Sure, everyone's looking for the next Prez, so we have sights on who's making the play to become the next VEEP, the ultimate #2! At vicepresidents.com it is about people in the shadow-the second string, the runners up... The Latest: New Hampshire VP nominee winners, Mark Sanford, Janet Napolitano, Bobby Harrell, Tim Pawlenty, Joe Lieberman, Russ Feingold!
01/17 Russ Feingold for VEEP?
Russ Feingold is fairly awesome: he's been in the senate since '93, he was the only senator who actually read (and voted against) The Patriot Act and he won the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for cosponsoring a Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. He's well known around Washington for being unafraid of expressing his opposing positions -- but also for doing so in a persuasive, sensitive way that calls both parties to the table. Over the years, Feingold has developed a grassroots following (possibly for his environmental ambitions). He didn't run for president in '08 because he wanted to focus on his senate career and he didn't want reporters prying into the details of his recent divorce.
Who would he consider running with? Feingold says he would "listen if any president asked him to serve", but he's also "happy where he is." He may be on the short list of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton or even John McCain. (He worked on bipartisan commissions with McCain in the senate and also on attacking soft money contributions). Feingold talks a great deal about: "change," a state-by-state health care plan (much like what Obama proposes), getting out of Iraq right away and the need for a new energy bill. We'll be keeping an eye on this prospect.
01/17 Lieberman-McCain Ticket Update!
John McCain, while he's only won a single primary thus so far, has encouraged rumors of a McCain-Lieberman ticket this week. Of Lieberman, McCain told the Washington Wire: “He’d be a great partner in any endeavor, including joining America together. Let’s reach across the aisle, let’s work together for America. That’s what Joe Lieberman is all about.” Lieberman, who ran as Al Gore's runningmate in 2000, would make a great bipartisan choice for the Republican McCain.
01/16 New Hampshire VP Write-Ins
I found this story terribly intriguing. While the winners of the one-of-a-kind NH vice presidential primary were clearly Jack Barnes and Raymond Stebbins, there were some write-in nominations as well. In fact, there were over 100 write-ins for vice president!
Al Gore
Bill Clinton
Bev Hollingworth
Tom McGuirk
Fred Welch
Tom Brady (yes, the quarterback)
Ben Moore
Fred Rice
Ralph Fatello
Rev. Al Sharpton
Colin Powell
Newt Gingrich
Hillary Clinton.
Stephen Colbert
01/16 South Carolina Governor Refuses VP Spot
Some people wonder why two-term Republican Governor Mark Sanford is refusing to endorse any of the 2008 candidates. He said that the Republican candidates pointed out that South Carolina has always picked the GOP nominee in every primary over the last 27 years.
Not to mention, Mark's qualified for the VP job: he's a staunch conservative with a record of opposing pork barrel projects. Interestingly enough, Sanford espouses some Libertarian views -- like his "Put Parents In Charge" education plan.
However, VP is the last position Sanford wants. He said, "If I wanted be vice president, I would've picked a horse and would've run with it."
Instead, he wishes to continue his governorship, work in real estate and spend time with his four sons. Rather than cast an expectant gaze his way, he advises the Republican nominees to "try lots of barbecue" as a campaign strategy in South Carolina!
01/16 Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano Endorses Obama (Dream Team?)
It's no secret that Janet Napolitano wields a lot of influence as a two-term governor in Arizona. Time Magazine hyped her up as "one of eight women who could be elected president in '08" and rated her as one of the "Top 5 Governors" in the US back in 2005. She's addressed both the 2000 and 2004 Democratic National Convention, but more importantly, she was on John Kerry's short list as "potential running-mate." We're smelling her VP aspirations miles away.
Janet will be key to enticing Arizona women voters, as well as Democrats worried about immigration and border security, as she stands tall on these particular issues. Other strengths include: turning a budget defecit into a surplus, as well as education reform.
01/16 Another McCain Short List Possibility
When you read about South Carolina Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, you wonder why you hadn't thought of him before as the perfect VP nominee.
He's known as a BiPartisan Whiz and a man who can tackle virtually anything -- education, tax reduction, economic development. His background is a hodgepodge of roles -- from church deacon to business owner (insurance / pharmaceuticals).
Last January, Harrell signed onto the McCain camp as his state exploratory committee co-chairman and national co-chairman of "Legislators for McCain."
Most recently, Harrell has been sending out emails on McCain's behalf and is part of the McCain "Truth Squad" which is combatting the "Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain" attack letters.
01/16 There Is No #2 in Michigan!
The Democrat's Michigan primary can seem a little convoluted at first glance: Hillary 55%, Uncommitted 40%, Kucinich 4%. I stared blankly at the computer screen: What exactly IS this "uncommitted" pool... and where the heck are Barack Obama and John Edwards??
As it turns out, Michigan doesn't like to follow the rules and decided to bump up their primary to January 15th so they can "vote on the issues." The Democratic National Convention was irked, so they barred all Michigan delegates from voting -- which, in this representative democracy, means everything. So Obama and Edwards took their names off the ballot in protest and urged all their supporters to vote "uncommitted."
To penalize these "rogue states" the Republican National Convention is stripping half the delegates from Florida (57), Michigan (30), South Carolina (23), Wyoming (14), and New Hampshire (12). The Democratic National Convention is removing all of Florida and Michigan's delegate votes.
What does this mean to us here at VicePresidents? Aside from being an abomination of injustice... it means that there's no second place in these states. It seems that under this preposterous system, presidents and vice presidents will be chosen for us by a very covert (and spirit-crushing) method also known as "the process of elimination."
01/16 The Unofficial Word
The campaign to draft Bill Richardson for VEEP continues!
01/11 New Hampshire Votes for VP are in!
For days I've been scouring the internet in a desperate hunt for answers. Last night the final results finally came in for the New Hampshire vice presidential race votes.
Well ok, the Republican race was very anti-climatic with one man -- Jack Barnes -- on the ballot. The good news is: people still voted for him! It's not like Missouri senate race of 2000 when the recently deceased Mel Carnahan still beat John Ashcroft! I'd like to think that was a protest vote, rather than sheer ignorance... but perhaps Americans just have a soft spot for dead guys...
In the Democratic race, Raymond Stebbins upset William Bryk by a landslide. In places like Hillsborough County, Stebbins beat him 15,450 to 6,488! Similarly, in Rockingham it was a 12,400 to 4,393 upset. The final outcome was 50,485 to 22,965 in favor of Stebbins.
Read more about the quirky New Hampshire primary and the VP candidates here.
01/11 McCain-Pawlenty Ticket?
Another common speculation on a McCain ticket is Tim Pawlenty.
While Pawlenty adamantly denies rumors that he's endorsing Senator McCain: "I've answered that squarely, directly and repeatedly, Senator McCain and I have never even discussed that and I'm not doing this because I want be VP. I'm doing this because I believe he would be a good president and good for the country."
Why Pawlenty? Since 1994, Pawlenty worked on the Eagan city council, the MN House of Representatives, Senate Majority Leader and Governor.
As Governor, he balanced a $4.3 billion dollar deficit without raising taxes and created the first budget surplus in Minnesota since 2001. Given the rules of balance, Pawlenty would cover the younger demographic -- and also the Mid-Western demographic.
Last year he worked on McCain's national co-chair of his presidential exploratory committee and he's recently appeared in both Iowa and New Hampshire, stumping for his old pal. He had also been personally invited to accompany McCain on trips to Baghdad to visit the troops, suggesting a close camaraderie.
However, in a rare moment back in 2006, McCain made it clear what kind of responsibilities he's planning to delegate to his VP: "The vice president of the United States really only has two duties. One is to break a tie vote in the Senate, and the other is to inquire daily as to the health of the president... I'm not sure that Governor Pawlenty, given the responsibilities he has here, would be interested in that."
01/11 Farewell President Richardson... Hello, VEEP!
It's not shocking that Bill Richardson dropped out of the race...
But here at VicePresidents.com, we're extremely interested to see if he outright endorses Clinton or if he spreads himself out evenly in supporting Edwards/Obama/Clinton. Interestingly enough, the Bill Richardson For VEEP draft movement has already begun, led by Ken Camp of the old "Washington For Richardson" blog. Now it has morphed into the "Richardson For VP" blog. (Just so you know!)
01/11 Former Presidential Nominee John Kerry Endorses Barack Obama!!!
John Kerry told a group of South Carolina voters and press hounds yesterday, “Martin Luther King Jr. said the time is always right to do what is right,” Senator Kerry said. "And I’m here in South Carolina because this is the right time to share with you, to make sure that we know that I have the confidence and that Barack Obama can be, will be and should be the next president of the United States.”
He mentioned that he wanted to endorse Obama days before the Iowa caucus but he wasn't sure if it would impact the campaign, so he waited patiently. Kerry also mentioned there were other people running in the race whom he's "worked with and respects" but he feels Obama is still the best choice.
Does that slap in the face hurt, Edwards?
In response, Edwards said, "Our country and our party are stronger because of John's service, and I respect his decision. When we were running against each other and on the same ticket, John and I agreed on many issues."
But more than a stab in Edwards' side, what does this endorsement mean for the Obama camp? For one, Kerry still has am email list of about 3 million small donors that could breathe life into the final stretch of primary season.
Secondly, Kerry is taken seriously. As a veteran, former governor and senator, he is well respected and could help get some of those older veteran voters aligned. His geographic location could pull the Northeast to Obama's advantage -- a territory he thought he had, but New Hampshire's upset proved wrong.
Thirdly, Kerry can bring his expertise to the White House if he's willing to take a strong Dick Cheney-esque VP role.
Unbeknownst to many, Kerry has had a profound effect on Obama's career since 2004, when he asked Obama to deliver a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, thus leading to his election as a first term Senator. Will Obama thank him... or will he keep Kerry and his pathetic 2004 election flop at a comfortable distance?
