USA Today: Obama Speaks Again About His VP (More Hints)

[writes3000]

Obama says he's chosen his VP -- won't reveal who it is yet

Barack Obama told USA TODAY this afternoon that "yes," he has made up his mind about whom his running mate will be -- but he would not reveal the name or just when he will tell the nation about his choice.

USA TODAY's Kathy Kiely writes that:

In an interview in Chester, Va., the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said he's made up his mind, but he would not say whether he's informed that person yet. "I won't comment on anything else until I introduce our running mate to the world," he said. "That's all you're going to get out of me."

Obama said it was a difficult decision. "We had some great choices."

Obama said he wanted somebody who is "prepared to be president" and who will be "a partner with me in strengthening this economy for the middle class and working families."

He said he was looking for not just a partner but a sparring partner. "I want somebody who's independent, somebody who can push against my preconceived notions and challenge me so we have got a robust debate in the White House."

Here's a very brief audio clip of the exchange Kathy had with Obama about whether he's made up his mind:



http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/08/obama-says-hes.html

[darius15]

1. I wonder if when he says

"prepared to be President" he means experience. If so, Kaine is gone.

[Inuca]

11. Kaine may be a great guy

but with things the way they are now I think it would be an unacceptable risk to chose somebody with such a relatively thin resume. It may not be fair, but that's the way it is (or at least the way I see it).

[Zhade]

77. Yeah, he's swell - unless you're GLBT. The guy doesn't even support civil unions!

NT!

[Cha]

65. Yeah, like chimpy had a resume...

And, as Chris Rock said when asked if he thought America was ready for a Black Prez.."America was ready for a retarded president".

[Inuca]

85. Well... actually he did

a full term governor. But that's not the point. The point I was trying to make is that given the way things are going so far, and the McCain's campaign focus on the experience thing, it's just too risky, that's all. All IMHO of course.

[Cha]

90. The election was given to him a silver platter and

Texas Governors don't do that much except cause trouble.

[DarthDem]

2. Hmmm

He's good at keeping secrets, which I like.

I still think, with all this buildup, that it's Hillary Clinton.

[greguganus]

5. But he said "partner", not "partners". n/t

[Kittycat]

8. Except for that lack of ego comment he made in another interview.

I'll be honest, I don't want HRC to be VP (mostly because of bill, and her mismanaged, negative campaign). However - I think, if positioned properly, I could be persuaded to 'accept' her (I'll vote Obama regardless). But I really don't think it will be, in the ned.

[RichGirl]

50. I like Biden and I'd be okay with him...

...but the ego remark rules him out. They guy has hair plugs! Big ego!

[Kittycat]

68. LOL. I really like Biden, and hoped he would be the choice.

But the Ego comment too, ruled him out in my mind.

Of course, Obama could just be playing with the press :)

[PM7nj]

12. Doesn't this sound like her?

"I want somebody who's independent, somebody who can push against my preconceived notions and challenge me so we have got a robust debate in the White House."

I still think it is very unlikely that she will be the VP though. That is probably for the better. I also think the "no ego" comment disqualifies her.

[highplainsdem]

34. I don't think the "no ego" comment disqualifies her. There's no such thing as a politician with no

ego. They all have to have very healthy and probably outsized egos to run for office.

But someone who's qualified to be president, and who originally wanted to be president, and who fought very hard in the primaries, has to be willing to set her ego aside to be vice president. Doesn't she? She was NOT running for VP. She would be doing this to help get Obama elected, and for the good of the party and the country.

[DarthDem]

54. Well Said n/t

[JackORoses]

74. Hillary is the exact polar opposite of 'no ego'

[JeanGrey]

70. No it doesn't. They are very much alike on policy.

[Erin Elizabeth]

57. NO.

[DarthDem]

K

Thanks.

[wyldwolf]

3. Biden - Bayh - Clinton (in no particular order)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Obama is a very smart man...

I knew he would give this very important choice a lot of careful, hard thinking...

I want to know who it is, of course, but I can wait...

Seeing these quotes has helped me feel good about whoever it is.

[Seen the light]

6. "somebody who can push against my preconceived notions and challenge me so we have got a robust deb

ate."

*gulp*

Nunn? Hagel? Or pro-war Bayh?

Maybe I'm reading too much into that one.

[PM7nj]

18. Maybe Hillary?

:shrug:

[Seen the light]

27. That could fit also

Maybe the best of all if we're just going by this interview.

[mvd]

19. Maybe it just means he wants someone opinionated

I hope it's that instead of someone like Hagel.

[salonghorn70]

61. If He'd Wanted Someone Opinionated

He'd obviously choose someone from DU. :)

[Inuca]

21. I don't think Bayh is into challenging much

just a (possibly very unfair) gut feeling

[DJ13]

7. ...somebody who's independent.... and challenge me

The first sounds like it would disqualify Kaine (too close a friend), the second sounds like it disqualifies Bayh (not a fighter).

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

9. I doubt he really wants a sparring partner, but it would be sort of an obvious pick if he did

[Mass]

10. Brown or Sander?

[greguganus]

13. I got it!! It's Michelle!! n/t

[LSparkle]

14. BIDEN -- Kaine -- Clinton ... NO BAYH!

[Jackpine Radical]

15. Oh, shit. It's Hillary.

Clue 1:
somebody who is "prepared to be president"

--that was Hill's big theme.


Clue 2:
"I want somebody who's independent, somebody who can push against my preconceived notions and challenge me so we have got a robust debate in the White House."

--Gives her the space to be "an independent woman," reconciles the sharpness of the last few weeks of the Primary campaign.

It really is. It's gonna be Hill.

[Seen the light]

22. I was just thinking the same thing

It's scary huh? DU will be in Defcon 20 if everyone's cell phones ring at the same time with a message from Senator Obama announcing Hillary.

[Zynx]

Biden could also qualify.

However, I agree that it really sounds like Hillary.

[PM7nj]

23. That's what I got out of it.

I don't know how I feel about that.

[Phoonzang]

38. That's the first thing that came to mind..... n/t

[RichGirl]

47. If onlyhe had said:

Prepared on DAY ONE. (Which she is.)

[Jackpine Radical]

52. Too broad a clue?

Unintentional pun. I swear to God it was unintentional! Don't beat me anymore.

[Jackpine Radical]

49. It's Hill, and it's Barack's call.

She's not the choice I would have made, but I have come to respect Obama's sure-footed political instincts (certainly above my own flawed judgment on such things), and whoever he wants is OK with me.

Anyway, what better insurance could he have against a crazed and armed wingnut?

[JackORoses]

75. Hillary will be speaking Tuesday. She is not the VP.

I bet the PUMAs are happy to see their non-stop shilling has worked on you, though.

[StevieM]

63. I would love it if he picked Hillary. But I don't think we can read too much into his words because

they could so easily apply to so many different people.

Steve

[Zhade]

80. If so, his whole "change" theme would turn out to be a snow job.

I think it's not her.

[HughMoran]

89. I did hear some of the Hillary theme there. And we KNOW she's the one who can challenge him

I wonder - verrrrrry interesting...

[Zynx]

16. Bayh is clearly not it if those are his criteria.

[sandnsea]

17. That says Biden to me

Other than the bankruptcy bill, Biden connects wit working families. He is also independent and would push back on foreign policy, specifically. And he's obviously prepared to be President. These qualifiers just don't quite apply to Bayh or Kaine.

[Eurobabe]

55. Yep.

[LSK]

20. let it be Russ

[Renew Deal]

24. Russ who?

The only Russ I can think of supports McCain.

[writes3000]

26. Feingold? Isn't he cheerleading for McCain?

At this point, I doubt Feingold would run against McCain.

[LSK]

31. nevermind, I didnt see this story until now

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/feingold_mccain_calls_em_as_he.php

[writes3000]

36. Maybe I'm wrong but I've read Feingold complimenting McCain frequently.

But if I'm wrong, I apologize.

[undeterred]

39. He made some generous comments about McCain the other day.

He's dating an actress and not thinking clearly.

[redqueen]

43. Ugh.

:puke:

[redqueen]

41. What? Feingold cheerleading for McCain?!

Oh for the love of... *sigh*

[Beausoir]

25. Sparring partner and prepared to be President. VERY interesting.

[greguganus]

sparring partner, not a tag-team match. n/t

[Beausoir]

42. You sound so frightened!

:thumbsup:

[greguganus]

69. Oh I am!! n/t

[JackORoses]

76. exactly. partner, not nemesis

[scheming daemons]

28. I hear those words from Obama and "Biden" pops into my mind.....

[CakeGrrl]

46. I hope it's Biden if not Wesley Clark and if it isn't...

Al Gore. Who's more ready to be president than the one we SHOULD have had 8 years ago?

B-)

Anyway, Biden is at least a proven attack dog, so if it isn't Al or Clark, go with Biden.

[Fire_brand]

29. "partner with me in strengthening this economy" = Hillary

[paulk]

51. that's what jumped out at me, also

[Zhade]

81. The same clinton that pushed so heavily for the economy-destroying NAFTA?

And then later lied to our faces, saying she never supported it?

[Schema Thing]

30. That has *********** written all over it

[NJmaverick]

37. Sure sounds like Hillary to me

None of the other candidates would fit all the clues as well as she does.

[JackORoses]

78. but you want Lil' Hilly, you are looking for anything to feed that desire

[Zhade]

82. NO! I think it's ________ instead!

:p

He needs to just announce WHOEVER he's chosen.

[Eurobabe]

32. It's Biden.

[bklyncowgirl]

33. ....and he's bigger than a breadbox! nt

[nsd]

35. Biden or Bayh.

Sparring partner suggests Biden. But in a different interview Obama said his VP would not have too big an ego, that suggests Bayh. IDK.

These interviews don't suggest Kaine or Sebelius. (I don't believe Clinton, Clark, or Schweitzer were ever really in the mix.)

[undeterred]

40. Those two are totally different.

Bayh is useless.

[nsd]

45. Bayh has both executive and legislative experience.

He's both an insider (10 years in the U.S. Senate) and an outsider (10 years in the Indiana state government). He's balanced budgets, hired and fired people, been involved in the mechanics of state government, as well as served on Senate committees and participated in Senate debates. His ideological views aren't popular on DU, I realize, but he's far from useless.

[undeterred]

59. Biden has much more of both,

the country knows who he is, and he has a big personality.

[nsd]

72. Biden would be great.

I'd be happy if he were selected. But how does he have more executive experience? Running a Senate committee is good, but it's not the same as running a state government.

[undeterred]

83. No, its not.

But I think all those years in the Senate count for something.

[Mass]

44. Could be anybody. This is standard Democratic message.

What is he going to say: "My VP is not qualified for president" or "My VP does not care about the middle class" or "My VP does exactly what I want at the snap of my fingers".

I would not read too much about that.

[nsd]

48. That's a good point.

But you'd think that if it were Kaine or Sebelius, Obama would have tailored his words more towards their particular strengths. "This person shares my belief in a new kind of politics, in reaching across the aisle ... This person is knowledgeable about the mechanics of government, how to get things done ... blah blah blah."

[Dinger]

53. Let It Be Clark Please!

Pllllllllllease:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[WA98296]

79. Best choice!

[David Zephyr]

56. Barack looks big picking Hillary with her independence.

It's a great pick.

[FreeState]

60. Thats what Im hoping as well - shes the best choice at this point IMO n/t

[nxylas]

67. No, he'd look weak

Someone who let a couple of hundred PUMAs bully him into picking the loser in the primary campaign.

[girl gone mad]

71. If you want to interpret it that way.

I think Hillary would be a good choice because she would go for McCain's throat in a way that Obama has been unwilling to do so far.

[nxylas]

86. It wouldn't just be me interpreting it that way

The McCain campaign and its enablers in the M$M would join in, I guarantee it.

[Inuca]

84. WHAT independence?

You've been very puzzling these last few days...

[trashcanistanista]

58. Says Biden to me.

[salonghorn70]

62. Everyone Says It Doesn't Sound Like Kaine, So......

It must be Kaine!!!!!!

[Arugula Latte]

64. Is this someone animal, vegetable or mineral?

Is s/he bigger than a breadbox? If so, that rules out Kucinich. :)

[mopinko]

66. hill fans- he said he the other day.

he.
he=not hillary

[rucky]

73. Biden's the scrappiest of the three.

?

[TexasObserver]

87. Who will Obama handcuff himself to?

That's why it cannot be the Clintons. It has to be someone he can stand to be around.

[Independent_Voice]

88. Sen. Clinton isn't the only one who fits that description

Gov. Richardson or Sen. Biden both qualify. In fact, each of them seems to fit Obama's description BETTER than Sen. Clinton.

It's Obama's choice to make -- but if he goes with the Clintons (and their people, who come with the package), then he's made the wrong one.