Veepstakes: What Obama wants
Posted: Monday, July 28, 2008 9:13 AM by Domenico Montanaro
On Meet the Press yesterday, Obama said this about selecting his VP: “I'm going to want somebody with integrity; I'm going to want somebody with independence, who's willing to tell me where he thinks or she thinks I'm wrong; and I'm, I'm going to want somebody who shares a vision of the country where we need to go, that we've got to fundamentally change not only our policies, but how our politics works, how business is done in Washington.
VIDEO: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama discusses what he's looking for in a running mate with NBC's Tom Brokaw of "Meet the Press."More: “I think the most important thing from my perspective is somebody who can help me govern. I want somebody who I'm compatible with, who I can work with, who has a shared vision, who certainly complements me in the sense that they provide a knowledge base or an area of, of expertise that can be useful. Because we're going to have a lot of problems and a lot of work to do, and I'm not interested in a vice president who I just send off to go to funerals. I want somebody who's going to be able to roll up their sleeves and really do some work.”
On Hillary Clinton, he repeated this line: I think Hillary Clinton would be on anybody's short list. She, she is one of the most effective, intelligent, courageous leaders that we have in the Democratic Party.”
But the New York Sun doesn't miss these very intriguing comments Obama made about his VP -- and how they may have eliminated Clinton from contention.
Go back and read Obama's words carefully. Did he also eliminate Bayh and Biden, too?
Would Dems really tolerate a Bush cabinet member as Obama's running mate? Ann Veneman is reportedly being floated.
The Boston Globe has a front-page story on Pawlenty. "The rapport between the two men, evident throughout long days on the campaign trail, now is being cited as one of the main reasons that Pawlenty has risen in speculation as McCain's possible running mate. ... If McCain is looking for a close friend whose loyalty is beyond question, Pawlenty could be his vice presidential pick, political observers said. Pawlenty might also help McCain win Minnesota, where a recent poll showed the race is statistically tied."
The Boston Globe reports on the Kaine buzz.
More from NBC/NJ’s Mike Memoli…
The Wall Street Journal says both candidates have narrowed their choices, and Obama reviewed information on prospects before leaving for overseas. No surprise names on either list.
REPUBLICANS: McCain said on This Week that his goal for the vice presidential selection is “the best team we can provide the United States of America in very difficult times.” He said they are “still in the process.”
Speculation that McCain could announce his choice Monday, after meeting with his inner circle this weekend in Sedona. And Pawlenty cleared his schedule for the weekend.
American Spectator's Philip Klein calls Romney “political suicide.”
John Thune also said he hasn’t turned over personal information. He said on “Fox News Sunday” “you don’t rule anything out in this profession. But it’s certainly not anything I aspire to.”
DEMOCRATS: Chuck Hagel on “Face the Nation”: "I am not interested. I fully expect to be a private citizen next year and get a real job. I fully expect that Barack Obama will choose somebody in his own party.” Hagel called McCain’s most recent ad “completely distorted” on “Face the Nation.” Hagel said Obama made the right call to not to visit U.S. troops at a military hospital in Germany after the congressional delegation ended, adding it would have been “using our wounded men and women as props for his campaign.”
The hometown paper looks at the pluses and minuses of Evan Bayh. “Despite his resume, Bayh hasn't built a substantial public policy legacy. Opponents could paint Obama and Bayh as a ticket that looks and sounds great but hasn't done much.”
Despite his denials, the Providence Journal finds many who think Jack Reed is an attractive VP candidate.
