Veepstakes, PM edition

Posted: Monday, July 07, 2008 6:44 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Democrats, Republicans

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) made a very strong thanks-but-no-thanks statement on VP, saying he told the Obama camp last week that “under no circumstances” would he be a candidate.

The Atlantic's Ambinder has some more news: that Obama's search committee is now asking for information an documents, "a signal that the formal vetting phase of the search process has begun."

Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA), the last Virginian standing in the veepstakes, said separately: “While I believe that Senator Jim Webb would have made a great vice president, it is good news for Virginia that he will continue to represent the commonwealth in the U.S. Senate.”

Carly Fiorina said at today’s Christian Science Monitor breakfast that she doesn’t think government experience is a must when it comes to VP picks. And on taking a job in the McCain Administration? “I have learned that if you're open to options and opportunities, the future tends to take care of itself,” she said.

WHAT THEY’RE UP TO.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) participated in a DNC conference call announcing the football stadium venue for the convention speech. She talked about the plusses of hosting the convention in Denver, Kansas’ neighbor, and the resurgence of the party in the Rocky Mountain west, which used to be “solidly Republican." Left unmentioned was a vice presidential nominating speech, and Sebelius jumped off the call early.

Mitt Romney is seeking to bring his donors on board for John McCain.

Tom Ridge is also heading up a fundraiser.

Bill Clinton will not join his wife at this week’s fundraisers with Obama. He’s preparing for a trip to Africa, a spokesman says.

Mike Huckabee will be on “Hannity & Colmes” tonight. He’s also boosting NE Senate candidate and former Gov. Mike Johanns.

CHATTERING CLASS.
An interesting idea from the weekend: let McCain throw his VP pick to the Republican convention delegates.

Ron Klain, former Al Gore aide and Kevin Spacey fan, told Andrea Mitchell he thinks it’s very unlikely his former boss would want to be VP again.

At National Review, Michael Novak calls ex-Rep. John Kasich (R-OH) “the perfect Ohio-Michigan-Pennsylvania candidate.”

The oldest ever VP candidate? 80-year-old Henry Gassaway Davis.

VEEP VETTING.
While Tim Pawlenty is holding onto his records, Charlie Crist’s former chief of staff, with some reluctance, released notes from his “black book,” full of notes from Crist's first year in office.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
How’s this for a picture? Top VP contenders Sebelius and Pawlenty, together as the latter accepts the chairmanship of the Education Commission of the states.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

I'm guessing Jim Webb learned he's not going to be chosen, his bg has some spots although I think he's great, straight talking and hard working. So they let him pull back first. A good move, he'll work hard, be a VIP in new admin.

As a girl from Kansas like Obama's mother and now Silbelius, I'm rooting for her.

KNH, HI (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 6:59 PM)

Has anyone noticed lately that McCain does not wear the American Flag lapel pin most of the time?? I have been going through all the pics that you can launch and all websites recently - no flag pin. Now what's up with that? A flip flop??

McCain not wearing Flag pin (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 7:11 PM)

Webb's announcement today was clumsy politics at best, and disrespectful at it's worst.

He should have waited to be asked before rejecting, to run with Senator Obama on the ticket.

He undermined Barack with his premature diss. At least that's the way it came across to me.

donna (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 7:12 PM)

The Atlantic's Ambinder has some more news: that Obama's search committee is now asking for information an documents, "a signal that the formal vetting phase of the search process has begun."
------------------
There goes Hillary's shot!

Tina,NC (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 7:12 PM)

Carly Fiorina, why did Hewlett-Packard let you go? Weren’t you spying on employees Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Hewlett-Packard?

A woman VP would only agitate the Hillary feminist.

Webb’s choice is so much better for Obama as it would enhance a red state to become more blue. Although Webb is great with military experience; the flag and women issues could hurt.

Wesley Clark the four- star general was correct about McCain and I hope he never backs down.

Go Obama/Clark
***********************************************
Big high risk—Chris, the high risk is your flip-flop! Why are you in the tank now for McCain and anti-Obama?

BTW: It would be political suicide if Obama limited himself to campaign finance and not a 50 state approach. Swift boaters, smears, and the fear factor are/will be the only talking points. Barack’s position on campaign finance was always conditional; he did not flip. Talk to your collegiate Keith Olberman who unlike you and the rest of MSNBC has not flipped.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 7:17 PM)

Let's be real here, the worst possible Demo. VP candidate would be better than the best the Republican's came up with for their choice for a president.

A.Brocco,Albuquerque,NM (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 7:28 PM)

I recommend Christine Gregoire, Governor of the great state of Washington, as Barack Obama's running mate.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 7:30 PM)

It's a nice statement. But does it really mean he's officially off the list? I won't believe until Obama names somebody else Veep.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 7:42 PM)

I hope John McCain chooses Ms. Fiorina. She is an expert at taking opportunities at other costs . Regretfully, for the U.S. consumer this means taking a high corporate salary with little practical results at Compaq. Alienating the shareholders and employess and taking a golden parachute. Add to this her comments and views on outsourcing and taxing oversees profits of U.S. companies( for outsourcing jobs not taxing profits) and she makes the perfect Republican candidate but a poor choice for Vice President.

Terry, Great Plains (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 7:46 PM)

Carly Fiorina is bucking for a cabinet post? Good gods...that woman tore apart Hewelett Packard. Why am I not suprised she is with Oil man McCain.

DV, CA (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 7:53 PM)

With Webb out of the picture, I clear choice remains-

Obama/Hagel 08

tonybama, grahamsville, ny (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 8:26 PM)

Hey, you are so slanted! - Carly said at the outset - her very first sentence ...was that McCain has a long list of others who would be entirely suitable to be considered on his list of potential VPs, but you make it look like she communicated the opposite! The shame is on you for spinning it thus!

First of all, to clear the rumors, the dysfunction of the HP Board occurred long before Carly arrived on the scene, and has lasted long since. Everyone who attacked her so mysogynistically advocated keeping the company into printers only. The downturn occurred in the whole tech bubble, so she was blamed. But she wisely kept pushing innovation, R & D, and keeping the PC division. It was only that - the very things Carly did, which now has allowed HP to start knocking Dell out of the market. So what she advocated was visionary. Sure, short term investors in their greed were pissed, but if you were a value investor, she friggin saved HP. If she hadn't done what she advocated, Dell woould be knocking out Hp instead of the other way around. Proof about the dysfunction on the board? Long after Carly left, prosecutorial investigations started occuring over the HP Board - the very people that opposed Carly were now being investigated. So Carly has become a wise person through it all, leaning upon her faith and values, which she is very sincere about.

E.P. Walker (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 10:11 PM)

Why are you not writing about this?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article4288108.ece

They want us out. It's time to go. Obama is right.

zach, San Geronimo CA (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 10:22 PM)

Ok, now I get it. Chris Matthews and Chuck Todd will continue the Clinton attack on Obama. Theyre not even being shy about it anymore. Tank him, AND maybe Chris Matthews gets a head start on his political career. Count how many negative Obama stories HARDBALL runs to McSames.

WOW

Dr.Strangedog, MI (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 11:08 PM)

I am interested in seeing just exactly what Bill Clinton will end up doing to help the good Senator. Anybody care to bet that it won't be a whole lot??

Lexi, Mississippi (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 11:09 PM)

Is thee any reason in the world why you people in press don't ask McCain why he doesn't know how to use a computer? I am 64 years old and find it outrageous that a potential US president can't use a computer. But it is also mind boggling that the press doesn't question him about this and make it an issue

Frank Damon, Pacific Palisades, California (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 11:20 PM)

Chuck Todd and crew-
Please add an Electoral Vote Projection map to the MSNBC website. Or at least post a post with an update, it's been since June 5th since the last 'Obama wider map' update. Thank you.

Leah DiMarco, Houston, Tx. (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 11:34 PM)

As a former HP employee, the notion that Carly Fiorina might be a potential VP candidate for McCain is as laughable as it is pathetic. Her HP / Compaq brainstorm nearly destroyed the company, and the company stock price is still way below where it was when she started. She instituted the first layoffs in HP history and she nearly destroyed the legendary company culture. And then she treated the job as if she were a rock star. Thanks, but no thanks.

Glen Huntsberger, Santa Rosa, CA (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 11:47 PM)

Webb unfortunately would lose us women voters. He has problems with how he views women and speaks of us.
He also has been married several times and now has a wife who is younger than his children. That's just kind of pervy!

Deb Smith, Dallas, Tx (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 11:55 PM)

im hoping for tom kaine

McCain camp throws out 61 yr old women from event
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/mccain-camp-throws-a-61-yr-old-lady-out-of-his-event/
or

http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Monday, July 07, 2008 11:56 PM)

#1 Pick for me: Biden
#2: Edwards
#3: Bayeh
#4: Nunn

Pam OC,CA (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:44 AM)

Fiorina has demonstrated in recent days, for the benefit of those unfamiliar with her H-P performance, that she can lie well enough to take on any role with Team McCain.

She was called out by a Time reporter today on her outright falsehoods about differing tax policies and their respective effects on small business, and she just dodged the substantive question as if reality were discretionary. A shameful performance by a shameless hustler.

Joe Don, Topeka, KS (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:57 AM)

I like Sebelius for VP. I'm a 60 year old woman who will not be insulted if his pick is a woman, but not Hillary.

Penny, Windsor Ca (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 2:27 AM)

I'm not sure why the media ignores Vilaraigossa, the mayor of LA: sure he supported Clinton, but he's (1) not Clinton, but would make some of her supporters happy; and (2) he would have enormous influence on Hispanic voters, to the extent that Texas could be put into play. I would really hope that Obama is thinking beyond the regular names frequently trotted out ....

Mark, Oxford, UK (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 3:53 AM)

Let's hear it for Henry Gassaway Davis. Don't you love it? A pol whose middle name is "Gassaway". Finally, truth in advertising. Windbag, gasbag or whatever, just say "shut up"

No Windbags in Famously Reticent Vermont (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 7:34 AM)

Bill obviously is not happy about not getting to go back to the White House and have a bunch of free time there in which he didn't have in his first tour. Granted he just used company time to sleep with interns.

John, MI (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 7:46 AM)

GEE WHIZ, CARLY FIORINA IS STILL PERMITTED TO PONTIFICATE ON POLITICS, AS A SUPPORTER OF MCCAIN. AS A SHILL FOR THE GAS-TAX HOLIDAY, WHEN ASKED OF THE THOUSANDS OF LOST JOBS AND DELAYED HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, IF THE GAS-TAX HOLIDAY COULD EVER BE ENACTED, SHE PROPOSED THAT LOST REVENUES COULD BE MADE UP OUT OF RESERVES! SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHERE THESE RESERVES ARE LOCATED: @ THE FED, SAUDI ARABIA, CHINA.....PLEASE TELL ME CARLY. OF LESSER REPUGNANCE, IS THAT THE MEDIA HAS NEVER, ONCE, CALLED HER BLUFF, AND ASKED FOR THE SAID RESERVES THAT WOULD KEEP THE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION JOBS INTACT. CARLY FIORINA SURE SOUNDS LIKE A PLAUSIBLE VEEP-CHOICE, BECAUSE SHE SURELY HAS HER HEAD BURIED IN THE SAND.

tom tyskiewicz, forest hills, pa (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 7:56 AM)

Hard to find anyone willing to be Obamas vp. Maybe they know it may be Hillary unless someway Obama shuts her down or out than the Presidency will go to McCain and where is all Obamas money and DNC? We had it made but the power of self was to much for the selected not elected one. Well they can all have a party after with lots of beer to cry in .Dean,Palosi,Brazile and others thought they could shove this newbee and we would fall in line. no, nope ,not now or ever.No Obama .He jumped to fast again and does nothing.

Mox (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 7:58 AM)

Carly is out to lunch...refresher...she was fired from a high visibility executive job for failure to execute the business plan...you'll have to excuse me if i prefer getting advice from someone who succeeded in their most recent endeavor...its as bad as the republicans nominating the retread john mccain

Rick, NC (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 8:48 AM)

Obama needs someone with vice presidential experience. He Should pick Dan Quayle as his running mate. This will show how he reaches across the aisle, and since Danny was Bush I's vp, they can't attack him for it. Plus, Quayle isn't doing anything these days, I'm sure he'd say yes.

ryu hyabusa (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:08 AM)

Phil Bredesen Gov. of Tennessee
Bill Richardson " " N.M. or
Kathleen Sebelius " " Kansas
Any of these three would be great Obama choices. As for the republicants I believe it's a Romney, Ridge, Huckabee win, place, show.

bill, okla (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:21 AM)

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