Vice_President
Jim Geraghty at The Campaign Spot may have found the scoop on Obama's Vice-Presidential Choice. These are strong signs it is going to be Virginia Governor Tim Kaine:
Kaine Holding Succession Meeting? With Obama Tomorrow?
If this report is accurate, this is a strong, strong indicator that Obama's choice is Tim Kaine:
A source inside the beltway informed me that high ranking officials throughout Virginia were recently summoned to the governor’s office for an emergency meeting which reportedly involved discussions on the line of succession if and when Kaine steps down to become Obama’s running mate.
The officials were mandated to leave an out-of-state conference and return to the state capitol in Richmond immediately.
Due to the confidential nature of the meeting, details are scarce but the source said that either Obama will choose Kaine, or Kaine was given the impression that he would be chosen.
Obama, accompanied by Kaine, will appear tomorrow [Thursday] at John Tyler Community College in Chester, a GOP area where there was a surprisingly heavy vote for Obama in the Democratic primary in February. Obama wraps up tomorrow evening in the fast-growing Hampton Roads city of Chesapeake.
In a weird little irony, John Tyler was a governor and vice president from Virginia.
The veepstakes is stirring a lot of speculation. On Sunday's "Late Edition," CNN's Wolf Blitzer asked Florida Gov. Charlie Crist about the possibility of being Sen. John McCain's running mate. Here's an important part of the chat:
Blitzer: "Have they started a formal vetting process with you? In other words, are they asking for documents, IRS returns, stuff like that?"
Crist: "I can't discuss the process, Wolf. I hope you appreciate that."
Blitzer: "I'll take that as a yes."
Crist: "You take it however you want. I can't discuss the process."
How do you take it?
Blitzer also asked Crist why he changed his views and now supports oil drilling off the Florida coast.
"The facts have changed, Wolf," Crist said. "When you're facing $4 a gallon at the pump, you have to be sensitive to what the people of Florida, and in Senator McCain's case, the people of America are dealing with. It's an energy crisis, there's no question about it. And from a Florida perspective, so long as it's far enough, clean enough and safe enough, we're in favor of looking into it in order to alleviate the problem at the pump."
»
- Lane's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Sources close to the McCain Campaign say that Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor is being vetted as a possible Vice-Presidential choice. Reports are that Cantor has been asked for documents in the vetting process, but the source did not specify what kind of documents:
John McCain's campaign has asked Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor for personal documents as the Republican presidential candidate steps up his search for a running mate, The Associated Press has learned.
Cantor, 45, the chief deputy minority whip in the House, has been mentioned among several Republicans as a possible running mate for McCain. A Republican familiar with the conversations between Cantor and the McCain campaign said Cantor has been asked to turn over documents, but did not know specifically what records were sought.
The individual spoke on the condition of anonymity because neither the McCain campaign nor Cantor's office wishes to discuss the running mate selection process.
Cantor through a spokesman declined to comment. McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said the campaign would have "no comment on anything related to the vice presidential issue."
»
- brianinmo's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Newsweek is reporting that Sen. Barack Obama will now likely delay announcing his VP Choice until the week before the Democratic National Convention begins on August 25. They are also reporting that a new dark-horse has emerged in the VP Sweepstakes - Texas Congressman Chet Edwards:
The "shortlist" of options to be Barack Obama's running mate is longer than most media accounts have suggested. In addition to the familiar front runners—Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine—there are at least two other veepstakes contenders: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who enraged Hillary Clinton supporters by endorsing Obama during the primaries, and a genuine dark horse, TexasRep. Chet Edwards, whose district includes President George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford. Obama's campaign had hoped to announce his pick this week to grab the spotlight before the Beijing Olympics. But now a decision is unlikely to come until the week before the party convention, which begins in Denver on Aug. 25. According to party sources close to the selection process, who asked not to be identified discussing an internal matter, progress was slowed by Obama's overseas trip—and because his list is more fluid than generally thought. Edwards, 56, has been pushed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional Democrats who cite his work on veterans' affairs and nuclear nonproliferation, as well as his potential to attract Southern white blue-collar voters. Pelosi has called Edwards "one of the finest people I've ever served with." His stock rose further, one source said, after a meeting with Obama, though his low national profile remains a hurdle.
In fact, Obama aides have identified potential drawbacks to all the front runners. Biden brings foreign-policy expertise, but there are lingering concerns that his garrulous tendencies might knock the campaign off message. Bayh, who the sources say has been lobbying hard for the nod, brings solid centrist credentials. (An aide says Bayh is not "actively" pursuing the job.) But his wife serves on numerous corporate boards, and she also previously worked as a lawyer for drug giant Eli Lilly—an inconvenient link for a party committed to health-care reform. Kaine is seen as a "change" candidate, but he has no national-security experience. Clinton remains a possibility, but her chances are seen as remote, if only because of the near impossibility of vetting her husband's business affairs.
Chet Edwards would be an interesting pick for Obama. They just might believe he would put Texas in play, along with several other Southern states. But another Edwards - John Edwards - proved in 2004 that just being on the ticket does not guarantee a win in the home state. North Carolina went for George W. Bush.
»
- brianinmo's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Former PA Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security will attend a "finance reception" for John McCain on Thursday July 31 in Washington DC.
Thomas Joseph Ridge (born August 27, 1945 in Munhall, Pennsylvania) is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives (1983–1995), Governor of Pennsylvania (1995–2001), Assistant to the President for Homeland Security (2001–2003), and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2003–2005).
Ridge also served in Viet Nam...
From McCain.com
Washington, DC Finance Reception
What: Washington, DC Finance Reception
When: July 31, 2008 5:00 p.m.
Where: University Club of Washington, DC
Washington, DC
The McCain Washington, DC Finance Committee
&
The First Responders for McCain Coalition
with
Special Guests
Asa Hutchinson Governor Frank Keating Jim Woolsey
Cordially invite you to a reception with
Governor Tom Ridge
Thursday, July 31, 2008
5:00 p.m. Private Roundtable Discussion
5:30 p.m. General Reception
University Club of Washington, DC
Washington, DC 20036
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lets just ad this to all of the rumors and speculation surrounding McCain's choice for vice president.
In a conference call to New York law makers, Hillary Clinton said that she was open to accecpting the VP slot from Barack Obama.
So what?. They are exactly the same with the exception that Obama voted against winning the war in Iraq.
From the LATimes
BREAKING NEWS: Hillary Clinton 'open' to veep spot
The Associated Press, continuing to lead the way in reporting the breaking developments in the wrap-up to the Democratic presidential race, writes that Hillary Clinton has told unspecified lawmakers from her home state of New York that she is "open" to joining the party's national ticket as Barack Obama's running mate.Lacking an unequivocal, no-way, no-how denial from the Clinton camp, the news should significantly increase public calls from her supporters for Obama to offer her the post. And, conversely, it should spark a full-throated debate among Obama backers as to whether that would be a good or bad thing.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, a staunch Clinton ally, helped get the ball rolling earlier today on what some Democrats view as the "dream ticket" scenario.
In an interview with CNN in which she said the "moment of truth" had arrived for Clinton to end her presidential quest, Feinstein added, "I’m a very strong supporter of Hillary being placed on the ticket as a vice presidential candidate.”
-- Don Frederick
»
- Nelsa's blog
- Login or register to post comments
In response to a reporter's question regarding whether John McCain's Vice Presidential pick would be pro-life, John McCain says that he will not choose his VP based on a single issue. To the contrary, McCain said,"All I can do is make the blanket assurance that the person I choose will share my values and my principles and my goals and my ideals."
…to bring a new hope for the Nation and for the World that extends beyond the Presidency of the primary candidate and the borders of the nation…
…to provide a vision that compliments and extends the vision of the standing President…
…to bring an inspired talent that can assist the nation and the world to make the transition between the old and the new way of conducting business at home and around the world…
…to bring honesty and integrity again to the Office of the Vice Presidency…
…to introduce ‘brave new steps’ to prepare the nation and the world for the days ahead
…expecting and understanding that the future cannot be expected to get easier, but to get worse
…and having the conviction that unless the days of that suffering be lessened, no human being will be left unaffected on earth.
...to understand that the times ahead are going to get really hard for everyone.
A Good Vice President should be prepared to assist the President on many levels, even if his/her council is used only to provide momentary inspiration or insight into certain matters.
The Vice President's political stance with regards to the responsibility of his office should be ‘preemptive’ and heavily focused on disaster relief and preparedness for the Nation against catastrophic events.
A Vice President, as well as sitting the Senate, should have a cabinet or council of his own personal advisors that are in his trust, separate from the Office of the President. This would be the Vice President’s ‘Inner Circle’, ready to take charge in event anything happened to the Office of the President and the President’s cabinet.
A NEW (limited) UN PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES
A vision of a Vice President who is willing to read more »
»
- James Carder's blog
- Login or register to post comments
A lot of discussion has arisen about whom John McCain will choose as his Vice President. Though interesting, as it concerns someone being raised into the Presidential Picture, the topic is a distraction. John McCain is not going to be elected President by selecting a good Vice President. A Vice President can maybe bring his or her own state into the President candidate's win column, or he or she can add strength in a policy area, true; but that isn't a major addition to the entire picture. So let's get back to the big picture, OK ?
This election will be won by John McCain, maybe, IF he succeeds in doing the following things:
1.convincing Americans that he is the strongest, most knowledgeable candidate with respct to freign policy issues including (but not limited to) War on Terror matters.
Here I feel very confident. read more »
»
- The_Mass_Mouth's blog
- Login or register to post comments
