Veepstakes update: Obama on Sebelius

Posted: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:20 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ’s Mike Memoli

THE SHORT LIST. Obama told a Missouri station: “I love Kathleen Sebelius. I think she is as talented a public official as there is right now. Integrity. Competence. She can work with all people of all walks of life, but I promised that I am not going to say anything about my vice president until I actually introduce my vice president.”

WHAT THEY’RE UP TO. Colin Powell met with Obama on June 18. He and John McCain chatted on June 14, per NBC’s Andrea Mitchell.

Wes Clark again stood by his comments in an interview on MSNBC with Mitchell. And for McCain, Carly Fiorina again pushed back, saying he is a surrogate for the Obama camp.

VIDEO: Sen. McCain's campaign says that Sen. Jim Webb, on Countdown Monday, was renewing the attack on McCain's military service launched by Wesley Clark on Sunday. But where is this in Sen. Webb's statements on the broadcast? Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis discusses.

And Sen. Jim Webb had to deny that he demeaned McCain’s service when he said he needed to “calm down.”

BUZZ METER. The efforts to unite Democrats -- including the Hillary Clinton/Obama Unity event -- dominated news coverage last week.

But Reuters finds that the chances of a “dream ticket” are increasingly less likely according to online speculators. Webb and Mitt Romney are seen as the most likely Democratic and Republican picks, respectively.

Wall Street Journal looked at how Al Gore or Joe Biden could fill in some gaps in Obama’s resume.

An influential NJ pastor likes Obama-Biden.

CHATTERING CLASS. Marc Ambinder, and loads of Mike Huckabee supporters, wonder why HuckPAC is supporting Rep. Don “Bridge to Nowhere” Young (R-AK).

Cillizza looks at LA Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R) handling of the pay raise. And one of his consultants said that he “did something that's not in the political playbook -- he admitted a mistake and corrected it -- and he didn't try to hide any of it or pretend it was the plan all along.”

New Republic’s Cohn thinks Romney would be a shrewd choice.

ELECTORAL MATH. Joe Lieberman’s approval rating is under 50 percent in CT for the first time. And Chris Dodd has also taken a hit, with his lowest net approval ever.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

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

Mr. Dodd rewrote the accounting rules that allowed Arthur Andersen to cover up for Enron.

We continue to ignore the Dodd Shelby bill FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008 which was written word for word by Bank of America.

The Truth (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:32 PM)

Oh Hillary is counting on O'bamboozle to lose. She is all about the Clintons and will have to wait a long time to run again. Her policies are almost as liberal as his. So if he wins, the country will be in such terrible shape that it will be a sure Repulican victory in 2012. But of cousre he and wooden Al will have solved global warming and the French wil like us. Hillary is in a cant win situation. Im so sad for her. Hey all you Obamatrons, dont worry about gas costing $6 , $7 oe even $10 a gallon. You will all be riding the bus. Of course teh rich Democrats who care so much about global warming will be fying personal jets and chopters to the Hamptons. Because if all the peasants stop using carbon fuels, then the elites can keep doing what they like. How many SUVs does Al have?

LDJ Muskegon MI (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:40 PM)

Okay, so McCain is upset that a supposed surrogate for Obama dares to even mention his military career in any context.

So he sends out his own surrogate who, wait for it...attacks the military career of Wes Clark
Orson Swindle:

“General Clark probably wouldn’t get that much praise from this group. I can’t speak for them, but we all know that General Clark, as high-ranking as he is, his record in his last command I think was somewhat less than stellar.”

That's right, McCain, on top of whining one bridge too far on this one has just proven once again how good a hypocrite he can be.

Allen, Chicago (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:42 PM)

Cillizza looks at LA Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R) handling of the pay raise. And one of his consultants said that he “did something that's not in the political playbook -- he admitted a mistake and corrected it -- and he didn't try to hide any of it or pretend it was the plan all along.”

**************************************************

Jindal played a canned chivalry card, when he hammed it up with his, 'Let the Legislators, whose pay raise I vetoed, not take their anger out on the voters. Rather, let them take their anger out on me'.

Come on Bobby, or what ever your REAL name is, what elected official would take their anger out on their constituents?

donna (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:44 PM)

Claire McCaskill for VP!

Mike, Hopkinton, MA (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:46 PM)

Not feeling Webb as the VP choice right now. I still think Biden's credentials are better than any of the ones listed above.

OBAMA/BIDEN, 2008!

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:48 PM)

I think Sebelius is his best choice. Although I'm not sure how tough she'd be in a debate. She's his best match to create the kind of synergy that will get things done.

I've heard Clinton supporters would be upset. But you would think they wouldn't stand in the way of a woman making history.

I really hope fear of Clinton supporters won't keep other woman out.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:48 PM)

The only thing McCain has to stand on is his military service since as a senator, his being a "maverick" is not progress. His ties to lobbyists and the Keating Five show incredibly poor judgment for such a self-professed moral person.

John McCain is military through and through. It's true that it does not qualify him for president except in a time of war. The country has said we've had enough of war; therefore John McCain is not qualified.

Why he wants Town Halls with Obama is a mystery. Because next to the energetic and charismatic Obama, McCain looks like he's on sleeping pills. He also stumbles over his thoughts and words, keeps saying what a high-minded person he is, while associating with sleaze.

Both Webb and Clark have served the military well. Their thoughts and opinions about McCain matter, they've been there. No one disputes his captivity but being a POW is a mind-altering experience and probably explains his sudden bursts of anger. Who can blame him? But McCain's experience is just not broad enough, locked in Washington for 20+ years and the narrow view (by necessity) of a military person.

TR, Los Angeles (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:50 PM)

Obama better not choose a woman. I will not vote for him anyway. Some former Clinton supporters may do so. If he picks a woman, tho, that will be "bye bye" to the Clinton women coalition.

Re Chris Dodd's approval rating, I'd like to know why the man isn't under official investigation for his sweetheart mortgage deal?

think (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:51 PM)

I think it is a big mistake for anyone to go after Webb on this stuff. I think it will backfire.

Marihelen TX (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:52 PM)

I really like Wexler(sp), but it's too bad that he doesn't have much experience.

OBAMA/BIDEN, 2008!

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:52 PM)

Now McLame is after Jim Webb. When will all the whining stop. Boy for a war hero he has sure gotten soft over the years. All he does is whine and cry. "They're saying something bad about me...say it ain't so." "I am a war hero, bomb, bomb, bomb."

Give me a break. If he's this wimpy now how wimpy will he be should he get elected.

Tina, NC (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:01 PM)

I think I've figured out why the PUMA folks like McLame. He whines as much as they do!

Tina, NC (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:08 PM)

Can we please talk about a real issue?!?!?!?!

Seriously, I don't give 2 poops about who served in the Millitary or didn't, it has NOTHING to do with being the President!

McCain would love to turn this into the issue, instead of having to talk about the real issues, where he would get his butt handed to him.

McCain stands for everything we don't need in America after 7 years of crap from Bushie.

Matt, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:12 PM)

Chuck Todd:
Why are you assuming that Dems are voting in the Dem veepstakes and Repubs in the Repub veepstakes, with no cross-over?

That's silly -- those of us who frequent this site probably like politics of all persuasions just like you.

I, for one, have voted in both every single week and each time I voted for the person I thought was best. So for one party, that was with a clean conscience, and for the other party, it was in terms of damage-mitigation.

But you've said that twice on your video -- re dems voting in dem veepstakes and repubs voting in repub veepstakes -- and I just can't imagine what you base that assumption on.

Amy, TX (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:14 PM)

I'm Republican, I'm Mormon, I'm conservative, but I DON'T think McCain should choose Romney. Romney adds nothing to the ticket that McCain needs except business expertise. I know that's a big deal, but other than business prowess, Romney offers no geographical help, no help with the Evangelicals, no help with the conservatives. I can't name anyone better, but Romney would be a drag on the ticket, due to continued prejudice against Mormons. (How is it that that's okay in today's world?!?) I'd like to see Romney run in '12 (after McCain gets drubbed by Obama this year and we live -barely- through the equivalent of a second Carter administration). I think in order to avoid an inevitable Obama win, McCain will need to make a Veep choice that will "shock and awe" everyone.

Keith, American Fork, UT (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:28 PM)

regarding sebelius, he is not promoting her to be vp. He was asked a question about whether he would chose sebelius as his vp. he complimented her and said he would no longer discuss the issue of vp until he chooses one.

voter (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:43 PM)

This Republican would love to see an Obama/Hagel ticket.If you are a Republican who is considering supporting Obama, visit the Republicans for Obama website for some intelligent, stimulating discussions. Join the RFO Club-you don't need to hide!

Izzy Buffalo, NY (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:44 PM)

I've always liked Biden, I also like Webb they have been my two favorites may be somebody else I haven't heard about. Now let's look at McCain and Lieberman good grief do we want to stay awake for 4 years shoot me now as exciting as those two are

Linda key largo (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:48 PM)

A. Gore would be the best choice. He has achieved so much and has a status and no rivalary with Obama. He would be around for next 16 years and would help our country to the path of greatness again. He may become the most important American leader of this century.

Harshad Sheth,Diamond Bar,CA (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 8:02 PM)

Harshad Sheth,Diamond Bar,CA (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 8:03 PM)

There is not enough information to know if Obama has "executive leadership" abilities, but what Gen Clark said of McCain is true.

McCain was 894 out of 899 in his Naval Academy Class. He crash a total of 5 planes during is flying career including being the probable cause of the worst shipboard fire in Navy history.

Despite being promoted to Captain because of his father's status and his time as a POW, he was never given a command befitting that rank. His record speaks for itself. Incompetency that cost tax payers over a Billion Dollars in lost military assets and the lives of several good sailors on the USS Forrestal.

Navy Vet (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 8:07 PM)

Maybe Connecticut is finally realizing what the rest of the world already knows, Joe Lieberman is a first class jerk.

GW (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 8:12 PM)

Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR); why is everyone except NBC/MSNBC looking at her quietly as the only non-Hillary woman the Clinton crowd could accept as Obama's VP?

Jonathan Berman, Whitman, MA (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 8:13 PM)

Obama/Hagel 08

What better unity ticket. 50 purple states for Obama!!!

tonybama, grahamsville, ny (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 8:48 PM)

THE SHORT LIST. Obama told a Missouri station: “I love Kathleen Sebelius.....

What's with the recognition quotient? Some upstage stuff going on here?

One woman's as good as another stuff...no wonder Bill Clinton is pouting again...He needs the girl out of the house for few hours...
But enough about them's...
Is Obama showing his got nothing to fear but fear itself?
Obama stay on the issues...no time out, no distractions...Economy, unfair wages,jobs, gas, food,
housing, health care, national vision, war (ending) and most important the need to unify America to meet the challenges of "our" futures..the children..
Love , Hope and Blending of all the good people's hearts and spirits to change Washington's Politics..

Obama'08

BJ, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 9:15 PM)

My dream for months has been an Obama/Powell ticket... Now, that's a DREAM TEAM...

Powell could share his wisdom with the smartest protege this country has seen in years... And, what a legacy to Powell, to help 'set the course' to the America he has always invisioned.

Dream Team...

Old White Grandma from KCMO (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 9:27 PM)

All of this manufactured outrage from Senator McCain's camp regarding the comments of General Clark and Senator Webb is nothing more than an attempt to avoid talking about real issues that affect everyone in the country because they appear to have no real solutions. Having heard the comments both General Clark and Senator Webb made, I feel they made a very valid point. The MSM is aiding and abetting Senator's McCain's camp in this effort just to try and boost ratings. When is the media going to do their job and really report news or provide real information instead of all of this tripe? I, for one, am tired of all of the "gotcha" on both sides.

R. Howard, Elgin, SC (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 9:52 PM)

Wesley Clark is a low life punk that got FIRED. He si a disgrace to the uniform and a hired mouthpiece for Mr bigears BOYCOTT THE OLYMPICS!!!!

I am an American (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 10:07 PM)

Man, the mccain camp sure are a whiney bunch! Makes it look like mccain is trying to hide something!

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 10:28 PM)

i also love sebelius and i want her to be VP. I do think she has a good chance and she wont be picked just because shes a woman it will be because shes a governor, shes qualified, great chemistry with obama, and has supported him from day one.

http://sensico.wordpress.com/

camie (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 10:29 PM)

How can Webb be Obama's VP pick? He is really anti-female and crude. Do we really want a VP that writes trashy and graphic romance novels, which describe female body parts in graphic detail? Not only that he made very sexist comments durring the tail hook scandal (where female navy officers were being sexually harrased). I really think that these things would worry Obama in light of HRC woman supporters. In a way, it would be like Hillary picking a racist to be her VP pick if she were the nominee.

RJS (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 10:46 PM)

Wes clark is an idiot, a yes man, an Army kiss ass from the word go.. blow hard and brown noser. A coat tail loser!!! What ever he shoots his mouth off about is meaningless!! What a fool!

fake as chicken teeth (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 10:47 PM)

If McCain had any substantive solutions to our problems he would not have to resort to this "straw man" arguement that someone is questioning his hero status with the complete piling on of the pro McCain media.

I for one would very much like to be able to read Mr. McCains military file to confirm the hero status that he has been shouting for the last 30 years. Sign the form 180 that Senator Kerry did in response to your Swiftboat Buddies thus releasing his complete files .... what don't you want us to know, Mr. McCain!!!

goodwin, arizona (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 10:51 PM)

We are moving into a pure fake election, Obama, is screwing the people for all its worth! Clinton has lessons to be learned, buy this clown Obama, is pure evil waiting to be crowned! He has all the answers and solutions, like hell! Wake to the music, This babbling liar has nothing but shallow and hollow election promises!!

pure fake (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 10:53 PM)

I think that John McCain is becoming a bit paranoid about his qualifications. Nobody, neither Wesley Clark nor Jim Webb questioned his patriotism or his service to this country.

OneOleMan (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 11:31 PM)

I am so happy for Mr. Obama that he has found his soul mate,oops, running mate. His every utterance is accepted as delphic by his legions of fawning admirers. I do realize that life is really rather hard right now, food and fuel out of sight expensive, worry about your kids and what they may be exposed to when you are not right there, job security, the list is endless. But hey, don't despair, Barack Obama will give another speech and your soul will be restored, while he throws your increased tax money away at liberal boondoggles.
The fundamental problem with this guy is: all style, no substance. Oratory does not make for a gifted leader to steer this nation through the tough times ahead. But, lets us warm our hearts by his latest pronouncment that he loves this Ms. Sebelius. Gosh, I'll bet she has never had recourse to a firearm and a church hall.

Tina Wood Arcata, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 11:33 PM)

OBAMA will select BIDEN. Bet on it.

Adrian Sullivan, Encinitas, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 11:42 PM)

I loved the line from John Edwards's spokesman who said that the hubbub surrounding General Clark's remarks "about" McCain's war record is the "weapon of mass distraction." The republicans have no issue, no record to run on. They can gin up these controversies, and in the dry weeks of the political season, the media creates controversy for the sake of controversy. We saw it in the god-awful run-up to Pennsylvania, where every sound-bite and mole-hill became mountainous. We are smarter than this, better than this.

Personally, can we take a month off and chill out -- as Jim Webb recommends? Come back in August, when school is in session and I'm back at work. Right now, I'd rather read David McCullough talk about Teddie
Roosveldt.

It's a bit early, but folks, have a great 4th.

schriendog@hotmail.com (Sent Tuesday, July 01, 2008 11:45 PM)

MSNBC - Please put up an ELECTORAL Vote Projection Map. Your website is the only one that doesn't have one. Real Clear Politics, CNN, Rasmussen, OpenLeft, Electoral-Vote, FiveThirtyEight, ElectionProjectionn all have one but YOU GUYS don't ;(
Thank you.

Leah, Houston,TX (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 12:08 AM)

If Sen. Obama is working to make more voters acquainted with him, even after all these months, imagine the job they'd have with Sibelius.

Sally (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 12:13 AM)

When it comes down to it, Obama stands for change, and I just can't image four more years of the same old thing. I am a true "Obama Mama" and I wear that on my wrist, which shows everyone I meet, my support. If you are looking for a network of supporters check out committothedream.com

Maryl Marks, Kansas City, Mo (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 12:20 AM)

The hopes of Romney on the Rep ticket makes me want to get out and campaign again. What a great American.
Everything this country is lacking right now, he is.
-Hard working, NOTHING was handed him.
-Integrity, the media twisted his every word and you bought it as fact without knowing the whole truth.
-Strong Moral Values. "By their fruits ye shall know them" What an amazing family.
-Patriotism. Serving your neighbor, your country comes in many forms. NOT JUST MILITARY. We are military, and I can say with certainty that that family fights harder for this country than my family.
Great Leader- NO worldly success compensates for failure within the walls of your own home.
An amazing Wife- "Behind every TRULY great man is a great woman" Anne is a GREAT woman!
Wealth- Boy could we ever use his economy know how. And HOW!
Well, I know how much you all love Romney on this oh so very left MS Blog, don't know why I waste my time here, but it can't hurt to share my two cents.

TS, Beavercreek, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 12:25 AM)

Who's a@@ is clark kissing now, surely one can see he is again just a mouth peace for who ever! His low life mouth to detrack what other Veterans have done for this nation is deplorable! Clark was and is nothing more than a yes man, kissing a@@ to the top was and is subjective! He was in my book a pencil pusher and a poor tactical general. Worthless and always sticking his nose into places he don't belong, he has never been right on military tactics or battle field planning!

Set down and shut up! (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 12:26 AM)

Battle Ground States in the South
1) Florida
2) Georgia
3) Alabama
4) South Carolina
5) Arkansas

Battle Ground States in the Mason-Dixon
1) Tennessee
2) West Virginia

Battle Ground States in Mid-West
1) Iowa
2) Nebraska
3) Ohio

Battle Ground States North
1) New Hampshire
2) Maine
3) Massachusetts
4) Michigan

Battle Ground States in the West
1) New Mexico
2) Colorado
3) Montana
4) Washington
5) Idaho
6) Nevada

The South and West looks like the most to make up for Obama.....

Anybody else see this too?

BJ, CA (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 1:06 AM)

Let me get this straight. It's OK to swift boat John Kerry and completely dishonor his service in Vietnam, but it's not OK for someone to make a pretty harmless statement about McCain's military service not being a qualification for the highest government office?

All those people that wore purple heart band-aids
didn't generate the kind of press a comment from a decorated general who is completely qualified to make such comment.

McCain's campaign has nothing left to grasp other than weak arguments about the larger truths. His service doesn't qualify him, and his remarks about the Vietnamese (that John Kerry faced and took 3 bullets from) certainly disqualifies him:

"I hate the gooks," McCain said yesterday in response to a question from reporters aboard his campaign bus. "I will hate them as long as I live."

Rob, Carlsbad, CA (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 2:35 AM)

OBAMA/HAGEL 2008

jim mi (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 6:22 AM)

Can we stop with the Wes Clark bashing? Watch the whole interview, he honors McCain's service, but says it (military service) has nothing to do with being President. Guess what, he's right!

Is there anything in the world that would really prepare ANYONE for the job of President? sheesh!

This whole thing is a media creation to gin up some news on a slow week. Find some b-roll of fireworks and send your gasbags on vacation.

Vibinc (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 6:37 AM)

Regarding Lieberman and Dodd's approval ratings, I wonder if it's possible that most incumbents are down right now, given the condition of the economy? It would make sense.

Steven G. Randolph, Tampa, FL (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 6:55 AM)

YAY!! I've been pushing Webb in these blogs for months!

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, July 02, 2008 7:21 AM)

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