Kathleen Sebelius is an interesting possibility for VP. She doesn't add to Obama's foreign policy credentials, but she could be a big hit in the midwest. She's a second-term Democrat in a red state, but a real Democrat: pro-choice, anti-death-penalty, opposed the KS anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment. She's also a Catholic, 59 years old, and has two sons in their early 20s. Her husband is a federal magistrate judge and son of a former Republican congressman from Michigan. Her accomplishments include governmental budgetary efficiency, modest tax relief, and substantial new investments in K-12 education (over $1 billion).
Her father is former Democratic governor of Ohio, Jim Gilligan. She may have friends there too.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Obama/Sebelius?
Posted by The Law Talking Guy at 3:42 PM
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8 comments:
Yes, I mused about the same thing on a recent comment. I did not know the details you did. Curiously, I focused on the only thing you did not: she is a woman. I think she would make a fair "Hillary substitute" as far as appeal to certain women.
I don't think that's the way Obama should go. Assuming he'll be up against McCain he needs "gravitas" preferably on foreign policy. That leads to people like Biden or even Sam Nunn (even older and whiter than McCain - and a Southerner and former Defense Secretary). Sam Nunn would be cool because he associated with Bloomberg and putting Nunn on the ticket (if he's willing) could deter Bloomberg from entering the race and really screwing things up.
But the real appeal of people like Biden and Nunn would be the same appeal that drew Bush to Cheney. They are all well respected insiders to counter the "no experience" complaint about the name on the top of the ticket.
My instinct (which admittedly appears to have been wrong so far with the Democrats...) is that if you're going to gamble with Obama at the top of the ticket, you should not choose a VP to try to hedge your bets, but rather a VP that will double down. In other words, don't pick an old fogey as VP that will water down the Obama-ness of the ticket, but pick another exciting, inexperienced up-and-comer who can bring out the crowds and promise the moon in a believable way.
Did you see Sebelius give the Dem response to the SOTU? Snore.
I agree with Dr. S - pick someone outside the mainstream. I don't know who, though. Sherrod Brown? Paul Hackett?
How about James Webb?
Jim Webb would be a good pick. Certainly has security credentials. Not exactly an outsider but he kind of does seem like it ...
He's also one of the only Senators who would not, er, upstage Obama in terms of tenure :-)
More to the point, as a former Reagan cabinet secretary (Navy) and a military man of some prestige, he would both solidify Obama's appeal to independents and disaffected Republicans and lend Obama some foreign policy gravitas.
The more I think about it, Webb could be a good choice for Obamna!
If Clinton wins, of course, I think she should pick Obama but I think she'd rather have a "yes-man" like Wesley Clark or go for the boring, technocrat like Richardson to shore up her Latino appeal.
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