VP quest: Stamp it `top secret'

[Kadie]

VP quest: Stamp it `top secret'

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By Jeff Zeleny Tribune national correspondent

Before John Kerry (news - web sites) chooses his running mate, a few more tattered back issues of the Mt. Pleasant News must be reviewed.

Here in Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack's hometown, a humble community of 8,700 in the southeastern corner of the state, word has slowly spread that the highly secretive Democratic vice presidential search committee requested copies of the local newspaper dating back nearly 20 years. As investigators pore over each chapter in the life of a prospective candidate, even such tedium as Mayor's Moments, a column once penned by Vilsack, must be scoured for any glint of controversy.

The political detective work under way in Mt. Pleasant--and into the backgrounds of Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites) of North Carolina, Rep. Richard Gephardt (news, bio, voting record) of Missouri and a handful of other prospects--has become the most closely guarded element of the presidential race.

The campaign is going to extraordinary lengths, complete with code names and decoys, to ensure Kerry can deliver a surprise when he discloses his choice sometime before the party's nominating convention in late July.

more... http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2027&e=2&u=/chitribts/20040531/ts_chicagotrib/vpqueststampittopsecret

[sallyseven]

1. I love Gephardt0hart

but not as vice president. Department of Labor.

[Zynx]

2. Gephardt would be a terrible choice.

God, please no.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Glad to see Clark not mentioned....

hiding in plain sight increases the likelihood....doncha think?

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. Out of sight, out of mind?

THEN, *smack*...an announcement that Clark's the choice. Watch the repub frenzy. Oh, yeah, I can see it already.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. At this point, yes

Enough serious people have publicly sounded serious enough about Clark as VP to provide the little cover Kerry might want to chose Clark over someone else if he is so inclined. The media blockade already cracked, and the positive arguments for Clark joining the ticket are circulating. That's good positioning. I don't think being at the center of the spotlight is an asset. That begins to smack of a personal ambition crusade. Clark does best just being who he is, someone who has served his nation for his entire life who now believes we are on the wrong course and is doing everything in his power to change that by backing Kerry and confronting Bush. Let the cards fall as they may.

[salonghorn70]

6. Others Whose Names Have Not Become Public

Anyone notice that line coming from "informed Democrars." Is it possible that we will get a real surprise choice?

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. If we get a surprise

I might put my money of Cleland. I would still insist on good odds though.