Sen. Barack Obama is quietly beginning his search for a running mate.
• Former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson has accepted Obama's request to begin a screening and selection process for Obama’s VP spot.
• Johnson performed the same role in 2004 and 1984 for then-Democratic presidential nominees John Kerry and Walter Mondale.
• Obama's campaign refused to talk about who was being considered, but 9 possible options are:
o Sen. Hillary Clinton
o Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano
o Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius
o Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
o Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn
o Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd
o Delaware Sen. Joe Biden
o Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill
o Virginia Sen. Jim Webb
READ MORE HERE:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/WireStory?id=4909031&page=1
Obama is in a tough situation.
On one hand he has to find a VP who can deliver their home state. Something every Dem ticket has had a problem with in the past.
At first glance Edwards looks like a strong candidate. Obama could bring out a much larger block of black voters than normal to turn the state blue and Edwards could keep the white dems enthused.
However given the state of the current race it will be hard for Obama to not choose a woman as a running mate.
If he doesn't choose a woman he risks losing the feminists vote. They could feel that they were denied yet another opportunity by a man. Thus far women appear to be the most strongly democratic of any voting block. Losing them means losing the election.
Even if Hillary doesn't get the nomination it appears her candidacy may affect the election in some form or another.
MikeyA
Does that mean that McCain must also have a woman VP? If he picks a male VP does he also lose the feminist vote and thus lose the election? Obama and McCain can't both lose the election unless Clinton wins the nomination and she then captures the feminist vote and wins the election! Does that really make sense?
"Does that mean that McCain must also have a woman VP? If he picks a male VP does he also lose the feminist vote and thus lose the election?"
No he does not. I can't think of a Repub that gets the feminist vote even with major crossover support. So by not selecting a woman McCain loses none of his core supporters.
"Obama and McCain can't both lose the election unless Clinton wins the nomination and she then captures the feminist vote and wins the election! Does that really make sense?"
No it doesn't make sense but notice that's not what I said.
By losing the feminist vote whichever Dem runs loses the election. The Repub doesn't get the feminist vote so they still could win.
If Obama does not select a woman many women will view it as a woman getting screwed by a man yet again. McCain didn't prevent Clinton from getting the nomination so it's just a case of "He's a male republican so we won't vote for him" by the feminists.
The difference is Obama NEEDS the female democrat to win the election. McCain does not.
It's essentially the same for McCain if he were to have been involved with a long drawn out battle with Huckabee for the conservative christian vote. Obama doesn't need to please them because they essentially never vote democratic.
MikeyA
Virginia Sen. Jim Webb is my pick...hands down. He'll deliver his home state with no problems.
I don't know if you'd need Webb on the ticket to win VA.
Northern VA (the bluest part of the state) has gained population while the rest of VA has lost population. With each election in the 2000's it's trended bluer and bluer.
The Tobacco road states look to be the best inroads to the white house for the Dems.
MikeyA