Comments on: Kaine for VP?

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:16:47 +0000

I’m actually not entirely sure Kaine brings voters to the table in Virginia who wouldn’t support Obama anyway. My top choice was Ted Strickland in Ohio because he has very positive poll numbers in that state despite lackluster African American support (for those of you playing at home, that means white blue collar voters love him). He appeals to the precise opposite part of the population as Obama’s base in a swing state that has elected him before; broadening the ticket’s appeal in this state with two well-known figures who together appeal to such a wide segment of the population would likely move Ohio comfortably into the “win” column. By contrast, the base of Webb and Kaine’s support is concentrated in regions that (if the primary is any indication) will swing heavily for Obama anyway.

(I don’t buy into this notion of needing to put someone on the ballot with foreign policy experience, as I don’t think anyone running to be leader of the free world should seriously consider “I’ll let my Vice President handle that” as an acceptable answer to a question about anything important. Obama will live or die on his ability to maintain credibility on his understanding of foreign policy, as well as his ability to keep the focus of the conversation on McCain’s greatest weakness, the economy).

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:13:04 +0000

Vivian, I understand Sen. Webb’s position. I guess that I would simply say that he found himself in a predicament. The Obama campaign decided that was he an overrated VP candidate and moved on. If they were to decide otherwise, I suspect that Webb would find a way to slip out of his promise. You don’t really believe that Webb adds a bunch rural Virginia votes to the ticket do you?

As for the “so-called” agreement between Bolling and McDonnell, yes I do have two sources on that. Email me if you want the quotes.

By: vjp

vjp — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:21:16 +0000

Catch up, Brian. Webb removed himself from consideration for VP. That’s part of the reason that Kaine has moved up the ladder.

As for this so-called agreement – got any source on that? (Your own credibility was shot when you mentioned Webb.)

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:14:51 +0000

Kaine would certainly take the VP slot if were offered to him, but that offer won’t be coming. Sen. Obama and his advisers are smarter than that. If he just had to have a Virginian on the ticket, he’d be better of with Sen. Jim Webb (who is highly overrated in his VP value).

As for LG Bolling And AG McDonnell, they have an agreement worked should this scenario unfold. Both men would run for reelection to their (then) current offices. Sorry to ruin everyone’s fun on this point.

By: vjp

vjp — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:57:52 +0000

sj – you may remember it differently because you were behind the scenes. I was out front, with the average folks.

Gulls – I don’t disagree that there are shortcomings for Kaine as a VP pick. Truth be told, though, he’s a safe pick. One of the points that was made on one of the talking head shows Sunday morning is that Obama can’t afford to choose someone as a running mate who compares favorably to him in terms of foreign policy, etc. It would just make him look bad.

But I have to disagree that Kaine doesn’t enjoy politics. There’s no way that anyone moves up the ranks as quickly as Kaine has done without enjoying it. And Sean is right: he’s quite the campaigner.

By: Real Reason Kaine May be VP… « Renaissance Ruminations

Real Reason Kaine May be VP… « Renaissance Ruminations — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:45:06 +0000

[...] are numerous posts up at Democratic blogs about the possibility of Tim Kaine getting the VP-nod, with some of the [...]

By: Sean Holihan

Sean Holihan — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:09:06 +0000

Gulls:

And yet, Kaine’s numbers in this state are still positive. Perception is reality. The more the talking heads put Kaine up for a possible VP slot, the more his nationwide status grows.

Also, about the academic vs. politics setting: have you seen Kaine campaign?!?! The guy is a master campaigner. He can woo a crowd or throw an elbow with the best of them. Just look at what he did last year for the legislative candidates. Went across the state and raised over a million dollars for our candidates. There is no doubt, Gov. Kaine is very, very comfortable on the campaign trail. All you have to do is look at what he’s done this year for Obama already.

By: Dan (Fitness)

Dan (Fitness) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:53:24 +0000

Gulls has a great point. What’s left is he brings Virginia to the ticket. Which we ought to be able to do without a VP from the state.

Great blog.

By: Gulls Gone Wild

Gulls Gone Wild — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:55:19 +0000

Kaine doesn’t bring what is needed to the ticket — no foreign policy experience, no military experience, no glowing track record as governor (yet), no wide net of connections for money and/or influence. However bright and kind he is, there is nothing specifiic there to point to as a reason to have him on the ticket.

The word for the last couple of months has been he is next in line as the president of UVA. Casteen is retiring soon, and Kaine is VERY popular with the higher education crowd, and moreso with the UVA crowd. He seems to be much more comfortable in the academic setting than the push-and-shove of politics.

By: sj

sj — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:33:17 +0000

I remember that appearance with Obama at Lake Taylor High School very differently, I was working for Kaine and staffed that event and remember when it was over Obama having to do a sprint back to the car with people running afther him. I stayed with Kaine and remember him looking at me with a big grin and says “this is like traveling with the beetles”, as the crowd rushed past him! I still can’t see him as VP but who knows, they are sure talking like he is the one on Sunday morning TV today.

By: HMR

HMR — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:40:10 +0000

(I can’t resist)

It’s not like Obama is going to name Kaine Secretary of Transportation.

By: Lowell

Lowell — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:29:03 +0000

Excellent analysis, Vivian, particularly on the Bolling vs. McDonnell angle…

By: ChenZhen

ChenZhen — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:51:54 +0000

(Despite my support of Hillary Clinton, however, I do not believe she should be the VP. But that’s a post for another day.)

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on that, but in the meantime, I’ll say that I’m glad that you’re not one of these PUMA people.