LOL, go for it Barry!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
The stupidest thing about a potential Edwards selection, is that he’s as radically pro-choice as Obama. If you’re going with a moderate, couldn’t you pick one that would at least reassure moderates that Obama’s, despite Obama’s BAIPA vote, he’s not an unhinged radical on abortion? I’d also note that the gay community overwhelmingly favored Hillary in the primaries. They’re a relatively small minority, but do you really want to tee them off further with a VP who’s to the RIGHT of John McCain on gay rights issues? I would SALIVATE over an Edwards selection.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Do you want to put someone that Deals with Miltary Contracts on the ticket. That can open the Pandors Box to good know whats.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Regarding abortion, I think Edwards did vote for a bill to outlaw taking minors across state lines for an abortion. But other than that, he’s pretty liberal on the issue.
What I can’t fathom is why a guy short on experience- especially executive experience- would take a Congressman?
If he somehow thinks that getting a Texas Congressman will put Texas into play, he needs to give Mike Dukakis a call.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
we need to stop having the romney vs. huckabee VP discussion.
Romney = very good at the job of Vice President. Smart guy, not good at relating to the average joe about his economic probelms.
Huckabee = total douche, but relates to the average voter very well, would help mccain get elected.
As much as romney actually knows his way around the corporate world, and huckabee knows nothing at all about economics (the fair tax? what a shitey plan that was. and then he didnt answer any questions about the economy, just talked about the nonsense fair tax) … However, average joes, not blog readers, make up 99% of the electorate. And average joes want to be talked to about the economy in huckabee terms. tellin jokes, feelin your pain, etc. etc. huckabee is good at that, and most people in the country will like him. but then again, you only need to look at the success of reality TV to know that most of the country is dumb.
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Best evidence yet that it’s Bayh…
Bumper Sticker Could Indicate Bayh Is Obama’s Veep
Company Would Not Confirm Information
UPDATED: 5:41 pm CDT August 22, 2008
LENEXA, Kan. — After weeks of speculation and days of intense rumors, the answer to who Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama would name as his running mate may have come down to a bumper sticker printed in Lenexa.
KMBC’s Micheal Mahoney reported that the company, which specializes in political literature, has been printing Obama-Bayh material. That’s Bayh as in U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana. Word leaked out about the material as it was being printed up by Gill Studios of Lenexa. The Obama campaign had said it would make the announcement by text message on Friday.
Gill Studios, would not confirm information about the material. They would not deny it either. The company president would not comment when asked by Mahoney about the reports. But at least three sources close to the plant’s operations reported the Obama-Bayh material was being produced.
Bayh has a reputation as a fiscally conservative Democrat. Bayh endorsed Hillary Clinton and it is believed that he could help the Obama ticket by delivering a key battleground state.
Obama has arranged a joint appearance for Saturday with his running mate at the state capitol in Springfield, Ill.
http://www.kmbc.com/politics/17267009/detail.html
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Master Chef,
“we need to stop having the romney vs. huckabee VP discussion.”
And then you went on to discussing the romney vs. huckabee VP selection. Did you simply mean that discussion should end after your post?