US News
BACKGROUND: Who will Obama choose as running mate? Clinton?
Jun 4, 2008, 17:46 GMT
Washington - Even before Barack Obama had nabbed the Democratic presidential nomination, assuring a November general election face off with Republican John McCain, speculation was flying about who the candidates would choose to complete their parties' tickets in the vice presidential slot.
The biggest question is whether long-time Obama rival Hillary Clinton would be picked for the number two spot, forming what many pundits have dubbed a 'dream ticket' that could lead to the first black president and first female vice president.
Media reports have indicated that Clinton would be open to the possibility. Clinton even hinted at her need to at least input into the choice, saying she wanted 'the nearly 18 million Americans who voted for me to be respected, to be heard and no longer to be invisible.'
But it remains unclear what Obama would think of such a deal or how it would be received by voters.
On Wednesday, African American television mogul Robert Johnson, founder of cable channel BET, wrote a letter to US Congressman James Clyburn urging him to use his influence in convincing Obama to pick his former rival in the interests of party unity.
But the Obama camp must weigh whether such a move would overpower his campaign and bring unwanted influence from former president Bill Clinton, who has provoked controversy throughout Hillary Clinton's campaign.
Other potential vice presidential candidates might include New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who also competed in the early Democratic primaries and would bring years of political and foreign policy experience to the table.
Richardson served as ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary under president Clinton. Richardson, who is of Mexican heritage, would also likely help Obama reach out to Hispanic voters, a group that has largely thrown its support behind Clinton.
John Edwards, who dropped out of the presidential race after several third place finishes, has also been the subject of speculation. The former senator ran for vice president alongside John Kerry in 2004, but his appeal to low-income whites and working class voters could be an asset to Obama.
Senator Claire McCaskill and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius - who would cover the angle of appeal to women voters - have also been mentioned.
Former presidential candidates are also lining up on the Republican side. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who challenged McCain as a social conservative for the center-right party's nomination, has said he is interested, telling broadcaster NBC that there is no one with whom he would rather run than McCain.
But McCain seems to have shown in interest in another former rival, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who spent a long weekend at McCain's home along with two other men often mentioned as potential running mates.
The New York Times has reported that talks could already be underway between McCain and Romney, who was among his fiercest rivals in the primaries but stepped aside in February citing the need to unite the party behind one candidate.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Florida Governor Charlie Crist also joined Romney at McCain's home and are on most Republican strategists' short list of potential vice presidential candidates.
Jindal, the son of Indian immigrants, is the nation's first Indian-American governor. The 36-year-old appeals to the party's conservative base and would bring diversity and youth to the 71-year-old McCain's campaign.
Crist would lend support in the key swing state of Florida and endorsed McCain before the important primary there in January.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Webb.
That will cover his military bona fides, and address white/blue collar voter weakness. It might firm things up in VA, WV, PA, OH as well.
Osama bin laden, because they are both out to destroy the USA.
The campaign slogan:
Obama/Osama; the only difference is a little BS.
'Webb.
That will cover his military bona fides, and address white/blue collar voter weakness.'
Webb is a opportunistic kiss up, kick down, erratic, verbally abusive, imposable to work with jerk who gets off on physically intimidating people who he thinks will let him get away with it. Ask his legion of x-wives and x-colleagues in the Navy if he would make a good VP.
@notafan
shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
it looks good on surface - but it won't really shine up no matter how much you rub.
let obama pick him.
GUMBY
They both have about as much depth
That would be historic huh:)
'it looks good on surface - but it won't really shine up no matter how much you rub.
let obama pick him'
You are correct... My bad. Seeing him have the inevitable foaming at the mouth, poo flinging, branch swinging melt down might spook the hopey changey crowd.
If webb does have such a short fuse - it would be quite the entertainment to watch him get baited into a tantrum...
But damn we shouldn't have spoiled it.
On the other hand - I think there are many on the left who think that telling the President to shut the f/up or other some such after a concerned and genuine query as to the welfare of a loved one is just what the doctor ordered.
Icarus and his old yeller running the most powerful country in the world...
'Icarus and his old yeller running the most powerful country in the world...'
'most powerful country in the world'... Perhaps when they start, but not when they are done.
oh yeah, I forgot:
Busted!
Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, 52, showed no emotion as the jury delivered a mixed verdict that found him guilty of scheming with the government's star witness to get kickbacks out of money management firms wanting state business, but acquitted him of charges that included attempted extortion.
The jury delivered its guilty verdict on 16 of 24 counts after a nine-week trial.
Rezko has known Obama since he entered politics and was involved in a 2005 real estate deal with the Democratic presidential candidate, although testimony barely touched on their relationship. Most of the focus was on shakedowns prosecutors said Rezko arranged when he was a top adviser to Blagojevich.
Neither Blagojevich nor Obama has been accused of wrongdoing.
Rezko's defense attorneys maintained that the government had little evidence tying him to corruption and that the star witness, admitted political fixer Stuart P. Levine, was not credible because years of drug use had damaged his memory.
Hey SP4. Now you have posted this on most all articles I must ask the question. What is your point? I don't see Obama charged with anything and you and your lying neo-con butt brother cannot seem to get that point. Must share the same brain.
@Pperfect
I don't know much about Rezko affair. Here is what I heard (correct me if I am wrong):
1. Obama and Rezko buy adjacent homes on same day.
2. Obama underpays - Rezko overpays (based on market value).
3. Rezko transfers part of property to Obama for chump change (way below market value).
Even if some of the details are off, I think the general story is right.
The assumption here is that Rezko the developer is well wired into the real estate market and made this deal to help Obama for some quid pro quo. Maybe it was for something Obama already did - or maybe it was something he was going to do in future.
In any case, there is no way that this is anything but bald faced political corruption in its most elementary and unsophisticated form.
It does not make Obama an evil monster - but it is more than just 'boneheaded.' Boneheaded is what my 9 year old is when she wears her new white sneakers in the mud.
OK - here is summary from Chicago Sun Times. If it doesn't sound fishy to you - then you are an idiot.
'A few months after Obama became a U.S. senator, he and Rezko's wife, Rita, bought adjacent pieces of property from a doctor in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood -- a deal that has dogged Obama the last two years. The doctor sold the mansion to Obama for $1.65 million -- $300,000 below the asking price. Rezko's wife paid full price -- $625,000 -- for the adjacent vacant lot. The deals closed in June 2005. Six months later, Obama paid Rezko's wife $104,500 for a strip of her land, so he could have a bigger yard. At the time, it had been widely reported that Tony Rezko was under federal investigation. Questioned later about the timing of the Rezko deal, Obama called it 'boneheaded' because people might think the Rezkos had done him a favor.'
WOW! Ooooops.
More on Rezko property deal:
1. The 'Times Online' reported that seller confirmed that Barack and Rezko toured the property together prior to purchase.
2. Pictures of property indicate quite clearly that there are NOT 2 lots. It is really one property. They are landscaped as one property. The Rezko lot is accessible only through Obama's proprty. Rezko's lot is really just Obama's yard. There is no way to deny it if you see the pics.
americanthinker.com/blog/2008/03/obamas_rezko_deal_the_view_fro.html
This is absolutely a crooked deal.
How disappointing!
page: 1
SP4: Hey!..How about Reverend Wright?Jun 4th, 2008 - 18:15:59
Wouldn't that be a hoot?
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