Question: Is There Any Democrat That Could Run WIth Obama And Sure Up The White Working Class Vote?

[malik flavors]

Who could run as Obama's VP that white working class voters could look at and think "Ok, I can vote for Obama now that I know he's with (insert VP name here.)"

I think holding onto the blue collar votes might be more important than having a foreign policy expert VP. Obama knows his foreign policy enough to get by, but he's having trouble connecting with these particular voters.

Who's somebody that could sure up there voters?

Edwards?

Bob Casey?

Teddy Kennedy? (holds down Catholics and Hispanics)

Who's a good choice?

[hisownpetard]

1. Richardson?

[guyanakoolaid]

2. Not Gore... not Kennedy

to talk plainly, they would be seen as too "elitist" by the voters you decribed.

[bluetrain]

3. Hillary Clinton?

[guyanakoolaid]

5. No, we need a team player.

[goclark]

38. And we would need a food taster for President Obama

[wileedog]

59. LOL

[malik flavors]

9. Do these voters really like Hillary? Or do they just prefer her to Obama?

[bluetrain]

16. Probably a touch of both. The question is electability. A unity ticket works.

Honestly, I don't even know why anything else is even being discussed at this point. We can't win the GE with the number of defectors we'll have from both candidates should they not be going for the prize. It's time for them to make a deal with each other and start in on McCain.

[Andy823]

60. Anyone

But Hillary!

[RethugAssKicker]

4. Its a fucking shame that we have to think this way !!

[BuyingThyme]

6. Bruce Springsteen.

[Aloha Spirit]

8. +1

[newmajority]

14. Works for me.

And let's put John Mellencamp in charge of whoever regulates the farm subsidies. Cut off the Frankenfood companies, and send it all to the family farms.

[BuyingThyme]

24. Yes, John is the man.

[gabeana]

7. Jim Webb

the best one out there is Richardson but this country is not ready for Pres and VP to have African and Mexican ancestry at the same time

[MadBadger]

20. I think he would be the best.

[newmajority]

54. Maybe if he wasn't a senator.

Two senators on the ticket is suicide. I don't care who the other senator is. We also can't afford to lose any Senators in states where it's not a guarantee that a Democrat would replace them.

I keep going back to Richardson because of his resume, and the possibility of picking up some "mountain west" states. Other governors might be good additions to the ticket for other reasons, but Richardson in the areas of energy and international diplomacy are great "selling points" to the general public. Everybody wants solutions to high energy prices and a return to a sane foreign policy. At least everybody with two functional brain cells to rub together.

[Dr Fate]

10. John Edwards. n/t

n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

11. Hillary Clinton or John Edwards.

[newmajority]

12. John Edwards will be Attorney General

Hillary Clinton will be Senator "from" NY.

[gcomeau]

19. Edwards won't want it...

...Clinton would be a giant anchor. She killed the idea of the unity ticket long ago with how she ran this campaign, she's reinforced her perpetual negatives too much and her patronizing and purely insulting suggestion that Obama could be her VP on the unity ticket while he was running away with the race was probably the proverbial straw.

[Mags]

13. Obama Girl

[lumberjack_jeff]

15. None that would be acceptable to his supporters.

It's a paradox.

[Dr Fate]

23. Obama is already a moderate, so why wouldnt his supporters accecpt a moderate VP?

LOL- I thought we were a cult that accepted everything he did w/o question- make up your minds.

[Why Syzygy]

26. Anyone other than Hillary, Lieberman, McCain, Bush, and those of that ilk. nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

29. I like Jon Tester.

A bit of an odd-couple ticket, but I think it works.

Let's test my theory.

[Why Syzygy]

36. Whatever you say!

[pdxmom]

17. Jim Webb would handle it beautifully, and also help with the national

security issues.

[hedgehog]

52. I know very little of him, but my impression is that while he is familiar with the military,

he isn't OF the military ie he'd be reluctant to send troops into harm's way and he wouldn't be eager to go out and buy every shiny new toy the generals want. I see him as approaching the military and intelligence Establishments with a lot of skepticism.

If anyone can tell me if the above is true or merely wishful thinking, I'd appreciate it.

[maxsolomon]

18. Wes Clark

he's a retired general. he's on FOX. he's older than Obama. he's handsome as all get out.

but he won't get the nod - he's thrown his lot in with Clinton.

other than that, you're looking at a dem rural governor of a conservative state - i.e. montana.

[sandnsea]

21. Jim Webb n/t

[Tatiana]

22. Wesley Clark. n/t

[NorthCarolina]

25. Russ Feingold n/t

[rwheeler31]

27. Sherrod Brown ?

[HooptieWagon]

28. Webb.

[oldgrowth]

30. Who would the MSM like the best they have the most input !!nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

31. Jon Tester for VP!

Whaddya think?

[Dr Fate]

34. I think he would have the 1950's barbershop demographic sewed up.

I also think he would do well w/ voters who like candidates who remind them of their High School coach.

;)

There. How did I do?

[mystieus]

32. Kathleen Sebelius

[Timberside]

70. I'd love a woman (with integrity), just to shut out HRC in future pres. elections

[FrenchieCat]

33. Plenty! Which is why folks trying to say that Hillary must be on the ticket

are out of their minds!

[JohnnyLib2]

35. Or, thinking tactically.

:shrug:

[dbmk]

47. Honestly curious here

Wouldn't having Hillary on the ticket - her being as high profile as she is - put her too much into play, given her negatives and apparent ability to envigorate the republican base? "If you pick him, you get her too. She might even <gasp> become President should something befall Obama, god <cockinggun> forbid it."
Not saying they won't do the same towards Obama. But having two such highprofile and atypical representatives on the ticket might be stretching it.

I would think they would pick someone that carries some integrity with the wanted demographics and where they republicans does not have a stockpile of ammo ready and prebuilt animosity. It would not surprise me if Obama/DNC picks someone that he is not overwhelmingly politically aligned with, but respects in general.
But also someone that presses McCain in his age demographic and appearance.

White male over 55 with a good white working class connection, of a certain physical stature, so people think: I might still get a little of the good McCain if I vote Obama.
Would require a certain perception of experience too, preferably military.

Edit:
Note: I am not a US citizen, no living there - so I actually looked Jim Webb up AFTER writing the above.

Seems to me Jim Webb is as close as you can get.

Former Marine

Navy Cross
Silver Star
Bronze Star (2)
Purple Heart (2)

Has a son that has had a tour in Iraq.

Former Secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan.

He has some decidely quirky issues lingering:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Webb

"Five women graduates of the United States Naval Academy held a press conference, decrying a 1979 article by Webb, titled "Women Can't Fight". The women said Webb's article contributed to an atmosphere of hostility and harassment towards women at the academy. Webb was later endorsed by nine military women who stated that Webb is a "man of integrity" who "recognizes the crucial role that women have in the military today".<19>"

This one could be bad if it brought into play, given there might be certain demographics still semireeeling from Clintons defeat.

"On October 26, 2006, the Allen campaign issued a press release quoting several passages from Webb's novels with sexual content, including graphic references to female anatomy and purported pedophilia, homosexuality and incest, citing a passage in which a Southeast Asian father ritually places the penis of his young son in his mouth. The press release said that the passages showed a "continued pattern of demeaning women".<22> Allen's campaign refused to tell a local radio news station, WTOP-FM, whether it in fact had issued a news release on the matter.<23>"

But overall he fits a bill that they might be looking for.

[JohnnyLib2]

62. I can see Webb being a fit, also.

Particularly with his military background.

An interesting angle is that Obama has so steadily positioned himself as a new and different type of politician. Choosing a more "typical" VP running mate will (or could) alter that.

[goclark]

39. We would need a Food Taster for her to be on the ticket

I like Boxer, smart and decent and lots of experience.

It would be wonderful to have a real Democrat on the ticket.

I like the visual of Obama/Boxer.

I also like OBAMA/Biden even better. Biden commands attention and he is a skilled debater.

[BlooInBloo]

37. Clark would be helpful on that. The Montana governor what's-his-name...

... There's lots.

[Aloha Spirit]

44. schweitzer's a gem... dontcha think he could use a little seasoning though?

:sarcasm:

[BlooInBloo]

49. THAT'S his name - thanks!

[malik flavors]

40. Since when is Wesley Clark the working class hero? I think he'd be great for foreign...

policy, but why would he help with the blue collar vote?

I think Edwards is the person most have come to connect with the working class.

[roseBudd]

64. Clark comes from a very modest background and did not come into bigger $ until after retirement

Edwards may have come from modest but he has been filthy rich for a reaaly long time. Trial lawyer is not a good label because it goes with frivolous lawsuits

[HCE SuiGeneris]

41. Bill Clinton?

:yoiks:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

42. Barbara Boxer? Patty Murray? Susan Sarandon? Teddy Kennedy would be good.

All friends of the white working class.

[lumberjack_jeff]

80. Patty Murray especially.

And she has strong creds in support of veterans.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wa_veterans_care_congress.html

Murray says VA's top mental health official should resign

By MATTHEW DALY
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., on Tuesday called for the chief mental health official of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to resign, saying he tried to cover up the rising number of veteran suicides.

Murray, the senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said Dr. Ira Katz, the VA's mental health director, deliberately withheld crucial information on the true suicide risk among veterans.

That's a good suggestion.

[jwirr]

43. John Edwards

[HooptieWagon]

45. Question: Is There Any Democrat That Could Run WIth Obama And Sure Up The White Working Class Vote?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

[malik flavors]

51. ^ I think we have a winner.

[amandabeech]

46. The second spot won't make any difference.

It's the top of the ticket that needs to make a break-through.

[DrFunkenstein]

48. Jimbo Webb!

Bring it on!

[cottonseed]

50. Byrd

Just kidding. Once Hillary's out of the way, real Dems will fall in line and vote the party. We should be alright.

[Hippo_Tron]

53. See I think the Obama can't win the blue collar vote isn't substantiated

Obama is running against a former first lady who has the backing of a former President and also the first viable female candidate. This is also a Democratic Primary and Democrats love Hillary Clinton, that's a fact. Throw independents and moderate Republicans into the mix and you have a different picture, which is why Obama does so well in open primaries.

White working class Democrats for Obama just like they voted for Kerry, because Democrats are better on their issues. White male blue collar Independents and Republicans will vote for McCain in the GE like they always do no matter who we vote for. Obama has far more appeal to white collar Independents and Republicans.

[PassingFair]

55. Jan Schakowsky.

L-O-V-E her.

Obama must be friends with her, since she
is from Illinois.

http://www.janschakowsky.org/

[karynnj]

65. Can't be from the same state or they lose that state's electoral votes

[PassingFair]

66. Crap.

How about Dodd?

[msallied]

KENNEDY?? Are you serious?

[gsaguyCLW54]

56. Nope.....Obama could put a republican on his ticket and he couldnt win.

[knixphan]

57. Biden.

[msallied]

58. Biden or Edwards. Clark would be great

but I don't think he'd shore up the blue collars. He would be great from another strategic standpoint.

[Tribetime]

61. I don't know but think it must be a woman

[roseBudd]

63. Jim Webb, Wes Clark, Paul Hackett, they are men's men

they are all former military and all support Democrats regarding the stupidity of the Iraq War. Jim Web is probably the strongest of the 3

[greguganus]

67. Walt Starr.n/t

[PassingFair]

68. Dick Durban?

Who DOESN'T like him?

[calmblueocean]

69. Obama does fine with the white working class vote. Team Hil has duped ya.

Seriously, Obama has done fine with the white working class in Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, etc. The reason Hillary kept their support in Pennsylvania was largely because working class voters are more likely to make decisions based on loyalty, and Hillary had nearly the whole Democratic establishment backing her in Penn. Not too hard to figure out.

[readmoreoften]

71. Don't forget the Latino and Asian vote. /nt

[East Liberty Denizen]

72. no, Obama has to do it himself

People vote for President, not for Vice President.

Further, Obama's problem with lower class whites seems to be his perceived elitism. Choosing someone with the idea of "shoring up" their support with a single act could be seen as pandering and actually excaberate his problems with white people.

[malik flavors]

73. Lol, he's an elitist? How are you enjoying those rethug talking points?

We all love Edwards. People would enjoy that ticket regardless of any calls of "pandering."

[Stop Cornyn]

74. 1 John Edwards, 2 Janet Napolitano, 3 Wes Clark, 4 Claire McCaskill, 5 Bill Richardson

[malik flavors]

75. Working class whites would respond to Claire McCaskill? I think not.

[Stop Cornyn]

76. She's big with working class white Catholics

[woolldog]

77. Ed Rendell would be a good choice.

Also would help with the Jewish vote.

edit: Sam Nunn would be a good choice as well.

[barack the house]

78. Kucinich

[demwing]

79. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter

From Wikipedia:

Ritter was born in Denver and raised on a farm in far eastern Aurora among his 11 brothers and sisters (he was born sixth). He went to Gateway High School while he lived in Aurora. His father, Bill, was a heavy equipment operator in the construction industry. His mother, Ethel, was a homemaker until the family began to struggle economically and she found work as a bookkeeper when Ritter was a young teenager. At 14 years old, he went to work full time in the construction industry, and joined a local labor union. He continued to work in the construction field, which ended up financing his college education (along with student loans). He enrolled in Colorado State University and completed a bachelors degree, and then pursued a degree at the University of Colorado School of Law in Boulder. By 1981, he had earned a law degree and was hired as a Deputy District Attorney for the City and County of Denver.

Raised on a farm...worked his way through college...joined a local labor union...big family...economic struggles...his wife is a substitute teacher in the Denver school system.

Working class hero, all around. Comes from a populous swing state thats hosting the convention, and which went to Obama by a wide margin.