Who should Obama (and the crazy old bigot guy) pick for their Vice President?
For Obama:
Contender #1: Evan Bayh- Indiana Senator
Pros: A prominent Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter, he would symbolize another step toward party unity and could help Obama win Indiana.
Cons: He is more hawkish than Obama when it comes to foreign policy (read: dumb).
Contender #2: Joseph Biden- Delaware Senator
Pros: The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he would help close the nominee's "experience deficit" on national security.
Cons: He has publicly criticized Obama's willingness to meet with leaders of Iran and North Korea -- and he comes from one of the smallest states in the nation. Ha ha.
Contender #3: Tim Kaine- Virginia Governor
Pros: A popular governor, he's a moderate and could help Obama pick up support in key swing states, including his own.
Cons: His political experience is mostly at the state and local levels.
Contender #4: Hillary Rodham Clinton- New York Senator
Pros: She is backed by millions of Democratic voters, with especially strong support among women, Latinos and blue-collar workers.
Cons: Obama aides say they worry that Clinton's husband, the former president, might become a distraction.
Contender #5: Tom Daschle- South Dakota Senator
Pros: After decades in Washington, he doesn't lack experience.
Cons: His ties to lobbyists (his wife is one) clash with Obama's promises to decrease lobbyists' political influence.
Contender #6: Christopher Dodd- Connecticut Senator
Pros: A longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has expertise that Obama's critics erroneously say he lacks.
Cons: Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, he recently has had to explain why he got a special deal on his mortgage from Countrywide Financial Corp (read: corrupt).
Contender #7: Chuck Hagel- Nebraska Senator
Pros: Hagel, a Republican who opposed the war in Iraq, would symbolize the kind of bipartisanship Obama is emphasizing.
Cons: He could alienate Democrats who think he is too conservative on social issues like abortion (read: dumb, sexist and inhumane).
Contender #8: Claire McCaskill- Missouri Senator
Pros: She comes across as an affable everywoman -- who also happens to be a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Cons: She lacks experience and wouldn't add geographical diversity to the ticket.
Contender #9: Janet Napolitano- Arizona Governor
Pros: A former U.S. attorney and Arizona's first female attorney general, she could get Obama more votes in the Southwest.
Cons: Even with her on the ticket, Obama might have a tough time winning Arizona.
Contender #10: Sam Nunn- Georgia Senator
Pros: He could help Obama carry Georgia and other states in the South, and his foreign policy credentials would be a bonus.
Cons: He's been out of politics for more than a decade, and opposed President Clinton's 1993 proposal to allow gays to serve openly in the military (read: dumb and bigoted).
Contender #11: Jack Reed- Rhode Island Senator
Pros: He's a military veteran, and accompanied Obama on his recent trip abroad.
Cons: He has said that he has "no interest" in the vice presidency.
Contender #12: Bill Richardson- New Mexico Governor
Pros: His foreign policy work during the Clinton administration could help make up for Obama's lack of experience, and he could help win Latino voters.
Cons: He's hispanic and during his campaign for the Democratic nomination, he didn't exactly fire up white voters.
Contender #13: Kathleen Sebelius- Kansas Governor
For Obama:
Contender #1: Evan Bayh- Indiana Senator
Pros: A prominent Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter, he would symbolize another step toward party unity and could help Obama win Indiana.
Cons: He is more hawkish than Obama when it comes to foreign policy (read: dumb).
Contender #2: Joseph Biden- Delaware Senator
Pros: The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he would help close the nominee's "experience deficit" on national security.
Cons: He has publicly criticized Obama's willingness to meet with leaders of Iran and North Korea -- and he comes from one of the smallest states in the nation. Ha ha.
Contender #3: Tim Kaine- Virginia Governor
Pros: A popular governor, he's a moderate and could help Obama pick up support in key swing states, including his own.
Cons: His political experience is mostly at the state and local levels.
Contender #4: Hillary Rodham Clinton- New York Senator
Pros: She is backed by millions of Democratic voters, with especially strong support among women, Latinos and blue-collar workers.
Cons: Obama aides say they worry that Clinton's husband, the former president, might become a distraction.
Contender #5: Tom Daschle- South Dakota Senator
Pros: After decades in Washington, he doesn't lack experience.
Cons: His ties to lobbyists (his wife is one) clash with Obama's promises to decrease lobbyists' political influence.
Contender #6: Christopher Dodd- Connecticut Senator
Pros: A longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has expertise that Obama's critics erroneously say he lacks.
Cons: Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, he recently has had to explain why he got a special deal on his mortgage from Countrywide Financial Corp (read: corrupt).
Contender #7: Chuck Hagel- Nebraska Senator
Pros: Hagel, a Republican who opposed the war in Iraq, would symbolize the kind of bipartisanship Obama is emphasizing.
Cons: He could alienate Democrats who think he is too conservative on social issues like abortion (read: dumb, sexist and inhumane).
Contender #8: Claire McCaskill- Missouri Senator
Pros: She comes across as an affable everywoman -- who also happens to be a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Cons: She lacks experience and wouldn't add geographical diversity to the ticket.
Contender #9: Janet Napolitano- Arizona Governor
Pros: A former U.S. attorney and Arizona's first female attorney general, she could get Obama more votes in the Southwest.
Cons: Even with her on the ticket, Obama might have a tough time winning Arizona.
Contender #10: Sam Nunn- Georgia Senator
Pros: He could help Obama carry Georgia and other states in the South, and his foreign policy credentials would be a bonus.
Cons: He's been out of politics for more than a decade, and opposed President Clinton's 1993 proposal to allow gays to serve openly in the military (read: dumb and bigoted).
Contender #11: Jack Reed- Rhode Island Senator
Pros: He's a military veteran, and accompanied Obama on his recent trip abroad.
Cons: He has said that he has "no interest" in the vice presidency.
Contender #12: Bill Richardson- New Mexico Governor
Pros: His foreign policy work during the Clinton administration could help make up for Obama's lack of experience, and he could help win Latino voters.
Cons: He's hispanic and during his campaign for the Democratic nomination, he didn't exactly fire up white voters.
Contender #13: Kathleen Sebelius- Kansas Governor
Pros: She might be able to help Obama pick up a few Republican-leaning states.
Cons: Choosing a woman other than Clinton might alienate the New York senator's supporters- supporters who care more about Hillary Clinton than helping women-kind break the glass ceiling.
Contender #14: Urban Street- Board Legend
Pros: The most rational, humane and intelligent person in the country with wise solutions to national problems.
Cons: None foreseeable.
Cons: Choosing a woman other than Clinton might alienate the New York senator's supporters- supporters who care more about Hillary Clinton than helping women-kind break the glass ceiling.
Contender #14: Urban Street- Board Legend
Pros: The most rational, humane and intelligent person in the country with wise solutions to national problems.
Cons: None foreseeable.
