Obama’s Vice-Presidential Picks

Obama is now being regarded as the person to vouch for the Democratic nomination. Although, the battle will still be contested till the next couple of primaries, one can’t help to wonder who Obama will choose as his running mate.

Choosing a running mate is usually seen as a means to balance the ticket. The person most often picked for this reason is a person that lessens the areas of concern for the presidential hopeful. Other times it seen as a person that can attract people from a different area in the US. Kennedy was from the New England area of the United States, he chose Lyndon Johnson to attain the southern state of Texas.

Another determinant in choosing the vice-president is to offer a solid backup just in case of an early-death for the president. Candidates who want to achieve a goal for America want a vice-president who will continue his or her programs in the event of the their death. Abraham Lincoln’s plans for reconstruction were not met when his assassination took place. Andrew Johnson failed to continue Lincoln’s plans and possibly delayed the civil rights for African-Americans.

So whom should Obama choose? Or who will he choose? Here are a few people that are rumored or would be great fits for the job:

1. Sen.Hillary Clinton

Pros: This has been considered the dream ticket for awhile. The two are seen as the strongest the party has to offer since they are the two candidates that are still vying for their party’s nomination. An Obama-Clinton ticket could possibly unify the whole party and easily pave the way for a Democrat in the oval office.

Cons: Of course, Hillary carries a lot of unfair negative opinions about her. Swing voters could be deterred from voting for Clinton. Give thanks to the right-wing propaganda for that one. Also, after a somewhat bitter fight for the nomination will people really believe that these two are on good terms. Only time will see on that. The prospect of this ticket might not seem attractive on the whole with the southern and western states.

2. Gen. Wesley Clark

Pros: A Democrat with high military credentials? This pick has long been rumored to be a presidential candidate. And why wouldn’t he be? What better way to go for the strong supporters of the military from the right wing than having a four star general as your running mate? The man also has southern roots and could persuade from that area to vote for Obama.

Cons: It looks like a pandering choice, but Wesley Clark, to me, has little to no cons. He has been accused of being antisemitic with a comment that said New York money people were pushing for a war with Iran. He is likely to be swift-voted, but that seems like a move that would backfire and would recieve criticism from McCain’s camp. Of course, McCain unsuccessfully urged Republicans in North Carolina to pull an ad criticizing Obama for his relationship to his pastor.

3. Sen. Jim Webb

Pros: Jim Webb has two things going for him, having experience and being a moderate. He opposes gun control and has served as Secretary of the Navy. Oh yeah, during his senate run in 2006, he was called George Allen’s worst nightmare by Larry Sabato. Indeed, he was a nightmare for Allen, whom he defeated. Catherin Dodge of Bloomberg.com is quoted as saying “He’s pro-gun ownership, and he takes a harder line on illegal immigration than many Senate Republicans.” Obama isn’t considered a moderate. Many right-wing critics, including douchebag Glen Beck, say he has a ‘Marxist agenda.’ Jim Webb might be able to pull in some of those people with the decision. Having Webb as his vice-president would be a draw to those who are moderates.

Cons: Jim Webb would be a vice-president. He really isn’t gonna do much other than advise the president and that is not going to change unless he follows Cheney’s lead and wields the same amount power as he did. So people who want a nation with Webb’s moderate ideas are may not get much because of this. Also, Webb and Obama are on different sides of the gun control debate and if Obama somehow ends up out of office and Webb takes it, Webb might not follow through on any support for gun control. But aside from that, Webb is a solid candidate for the vice-presidency.

4. Gov. Bill Richardson

Pros: Bill Richardson is really popular in his home state. He could possibly help take the swing state New Mexico like Johnson helped Kennedy with Texas. He certainly would help with the Hispanic vote and he has plenty of experience and an impressive resume as governor of New Mexico, congressman for New Mexico, Secretary of Energy and Ambassador in the UN (It is amazing that this man isn’t the nominee!) He could help attract pro-gun advocates.

Cons: Him and Obama would face a shit storm with their support for drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. Some see his endorsement of Barack Obama instead of Hillary Clinton, despite serving in Clinton’s cabinet as a sort of corrupt bargain for the office of vice-president.

5. Bill Bradley

Pros: Bradley is a basketball legend and a former senator. It is safe to say that he has good name recognition and experience with politics.

Cons: Might draw some attention from the right because of his stances of gun control. His stance on the separation of church and state do not help out Obama.

6. Gov. Ted Strickland

Pros: Strickland might help bring the swing state of Ohio to the Democrats since he is the current governor of the state. Strickland has support from Republicans. Strickland might help Obama in the experience department too. He has a pro-life record and voted for prayer in school during the war on terror which appeals to the right.

Cons: Strickland’s support for latter two things in the pros section is a problem for many people that are pro-choice and are believe in the separation of church and state. He and Obama do not see eye on those issues and certainly if the worst came for Obama and Strickland took the office of the president, he would probably not continue Obama policies on those matters. Also, under the same premise of Obama’s death, Strickland is fairly old. To some he does not continue Obama’s message of change that appeals to the youth.

7. Mayor Mike Bloomberg

Pros: Bloomberg could give Obama some points in the area of economics.

Cons: Bloombergs doesn’t help with any swing states or geographic area. He hails from New York which is sure to go Democrat in November. The name doesn’t seem to help out with conservatives since he is social liberal. Bloomberg also has a businessman connotation attached to him.

8. Gov. Bill Ritter

Pros: Ritter is governor of the swing state Colorado. He also is wide popular with rural citizens in his state due to him being raised on a farm. That could translate very well with rural America and rural democrats who have been for Clinton.

Cons: His pro-life stance might hurt Obama with the pro-choice crowd. A possible scandal might arise with his use of plea bargains.