The Frinklin and Fred Show

Veep Me Baby!

With the Conventions coming up in.. Well, whenever, I had thought I'd take a look at possibilites for John Kerry's vice-presedential nominee.

John McCain, Republican Senator from Arizona
PROS
-America's favorite politician
-Would attract disaffected Republicans in addition to independents
-Could lock in important swing-state of Arizona
CONS
-Is still a Republican and professes to want to stay as such, preparing for run in 2008
-Could upset leftist voters and swing more of them toward Nader
-Would completely overshadow Kerry

John Edwards, Democratic Senator from North Carolina
PROS
-Polished speaker with impressive political instincts
-Could deliver needed support in the south
-Effective "Two Americas" idea caught on with Democratic base
-Possibly dynamite campaign theme: "Two Wealthy White Guys Named John"
-Boyishly handsome or handsomely boyish, take your pick
CONS
-Weaker than expected in home state
-Still a political neophyte, having served only 1 term in the Senate
-Would completely overshadow Kerry

Hillary Clinton, Democratic Senator from New York
PROS
-Very popular amongst Democrats, especially women
-Could garner support from independents, especially those with fond memories of Clinton Administration
CONS
-Polarizing figure despised by many Republicans
-Has shown no desire to run for #2 spot, seems to be gearing up for 2008
-Would completely overshadow Kerry

Joe Lieberman, Democratic Senator from Connecticut
PROS
-Well-regarded centrist could possibly diffuse some of Kerry's "Massachusetts Liberal" label
-Hawkish on the War on Terror and most other foreign-policy issues, which would lessen effectiveness of the Bush campaign's attacks on Kerry
-Would bring much-needed Joementum to Kerry campaign
CONS
-His own presidential campaign crashed pretty quickly
-Many leftist Democrats still not particularly fond of him, especially in Hollywood
-Endless Joementum jokes

Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Commander
PROS
-Impeccable resume
-Could deliver needed support in the south
-He and Kerry's combined military record could reflect on Bush's still-questionable service records and Cheney's reputation as a chickenhawk
CONS
-His own presidential bid was a disaster, starting out as the perfect anti-Dean candidate and going nowhere with it
-No experience outside of the military
-With failed bid for nomination, his outsider status is greatly diminished

Bill Richardson, Democratic Governor of New Mexico
PROS
-Good old-fashioned ethnic politics: would be the first Hispanic to run on a major ticket
-Could lock in a small, but vitally needed swing state
CONS
-Little, if any charisma
-Prior to governorship, had a rocky tenure as Secretary of Energy

Tom Vilsack, Democratic Governor of Iowa
PROS
-Popular Governor of a Midwestern state
-Kerry owes him, as his wife's endorsement is considered a big factor in Kerry's Iowa win
-Cool last name
CONS
-Make that a very small Midwestern state
-Virtually unknown outside of Iowa
-Way to easy to make fun of that cool last name

Bob Kerrey, former Democratic Senator from Nebraska, current member of 911 Commisson
PROS
-Popular former Senator
-Adds needed coolness to the drab Kerry
-Vietnam story comparable to John Kerry's
CONS
-Has never seemed as good a campaigner as he should be
-Went into 1992 Democratic primaries as favorite, quite frankly tanked in primaries
-Kerry and Kerry? Kerry Squared? Forget it

Dick Gephardt, Former Representative from Missouri
PROS
-Huge support from traditional Democratic groups such as the unions
-Will definitely NOT overshadow Kerry
-Very popular in Missouri, a very important battleground state
CONS
-Just plain dull
-With almost every advantage available to him, he still could not win Iowa this year
-Would exaggerate Kerry's perception as a flip-flopper. Between the two of them, Kerry and Gephardt have supported every side of every issue known to man.

John Lewis, Representative from Georgia
PROS
-Unbeatable personal story, civil rights crusader for decades
-Much like Richardson would be the first African-American on a major ticket. This could energize the traditional base of the party
CONS
-Is an old-school liberal, which would turn away centrist undecideds

Max Cleland, former Senator from Georgia
PROS
-Has become the symbol of Republican excess to Democrats everywhere
-Compelling personal history
CONS
-Despite the revisionist history from Democrats, Cleland lost due to his mediocre performance as a Senator and a dreadfully run campaign.
-Something unseemly about Democrats running him out all the time, as if attempting to insinuate that Republicans are so evil they beat up cripples. Yes, Saxby Chambliss didn't play nice in 2002, but that's politics. If you climb in the arena, you had best be prepared to take shots.

Posted by Frinklin at June 3, 2004 06:10 PM