A Low-Key Iowa Governor Receives the V.P. Treatment

[AmyStrange]

A Low-Key Iowa Governor Receives the V.P. Treatment
Mon Jun 14, 7:55 AM ET - Los Angeles Times
By James Rainey Times Staff Writer

FROM: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20040614/ts_latimes/alowkeyiowagovernorreceivesthevptreatment
SAN FRANCISCO — Here's the thing about a vice presidential nomination. You're not supposed to look like you're pursuing it. It's considered best to lie low and let the job come to you.

So when Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack — one of the top prospects to join Sen. John F. Kerry on the Democratic ticket — came to San Francisco last week for a biotechnology conference, he relentlessly maintained just one identity, as governor of a small Midwestern state.

On the floor of the Moscone Convention Center, a Japanese trade representative yakked to Vilsack about his chances of making it to Washington. The governor's response: He couldn't wait to see the booths featuring Japanese biotech firms.

At a breakfast meeting, a reporter looked at the crowded room and said that people must have wanted to catch a glimpse of a vice presidential candidate.

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[Syrinx]

1. I can't imagine why he'd pick Vilsack

Most people, besides Iowans and "political junkies," have never heard of the guy. I'd prefer Edwards or Clark. And contrary to conventional wisdom, I think Howard Dean might be the best of all. He could fire up the base, while Kerry embraces the swing voters.

[AmyStrange]

2. I pick Edwards...

but could live with the other two quite nicely, but I like what Dean is doing now with his Democracy for America. He's more valuable there for now,

d

[flaminbats]

3. So Vilsack makes the shoddy list...

Only Vilsack, Rep. Dick Gephardt (news - web sites) of Missouri and Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites) of North Carolina are known to be on the Kerry short list — subject to painstaking reviews of both their personal and political records.

If this is the short list, I would hate to see the long list. Only Edwards would help the ticket, helping Kerry to win votes in the south and in critical border states. Vilsack wouldn't hurt Kerry, nor would he help him. Gephardt on the other hand would provide Kerry with a boost in the midwest, and with union voters. But he may hurt Kerry in the southern and western states.