Veepstakes: Timing is everything

Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:11 AM by Mark Murray

Compiled by NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger, Carrie Dann, and Athena Jones:
McCain says he isn’t basing his veep timing on when Obama announces. “I'm not driven by Sen. Obama's schedule, but it's a very tough thing to do," McCain said on Fox News. “I'm working hard at it.” He said he wants to reach a decision soon.

An October debate preview? Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Sen. Evan Bayh will face off this Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

DEMOCRATS: The Nation's Nichols writes that the conflict in Georgia creates a crystal-clear focus on the veep picks that Obama should consider, with Biden chief among them. Biden, he writes, would be “what Barack Obama needs at this point, a running-mate who can play not just on the stage of a swing state but who on the global stage where the next administration will be required to perform immediately.”

Kaine pardoned a local mother facing deportation for a decade-old case of minor credit card fraud.

REPUBLICANS: Former Rep. Rob Portman says he hasn’t been asked by McCain to turn over financial documents. “I'm happy to help him, here in Indiana and around the country, but he's got a lot of great choices," he said.

NBC/NJ’s Adam Aigner-Treworgy reports that Lieberman appeared with McCain at a fundraiser in Teaneck, N.J. Tuesday and said Obama is “a gifted young man but he’s not ready to be president” in 2009.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has launched an investigation to try to find out what a special investigator, looking into her controversial firing of a public safety commissioner, may discover. The review by the state attorney general’s office began after a state senator said the governor could be impeached as a result of the probe. That raised questions about how impartial the Legislature's investigation was going to be, according to the governor's office, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

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Comments

I wish Obama would hurry up and announce his vp through text message. I think its going to be bayh, safe choice. I wish he would pick chuck hagel.

Devastating McCain Video
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/devastating-mccain-video/
or
http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:17 AM)

It's sad to see Lieberman sell his soul just to have a chance to become vice president.

Billy, MI (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:21 AM)

Gary, Gaithersburg, MD (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:22 AM)

Au contrare, McCain (liar), your entire campaign is driven by Obama's every move.

I am more convinced than ever that Wesley Clark is the best candidate for Obama. He is a 4-star general, former NATO commander and totally OUTSIDE the beltway. And, he knows that being a POW and getting shot down, does not inherently give you experience to be commander in chief. I love Biden, too - but for the FU factor, I'd go with Clark (i bet he brings Arkansas-ha)

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:23 AM)

Biden is a good choice. let him loose.

voter (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:23 AM)

Can't wait to see Pawlenty and Bayh on Face The Nation. This one will be good and lets hope the host is fair and let each express their opinions equally.

Oh and Thanks Keith O., you gave it to McSurge on the "We are Georgian" and Bill O. "John Edwards" remarks real good. Loved it!

MIA in Miami (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:24 AM)

[An October debate preview? Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Sen. Evan Bayh will face off this Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” ]

Good grief, I hope not. Snoozzzzzzzzze.
---------------------------------------
From previous thread:

"The official would not address whether the US and Europe want to push Russia out of the G8..."

I'm sorry, but why are we poking the bear with a sharp stick? To see if they'll bite?

Do you think Putin (who is really in charge) cares what we think? No, not likely. However, I don't think that kicking them to the curb is the correct thing to do, either.

Are the NeoCons trying to "wag the dog" here? I mean, I know he needs to appeal to his base and all, but seriously...is warmongering the best way to go about it? Especially since we have zero credibility?

MI Chick (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:26 AM)

There is more chatter about Obama selecting Chuck Hegel as his running mate. That would be one smart move. Hegel may be very conservative on domestic issues, but he is a man of principal, and (at least until the National Enquirer says otherwise) high morals. The man has a great claim to an anti-war stance devoid of self-serving motivation, and would help Obama drive home the point of a different way of doing business in Washington. Please, Obama, give this man a good look; the last thing you, or this country, needs is another political prettyboy like Evan Bayh or his ilk. If you stand for change as you say you do, then make it really happen. A liberal democrat working together with a conservative republican....wasn't that what was supposed to make this country great in the first place?

Pete Caloger Bushkill, PA 18324 (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:26 AM)

"McCain says he isn’t basing his veep timing on when Obama announces. “I'm not driven by Sen. Obama's schedule, but it's a very tough thing to do," McCain said . . .
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hmmmmmmm

That's strange, seeing as everything the McCain campaign does is based on attacking or reacting to the Obama campaign's every move.

Is a change in the air? :)

Nashville_fan (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:27 AM)

I'm thinking Biden is probably the best choice. Bayh is a bit vanilla. With Biden, you have a real attack dog that knows his stuff.

I like Hagel, but I think his domestic policy is really not going to jive with the party platform. I would come out with him as a Secretary of State reference though.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:29 AM)

Won't it be great if McCain picks a fellow wife-cheater as VP, that is on their second or third marriage? Then, we will have the ideal "all-wife-cheaters ticket" (and don't forget, McCain also divorced his first wife within months, and is an unstable and super-angry guy, so he gets extra points). This can serve as a great lesson to our kids that even the most terribly imperfect man in the world can become President. Ahem.

Michael J, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:30 AM)

I always thought Biden would be a great choice, but, really, ANYBODY with enough foreign policy experience---including Cold War experience with Russia as the enemy---would be good. Might be nice if they could pronounce the name of Georgia's president correctly, too.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:36 AM)

Nichols..."Biden has issues a string of thoughtful statements about the situation in South Ossetia. And on Tuesday he penned a tough-and-knowing opinion piece for the Financial Times newspaper in which the senior senator bluntly addressed Russia's leaders -- in language they are far more likely to take seriously than anything coming from the McCain or Obama camps."

If we're talking about comfort here....are we talking about comfort here? Todd's idea of comfort was with the candidates themselves....this idea of comfort is with the American people.

Scott, H (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:45 AM)

Hey Gary "I love how Democrats always talk about reducing the number of abortions. If there's nothing morally wrong with abortions as Democrats claim, why do we need to reduce the number of abortions that are performed?"
------------------------------------------------------
Most Democrats don't like abortion any more than the Republicans - we just feel that imposing OUR Personal BELIEFS on everyone else is WRONG! We feel people should have a choice. Most of us would rather see abortions go away through education and birth control. What makes me laugh is you Republicans don't support birth control and don't support abortion! You can't have it both ways!!

Jean, Asheville, NC (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:46 AM)

I love how Democrats always talk about reducing the number of abortions. If there's nothing morally wrong with abortions as Democrats claim, why do we need to reduce the number of abortions that are performed?
Gary, Gaithersburg, MD (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:22 AM)

------------------------------------------------

I'd suggest you go ask any woman who has ever had an abortion if it was an easy choice, Gary. I doubt you'd find any woman who ever approached the decision in a cavalier manner or who never had an ounce of regret in making the choice.

While it must remain a woman's choice, if there are steps that we can take to ensure that a woman doesn't have to make the choice in the first place then we are foolish not to do so.

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:46 AM)

I have said from the beginning I think it's going to we Wes Clark, too. Biden is a loose cannon. He can't keep his foot out of his mouth. He also represents a Washington insider, so that goes against Obama theme of "change". I am going to trust the Obama camp tp pick the right VP candidate for him. They've done a stellar job with his campaign thus far, so why should I questionhis choice? Obama '08

Diane from Illinois (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:48 AM)

Obama has a self-created problem here, the change message is making it harder for him to choose a running mate. many want to see an experienced person in the VP slot, you see the names everyday being bandied about.
If Senator Obama chosses a running mate like Bayh or Sebellius he will look like he has chosen another less experienced person and this may come back to haunt him later.
Choose wisely Senator, change is nice but experience matters a lot this day and age.
GOOD LUCK!

John Alexander,PA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:04 AM)

While it must remain a woman's choice, if there are steps that we can take to ensure that a woman doesn't have to make the choice in the first place then we are foolish not to do so.
Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:46 AM)

It's not really hard, Pete. It's called ABSTINENCE!

NObama (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:31 AM)

The best choice for Obama is simple...RET. GENERAL WESLEY CLARK.

He keeps with the candidate's message of change. At the same time he is used to dealing with the political nuances of the world (Running the Bosnian War for NATO is as much an exercise in diplomacy as it is a military endeavor) He definately has the attack dog mentality needed by a VP. He is a Rhoades Scholar (and I for one have had enough of president's who take pride in thier poor educational achievements). He is also a war hero. (The comment made on Meet The Press about being wounded in Vietnam didn't tell the whole story. He was wounded early in a surprise attack, REFUSED evacuation to the hospital and directed the counter attack to a successful conclusion before being transported out) He is also a successful businessman.

Seems simple enough to me....OBAMA/CLARK 08

Jim N., Kansas City, Mo (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:37 AM)

Choose wisely Senator, change is nice but experience matters a lot this day and age.
GOOD LUCK!
John Alexander,PA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:04 AM)

If experience matters, why is Obama the presumptuous (spelling intended) nominee?

BOMA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:43 AM)

What about Lincoln Chaffee for Obama VP? He's a Republican turned Independent who voted against Iraq war ...

TL (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:44 AM)

Obama needs

Clarke
Biden
Hagel
Powell

Those are his only choices. I hope he takes one of them or I think he could lose.We need an attack dog to cancel out McWars

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/12/AR2008081202932.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

Nj (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:44 AM)

I hope Biden is the vp pick for Obama. He has his own presidenital looks, great debater and intelligence. They will make a powerful team.

carol ohare (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 11:24 AM)

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