VP choices really do not make a difference, I was hoping she would pick

[JRLeft]

someone who could run in 8 years. The 3 names listed for VP have no chance IMO.

[uppityperson]

1. VP choices can make a huge difference, McCain/Palin, for instance.

[chillfactor]

2. same here...

we need to bolster some of the younger Democrats..and many good ones out there....who will around for a few years....that is why I was hoping she would choose Castro.

[JRLeft]

3. We definitely needed youth on the ticket.

[Hortensis]

13. Which youth do you think would have wonderfully

galvanized the "selfie" generation more than the promise of change and our 74/almost 75-year-old candidate have, though?

Castro's youth, 41, looking like 21-31 and without whatever he's going to accomplish in the next decade on his resume, would be a negative the right wing would pounce on.

Obama was later 40s and won the primary by running against someone carrying the terrible handicap of being the first woman headed for the oval office. He looked a youthful, confident middle age without looking kiddish, though, and did get the youth vote. Sanders' success begs the question, though, of whether the bigger factor was his relatively youthful appearance or an appeal to the youthful optimism that, yes, we can be the healthy and prosperous nation of open, liberal principles the Republicans insist is impossible?

Btw, I disagree that the VP choice will not make a difference. Sometimes no, but this election, yes. We simply cannot afford to lose this one.

[Silver_Witch]

4. I care about VP...it will be a deciding factor for me.

[JRLeft]

5. Who do you want it to be? I think it will be Kaine.

[Silver_Witch]

6. Warren please.

No Kaine sorry.

[JRLeft]

7. Warren was eliminated according to those who watch MSNBC.

[w4rma]

10. Elizabeth Warren has not been ruled out by the Clinton campaign.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/veepstakes-not-over-tim-kaine-other-vp-frontrunners-get-invitations-to-speak-at-convention_us_57864704e4b08608d3325156

[JRLeft]

11. She should find some youthful and inspiring.

[w4rma]

12. Warren inspires the youth about as much as Sanders does.

The youth aren't going to fall for a superficial pick, like you seem to be suggesting. In fact, a superficial pick will antagonize the youth.

[JRLeft]

40. I'm a Bernie supporter check my history, a lot of his supporters will back her and

there are some that won't vote for Hillary ever. EW won't change that.

[w4rma]

41. Those other voters can be convinced, over time, to vote for a Vice President Elizabeth Warren.

But, these other choices on Hillary's short lists? Nope.

[JRLeft]

44. I'm serious those people are gone and it's not that big of a group.

[w4rma]

47. They are only gone if you treat them as if they are gone. Some people want them gone, though.

Those same people want to rely on neoconservative voters. It's a loser tactic, but that's what they want.

[JRLeft]

51. I'm not a neoconservative or a neoliberal that was my problem with Hillary.

[w4rma]

52. Good for you. (nt)

[NorthCarolina]

25. Like maybe a

Congressman Keith Ellison? Plenty progressive enough for Sanders folk to take a second look, and he's a Muslim to boot.

[w4rma]

48. No. Unfortunately Americans really are too bigoted to accept a Muslim at the top of the ticket.

Remember that President Obama spent his entire Presidency defending against the "smear" that he is a Muslim. Maybe one day after we have some peace in the Middle East.

Anyway, picking a candidate just because they look "youthful" is so superficial that younger voters will be antagonized by the choice, rather than gravitate to it.

[Lil Missy]

14. That's not gonna happen. n/t

[Darb]

18. Deciding what, pray tell?

Is it really that hard? So if she chooses Bill Nelson from FL you are going to vote Trump? Because you love Chrispie Chreme?

[Silver_Witch]

28. This could be seen as bait.

The VP means a great deal to me period. I care sorry that bothers u!

[Darb]

29. It should be seen as what it is, a question.

That you won't answer, apparently. At least not yet.

[andym]

8. I am only hoping she picks a strong progressive with a strong voice and impeccable integrity

There are obvious choices. But having someone to deflect criticism about her supposed Wall Street connections, which have received a lot of airplay, would be of great utility in a year when so many are worried about the influence of special interests.

[JRLeft]

9. She probably picks a Wall Street friendly VP.

[brooklynite]

15. Gore was a young VP...still made a lousy candidate

[TexasBushwhacker]

30. Actually, most VPs and other "his turn" folks

make poor candidates. Humprey, Mondale, Gore come to mind.

[BlueStater]

16. Tim Kaine is 58.

That is not remotely old. In eight years, he'll still be younger than Hillary and Trump are NOW.

Kaine wasn't my first choice but I like him the best out of everyone who still has a chance.

[TexasBushwhacker]

31. And he speaks Spanish n/t

[NurseJackie]

17. We think alike on that point. I'd have liked it to be ...

Martin O'Malley or Cory Booker.

[Darb]

19. My political wonk, congress lover BIL thinks it should be..........

Bill Nelson, senator from Florida.

[TexasBushwhacker]

32. Being from a swing state, he would be a good choice

Unfortunately, at 73, I think he's too old to be considered a strong VP. He's also a moderate Democrat. I would love for her to choose someone more progressive.

[Darb]

33. My BIL is totally into the whole balance of power thing, with

his preferred branch the legislative, having been a page (paige?) in the early seventies. He believes that the Executive needs to work constantly and carefully with the Congress and believes that was the failing of Obama, to not work better with Congress. He acknowledges the race factor, which made working with Congress impossible for Obama, but still thinks he could have done better. But that is his reasoning for Nelson, he is a powerful influence in the Congress.

I didn't know he was that old.

[Vinca]

20. I think this year the VP choice will make a huge difference.

Hillary would be wise to choose a left-leaning person who can create some excitement and interest in the campaign. If we have a "midterm" sized turnout in November, Trump wins.

[w4rma]

21. I agree. And Senator Kaine is not a 'safe' choice, nor does he generate any excitement. (nt)

[Darb]

34. Why is he not "safe"?

Seems pretty good to me.

[w4rma]

35. He wins in Virginia because he stays below the radar. But, he has a laundry list of unpopular votes.

Take him above the radar and picking him could cost the Democrats all of the work that we've done towards moving Virginia into a reliably Democratic voting state for the first time since before Bill Clinton.

The voters aren't particularly enamored with Kaine, but the big business donors are.

[Darb]

36. Not following, sorry.

If the point that you are making is that he could cost us in some more progressive areas (I'd like to know where) then maybe those votes of which you speak but do not name might come into play. However, Kaine has won in Virginia a number of times on the commonwealth level, how could he hurt there?

[w4rma]

38. Schapiro: Kaine helps Clinton by sitting tight in Senate

Maybe the best thing Tim Kaine can do for Hillary Clinton is stay in the U.S. Senate.

It’s no secret that Kaine is a vice presidential prospect. It’s not the first time. In 2008, when he was Virginia’s governor, Kaine made Barack Obama’s short list but lost out to Joe Biden, because the then-Delaware senator brought gray hair and a global view to a Democratic ticket that lacked both.
…
But assume a Clinton-Kaine ticket — and assume that it wins: Kaine would resign his seat. McAuliffe would appoint an interim senator who would have defend the seat in 2018, but possibly in 2017 — depending on the timing of the vacancy.
http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/jeff-schapiro/article_f0be0189-3b38-582a-908d-6719be1d41b9.html

Other than tactical reasons, many Virginians' are still angry at Kaine for the way he implemented his cigarette smoking ban and his vote to fast track the TPP will also cost him votes with those same types of voters plus every one of Sanders's voters.

[Darb]

39. Good point about the Senate seat.

That is valid. Cigarette and Sanders voters I am not so sure about, they are not the same people and I have higher regard for Sanders voters than to sit tight and let T Rump win, and even less likely to vote T Rump. The cigarette voters are probably mouth breathers anyway.

TPP? Maybe.

[Lord Magus]

22. There is NEVER "midterm" sized turnout in a presidential election.

That's nonsense.

[w4rma]

23. Well the Republicans have had record turnouts for their primaries, so far. (nt)

[auntpurl]

45. They had like 80 people running. nt

[w4rma]

49. They still had record turnout when there were only a couple left. (nt)

[Zorro]

24. One thing's for certain

There will be howls of anger with whoever she picks.

[w4rma]

26. I'd rather those "howls of anger" come from her donors, rather than the voters. (nt)

[CrispyQ]

27. VP is very important.

I hope she picks someone to the left of her & someone young. I would love if she chose Martin O'Malley, but I know he's not being considered.

[w4rma]

43. The younger voters don't want superficial. (nt)

[hamsterjill]

37. I don't want Kaine.

The Vice President presides over the Senate, and with the possibility of at least 2 appointments to be made by the next POTUS, I don't want someone who is "pro-life" in that role when confirmation hearings are held.

[Her Sister]

42. I trust the nominee to choose her running Mate

And not a deciding factor for me. HRC is my choice!

[w4rma]

46. Good. You are among a group of voters that Clinton should not be targeting with her pick, then. (nt)

[MSMITH33156]

50. If this thread proved anything, it's that there is no

"right" answer here. She should just pick whoever she would feel comfortable with running the country if something happened to her and move on.