WASHINGTON - As the race for the presidential nominations wind down — well at least the Republican one anyway — the speculation game has turned to who might fill the vice presidential nominee slots on the tickets.
Since Republican hopeful John McCain has all but clinched his party’s nod, the question is whether he will make an obvious pick — like rival Mike Huckabee who is seen as a strong conservative who could make up ground where the Arizona senator is considered a bit soft.
Or there’s always ex-rival and former investment banker Mitt Romney who he bitterly fought during the primary campaign but managed to reach detente with in recent weeks.
Both are younger than the 71-year-old McCain and can add to the ticket.
Then there is the possibility of someone like Colin Powell — a man who many probably would really want on that ticket, but he has been harshly criticized for his role as Secretary of State during the Iraq war (Democrats are almost sure to bring up his 2003 report to the U.N. Security Council on alleged mobile chemical weapons labs that turned out to be wrong). And there are still some lingering questions whether he is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican.
Other Republican names floating include a number of governors, Georgia’s Sonny Perdue, Minnesota’s Tim Pawlenty and Louisiana’s newly-minted chief Bobby Jindal.
On the Democratic side, speculation has centered … well not really centered, it’s more disparate and depends on whether Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama capture the nomination.
Could it be whichever of those two doesn’t get the nomination or what about former hopeful John Edwards who was the 2004 VP nominee? Edwards has said he does not want the job.
Most bets are off on either of those scenarios given the apparent dislike Obama and Clinton have for each other, while Edwards ran before and is not seen as adding much to the ticket. The idea of an Obama-Powell ticket could be intriguing, but the reason outlined above is probably why that won’t happen.
Other names floating include there’s also the former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack who is a big Clinton supporter despite failing to help deliver the state’s caucuses for her last month. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is another name often mentioned and supported Obama, and some of the darker horses include Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and former White House hopeful and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
The Washington Post recently gave a decent rundown of these and other possible contenders.
So, the question of the day is: Who do you think will make the best ticket to win in November?
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Obama-Richardson all the way. Richardson has the the experience and great foreign policy. Plus, Richardson has a beard, its about time that we have a vice president with a beard
- Posted by bucketClinton/Clark 08 !!
- Posted by Baggemplease, Not Bill Richardson. he is so dirty. He has be on the take for years. How do you think he raised $16.5 million for reelection as governor in a state with fewer that 2 million voters? He sold off (outsourced) bits of the nM government to corporations that would contribute to his “campaign.” Trouble is he believed his own hype to run for pres but none of his big donors did.
His resume is just words — he was ineffective at the UN and a disaster as Sec. of Energy. He is an amiable con man but has no diplomatic skills except bravado. He himself referred to himself as “bagman to the dictators.”
Why did he leave his most prestigious job off his resume — that of Managing Director at Kissinger, McLarty? Yes, that Kissinger; Henry, his old pal.
Oh, and in Congress, his only nonlocal achievement was pushing NAFTA through.
Yech, I can’t wait till he’s out of NM.
- Posted by sam dsam
Who do you think will make the best ticket to win in November?
If you believe the main stream media it will between Obama and McCain.
However, it doesn’t matter which one you vote fore because they are both members of the CFR which has called for the fall of the American dollar and it’s sovereignty. Either Obama or McCain is a vote against America. So then vote for Clinton or Huckabee, oh wait their members of the CFR also. So then who can we vote for to save our nation only one candidate actually votes for the constitution and that is Ron Paul. So do your kids a favor and quite voting party, quite voting popularity, quite voting the way the news tells you to (they are owned by members of the CFR). Just do some research and you will uncover a grand conspiracy against the USA and if you just scoff then you are brainwashed because if you weren’t you would actually do some research and find out for yourself if what I say is true or conspiracy theory. God Bless and God Save us all.
- Posted by RobertAs you know, Governor Barbour has the mass appeal needed to help the GOP nominee carry not only the south but the traditional conservative base. Draft Haley for Vice President is seeking to convince the presumptive Republican nominee to select Governor Haley Barbour as his vice presidential running mate by delivering a petition signed by 50,000 GOP supporters to the nominee and Governor Barbour by March 1, 2008.
Show your support for Gov. Barbour and visit http://www.draftbarbour.com to sign the petition to Draft Haley.
For more than a decade, Governor Barbour has fought to defend conservative values, to maintain freedom and to honor faith. As a fellow conservative, please take a few moments to make sure our voices are heard in Washington by helping to draft Haley Barbour as America’s next vice president.
Or view our blog to see more media coverage on this exciting campaign.
- Posted by Draft Haley BarbourObama - Zinni : leader, outspoken, well-spoken Bush and Clinton appointee (head of our troops and special envoy for Middle East), anti-Iraq war Vietnam vet, age early sixties, from PA (listen to 50 min with him on http://www.wamu.org and search Diane Rehm show archives for Zinni - really extra-ordinary )
- Posted by CarthageThe best Demo ticket is Obama & Wesley Clark.
Wesley Clark is a clear thinker with military gravitas who will be able to counter the GOP on security issues and the Iraq war. I know Wes Clark is a Hillary backer now, but once Obama has the nomination, who knows what could happen.
- Posted by Carrol NowlinGEE, I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT,
HMMMMMMMM?
WELL, MAYBE ROMNEY FOR OBAMA,
AND HUCKABEE FOR HILLARY?
McCAIN, FOR OBAMA OR RON PAUL FOR HILLARY!
LOL, THAT WOULD BE JUSTICE, DONE LEFT AND, RIGHT?
I WOULD DEARLY LOVE TO SEE SOME REALITY TV. WOULDN’T THAT BE NICE?
SIT BACK AND RELAX. GRAB A BEER AND HAVE A SMOKE?
WATCH HILLARY’S MELTDOWN, ON LIVE TV,
” BARAK-O ” BREAKING NEWS?
AND THEN, THE DEMOCRATS BILLARY MACHINE?
BUT WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE SUPER DELAGATES? THAT IS THE QUESTION!
WHERE WILL THEY PLACE THEIR VOTE’S?
YOU ARE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. BINGO!
RIGHT IN HILLARY’S LAP, FOR THE EX-PREZ TO SUCK UP. WELL, I MEAN, COUNT?
WHATEVER, HAPPENS, WILL CHANGE THE WORLD VIEW DRASTICLY, AND NOT FOR THE BETTER FOLKS.
IF YOU THINK THE WATTS RIOTS WERE BAD?
JUST WAIT!
SO WE HAVE THE “RACE WAR?”
THREAT CARD IN PLAY TOO?
GEE THANKS MR PUNDIT!
GUESS YOU ALL CALLED THIS ONE, HUH?
BUT VOTE EARLY AND VOTE OFTEN TEXASS,
CUASE YOU AINT SEEN NOTHIN YET CUZ!
MIKE!
TAKE AND, MAKE YOUR STAND AT THE ALAMO!
WE WILL “REMEMBER THE ALAMO!” WITH YOU,
BEFORE THE DEMOCRATS HAND IT OVER TO MEXICO!
AND THE REST OF THE FREE WORLD, WILL HAVE TO CALL THE U.N FOR THEIR ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE THAT THEY ARE SO GOOD AT,LIKE THE OIL FOR FOOD PROGRAM RUN BY THE FRENCH, GERMAN AND RUSSIA?
GIVE EM-HELL HUCK. FOR ALL THE GOOD IT WILL DO. THE MEDIA HAS ANNOINTED McCAIN. AND BARAK-OBAMA, SO DROP OUT THEY SAY!
WHAT, DO YOU THINK YOU CAN FIGHT THE BIG MEDIA MOGULS AND MURDOCH,SOROS,BILLARY AND MOVE-ON ORGINIZATIONS?
NOT WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT!
NOT A PRAYER? HEY I GOT AND IDEA JUST SAY; NO!
JUST SAY, NO TO THE MEDIA MACHINE TOO!
STICK TO YOUR GUNS, LIKE TRAVIS AND OLD DAVEY, “REMEMBER THE ALAMO!” AND THE WORDS OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS. AND THE PAST PRESIDENT, WITH HONOR WHO ALSO WAS SACRAFICED FOR THE FAR LEFT WING OF THAT TIME TOO!
“Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of people that these liberties are the gift of God?”— Thomas Jefferson
“With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.”—Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865
“I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire cannot rise without His aid? We have been assured in the sacred writings that, ‘except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it.’”— Benjamin Franklin, at the Constitutional Convention, June 28, 1787
END TRANS: MARV!
- Posted by Kerry MarvinObama-Sebilius
Obama-Richardson
either duo would be able to work effectively with each other. I recommend doing personality tests on VP candidates and the nominee to make sure they balance each other out!!
Hopw about Pre-White House counseling?
- Posted by Teresaoh yes and then Hillary can run for mayor of NYC
- Posted by Aminah Yaquin CarrollOBAMA-BLOOMBERG
this would be an exciting combination if Bloomberg can deal with being number 2 in order to help our nation’s CHANGE agenda kick in effectively, efficently and immediately!
i would see Obama as generous to a fault with delegating responsibility to capable people to make needed positive pragmatic- idealistic change happen in our lifetime.
it would aslo discourage the white KKK nuts from assassinating Obama, as a Jew is standing with him.
as a child of the sixties who ahs been supporting Obama since he ran for office with the first slate of porgressive candidates for DFA, i am so very worried about the zenophobic nut jobs and the alienated and desperate working poor who are half mad with poverty and addiction.
i am prayuing that Barack will prove to be like Nelson Mandela, whose destiny is to lead, inspire and guide nations and cultural healing right into old age!
- Posted by Aminah Yaquin CarrollIf Hillary wins she should select Obama as Vice-president. If Obama wins he should select Hillary as Vice-President. This would take a lot of pressure off of the Secret Service.
- Posted by Marcus TaylorI wish any ticket with Huckabee on it the best of luck, it will need it. He is UNelectable nationally.
At the same time, I wish any ticket with Hillary on it the best of luck, same reason.
All I really want to know is, how did McCain get the taste of Jerry Falwell out of his mouth?
- Posted by Fred EvilObama-Richardson or
Clinton-Richardson
Richardson is the best Democratic VP candidate either of them could choose.
- Posted by hartpayneObama-Richardson or Clinton-Richardson. We need Bill Richardson!
- Posted by hartpayne[...] check out Reuters Veepstakes article… Comments are Welcome addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fmornincoffee.com%2F%3Fp%3D 61′; [...]
- Posted by Morning Coffee » Blog Archive » VeepstakesMcCain needs a strong conservative. He needs a governor. (Governors actually do something. Senators just talk a lot.) So who? Huckabee seems obvious, but the economic conservatives are not comfortable with him. Romney would be a bad choice. He is not going to play second fiddle, and there is too much personal bad blood.
My thinking is that McCain’s best choice is Gov. Mark Sandford of South Carolina. Sandford spent three terms in Congress and is in his second term as Governor. His conservative credential are impeccable. He is bright, telegenic, and at age 47, presents a youthful image.
- Posted by Edw8riBill Richardson has the very best resume of all candidates. He would bring much to the ticket.
- Posted by Nancianne GoodaleObama-Huckabee
A Democrats and values Republican might get the most votes. Talk about change! Post Partisanship! Old politics would be out and common purpose in. That is 2 different anti-McCain voting blocks.
- Posted by Alexis