Veepstakes: Dodd off the list?

Posted: Friday, June 13, 2008 9:15 AM by Domenico Montanaro

VEEPSTAKES: Dodd off the list?
DODD: Rut-ro: If Countrywide loans were enough to get Jim Johnson kicked out of the vetting process, doesn't this mean Chris Dodd is now a total non-starter as a potential running mate?

VIDEO: A Race for the White House panel debates: What does Sen. Barack Obama need most in a vice presidential candidate?

“Two influential US senators got ‘VIP’ loans from a leading subprime mortgage lender that saved them tens of thousands of dollars, it was reported last night. The Democratic pols, Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Kent Conrad of North Dakota, both received the highly favorable loans under the designation ‘Friend of Angelo,’ a reference to embattled Countrywide head Angelo Mozilo, Condé Nast Portfolio reported.” Dodd chairs the Senate Banking Committee.

MILITARY LEADERS: Time profiles some of Obama's military leader VP options, including Jim Jones, Wes Clark, Hugh Shelton, Tony McPeak and Jim Webb.

CRIST: So is FL Gov. Charlie Crist talking up McCain's need to carry Florida because he believes or because he wants to be on the ticket?

CANTOR: The NY Post’s Hurt makes the case for Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) as McCain’s veep. “The perfect fit is a congressman little known outside political circles but highly admired by political heavyweights and bankrollers in key states. Eric Cantor, 45, is from Virginia, which is one of the top red states on Obama's list to pick off. The fourth-highest-ranking Republican in the House, Cantor is credited with some of the Republicans' more sensible legislative efforts, such as applying market-based reforms to government programs and clamping down on the willy-nilly issuing of driver's licenses that gave cover to the 9/11 terrorists for so long.

“He is well liked by GOP colleagues, many of whom are far from eager to support McCain because of his bombastic nature and past dalliances with Democrats. The only Jewish Republican in the House, Cantor has developed powerful connections in key states such as Florida.”

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Comments

Barack Obama still has the better field of candidates to select from for VP. It won't matter who "Bush Hugger McCain picks he's still going to lose because it's the economy stupid!

Looks like "Warmonger" Bush's puppet, al Maliki, isn't going to go for being a puppet any longer and will not allow US troops to remain in Iraq regardless of what the repugnant ones want. This is what happens when our tyrant wants a puppet government and the puppet grows up and decides to control his own fate.

Go Obama 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 9:24 AM)

I like Jim Jones, and Biden as possible Veep choices.

Your reference to 'McCain's past dalliances' with Democrats, sounds comically risque! Like the repubs view him as a lover who cheated on them.

donna (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 9:27 AM)

I dont think Dodd was on the real list of VP potentials anyway. I also like Biden as VP or tom Kaine gov. of virginia

What about the Asian Americans.
Candidates on equal pay.
McCain Getting Special treatment
DNC Should be more like RNC
Most unattractive states during the primary

http://sensico.wordpress.com/

york (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 9:36 AM)

Was Dodd ever seriously on the list?

I say pick Richardson or Biden for Dems.

For Repubs - who cares? He's not going to win anyway. I know of no wildly popular Repub outside the beltway and if there were, they would be seen with McBombastic.

MI Chick (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 9:43 AM)

Jim Jones, Joe Biden, and Wes Clark are all great choices. I'm not AS familiar with Jones, but Biden and Clark would both be valuable assets to Obama's ticket.

Linda Hussein. Boston, MA (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 9:45 AM)

mccant should pick cheney for his vp then he can carry on bush 3rd term honestly well not honestly cause bush/cheney/mccant do not know what honest is.

thats a fact jack (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 9:51 AM)

Crist as McCain's VP would prove to the Independents that McCain is another Bush...it would be a blatant pander to the bible beatering evangelicals, and a total turnoff to Independents. Hopefully, that will mean good news for Obama.

Question to Floridians...what is Crist's favorability polling these days? Do you guys love him, hate, could care less?

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 9:53 AM)

"There is an apperance you are trying to hide something"

Mr.Dodd helped rewrite General Accepted Accounting Principles (although not a law). This enabled Arthur Andersen to use unusal accounting practices which lead to the downfall of Enron.

The Truth (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 9:55 AM)

Don't discount Shelton. Of all the military options he is probably the best choice available. He was a Special Forces soldier, commanded the 82nd Airborne division, and ultimately Special Operations Command before becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Also, he is a native of North Carolina who actually might be able to deliver a key state in the south that is only leaning McCain.

Rod (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 10:08 AM)

MI Chick (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 9:43 AM)

NOT be seen with him, I meant. Sorry.

MI Chick (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 10:11 AM)

Oh oh, the cats out of the bag. No one in VA knew Cantor was Jewish, guess the poor guy is out next election.....

Dems need to play up McCain's quote about having Cheney is a big position in his administration. That's enough to get Dems out in force!

LB, Virginia (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 10:28 AM)

I like Jim Webb for Veep.

class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 10:30 AM)

Doesn't really matter who McFossil picks for VP now does it? Doesn't change the fact that the guy at the top of the ticket is old, inept, out of touch and an angry, creepy old man, now does it? Who votes for the guy because of who's in the #2 spot? I take that back. Some of the people blogging here would do just that, wouldn't they? Obama '08

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 10:32 AM)

I wouldn't keep to many Senators on the list because of the risk of losing the Senate come the fall. It is better to find out the problems now than later. Who knows how many Senators have taken advantage of little things here and there that would blow up in the campaign's face if it came to light?

As for McCain with Eric Cantor, I don't know if it would really work. There was enough concern, when Lieberman ran as V.P. under Gore, that the crazies would come out. There may be better candidates out there for McCain that have already discussed. How many people on the Republican side don't want to be seen with McCain or Bush now? Could it be a growing number?

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 10:42 AM)

The countrywide story about Dodd is completely ridiculous - I am a nobody and I had points taken off my loan when the rates went down before the closing and they waived the fee. It was a very competitive time and the mortgage companies were trying to keep repeat customer business. This is yet another example of sloppy and irresponsible journalism.

Veronica, Virginia (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 11:32 AM)

DOdd was off the list ANYWAY b/c Connecticut has a GOP Governor, why lose the seat!? He's a great Senator.

tate (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 12:20 PM)

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