Honoring sparosnare... Who's the biggest curveball Obama can throw with his VP nod?

[Bucky]

You are permitted two answers: one for comic relief ("He should name Donald Trump for VP!") and then, in the body of your post, tell me who you think would be a good strong candidate, but is showing up on practically no one's short list.

[SteppingRazor]

1. After her brave work against McCain, if Obama doesn't nominate Paris Hilton, I'm not voting.

Ahem, that aside, I'm a little surprised that the final three list being bandied about (Biden, Bayh and Kaine) doesn't include Richardson. I've been predicting an Obama/Richardson ticket since late 2006. not that I thought such an early call would actually come true, but I at least thought that, if Obama won the primary and I at least got that part right, Richardson would make the final cut.

[Bucky]

3. Richardson's very qualified. He'd do a great job. He's just a weak campaigner

He made some fairly dense statements on stage in the debates. His speaking style is sebeliusly boring. He's a gifted diplomat and a very cabable governor. He's not the stump-speaking barnstormer we need for this fall.

[SteppingRazor]

5. Yeah, but you just practically described Biden to a tee.

And given that Richardson's from NM (a state that could be critically important this year) and could energize the Hispanic vote (supposedly one of Obama's weak spots, though I would argue that he has soft support there, not a lack of support), I think he's just as good a pick as any of the final three. That said, I'd be pretty happy with a Biden pick.

[Motown_Johnny]

7. Weak Campaigner.. only against other dems.. he won reelection as Gov with 69% of the vote and won al...

House races with at least 60% of the vote

(also broke a 95 year old record for the most hand shakes in an 8 hour period, how is that for campaigning?)


http://www.governor.state.nm.us/governor.php



the only reason he looked bad in the primary debates is that he knew he could not beat the Clinton machine. He is/was part of that machine and knew better than to hang himself out there. He was running for V.P. all along.

[tblue]

2. Michael Phelps

Jim Webb -- DRAFT him to run.

[Bucky]

4. Good call. I never knew why he dropped off the radar.

He's exactly the type of speaker we need in the VP slot. I assume there's something smearable in his background that removed him from the list. A shame; I like him and I trust him.

[SteppingRazor]

6. I imagine the thinking was that Obama had already pissed off feminists enough...

though, obviously, that's just a guess. I do think Webb's writing could be used to further divide the Democratic Party, though, especially if McCain managed to offer a viable alternative.

[elgafe3]

8. Ron Paul.

Ron Paul.

Reaches across the Aisle? Check!

Against the War in Iraq? Check!

Trustworthy Candidate? Check!

Strong Foreign Policy Experience? Check!

Veteran? Check!

Theres really no downside.

[SoxFan]

9. Batshit nuts? Check.

Wants to shred the safety net? Check.

Eliminate Social Security? Check.

Gut environmental protections? Check.

Group of annoying, creepy supporters with well-thumbed copies of "The Fountainhead" at the ready? Check.

[Bucky]

10. Welcome to DU

I'm glad to see you lurking around here, Congressman Paul. We might just turn you around on a few things.