So if you buy the hints that Barack Obama is sending, his running mate will be Joe Biden, Tim Kaine, or Evan Bayh. If you read between the lines, Jack Reed seems entirely plausible. If however, you’re a partisan looking over this list, it seems that you’re awfully uninspired. And given the disappointment on the Left, some of their fantasies are seeming a little strained. Over at HuffPo, they want to add the campaign skills of a candidate proved to alienate ordinary Americans, and who’s shown an ability to fumble an eminently winnable election:
As the clock ticks down to Saturday, when Obama has promised to appear publicly with the lucky winner whether or not he’s announced his or her name beforehand, pundits everywhere are laying their cards on the table guessing who the veep nominee will be, and we’ve decided to join the fun, swim against the current, and lay down our marker for John Kerry. To some extent our prediction is based on gut instinct — a certain “truthiness” that comes from having watched and listened to Kerry more closely than most (less obsessive) people — but there also are some fairly rational justifications behind our choice. Here are our top ten reasons – plus one for luck – why we think Kerry may be Obama’s August Surprise.
Or if you’re skeptical that this race needs a healthy dose of patronizing condescension, perhaps Hillary Clinton is more to your liking:
Want to put the election away, Barack Obama? Yep, one more time, with feeling, pick Hillary Clinton as your VP. The most compelling reason? Obama is underperforming with Clinton supporters, the most persuadable group for him. Picking Hillary Clinton is the most powerful action Obama can take to persuade them. It is that simple.
Or are you looking for a boy scout — the consummate good soldier? Then you’re looking for Al Gore:
If Obama were as smart as we all thought he was, then these names we have been teased with – Sen. Evan Bayh (Ind.), Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. Joseph Biden (Del.) – were distractions he threw to reporters as he quietly worked to persuade Al Gore.
Why all the attention to the noncontenders? Perhaps because the people that Obama’s reportedly considering are all so weak:
Joe Biden’s mouth is a constant source of embarassment. And how would the PUMAs take to a failed second-tier candidate leapfrogging someone with 18 million votes? Evan Bayh has been vetoed by the netroots Kathleen Sebelius would be a clear and direct affront to the PUMAs, much more so even than Biden. The first woman VP/President — and one you’ve never heard of — would increase the sense of Clintonian alienation. Tim Kaine. Hahahahahahahahahaha Wesley Clark would provide the military experience Obama needs, but his comments about McCain’s service are a problem Chris Dodd is a crook
I suppose there’s always John Edwards…
