Another day and another pronouncement from a potential running mate for Senator Barack Obama!
Yesterday, Virginia’s Jim Webb took himself out of the running. By doing so, Obama lost a chance to recruit a Southern Democrat and Viet Nam Vet to boot to his ticket. Although like Obama, Webb is only in his first term in the Senate, the advantages that his background would have brought to the Democratic ticket likely outweighed his relative lack of experience.
Today, the news was better. Today, former Senator, former presidential and vice presidential candidate John Edwards announced that he’d accept (if offered) the VP slot or a spot in the potential cabinet of Senator Obama.
To me, Edwards ran a good race as a presidential candidate this past year. He spoke in terms that reminded me of Bill Clinton at his best. You remember, the Bill Clinton that said and really seemed to feel your pain. As good as Edwards was he ran into two superstar candidates in Hillary Clinton and his perhaps future boss Barack Obama.
Would Edwards be a good choice? He’s got the Southern thing going for him although it didn’t seem to help the Kerry campaign much. He also didn’t seem to relish doing what most VP candidates are called to do, which is get down and dirty and say the strong things that the man or woman at the top of the ticket can’t say. Experience wise, he did just one term in the Senate. So no help on that issue…
As much as a like Edwards, if I’m Obama I’m leaning towards not picking him.
Furthermore, consider the following two points. First, are there lots of Edwards’ voters who aren’t already voting for Obama? The answer to that would be no.
Second, ask yourself about the public reaction to an Edwards’ announcement. Think about human nature and you’ll come to the conclusion that especially in a campaign year so focused on change that you can’t bust out last election’s VP model and expect people to get excited. This point is even more true when you realize that Edwards though he ran a respectable campaign, didn’t even come in second. That spot belongs to Hillary Clinton and I can think of no better way of alienating the Hillary Clinton supporters than picking Edwards as Obama’s running mate.
Bottom line – good to know John Edwards would be up for it, but he’s not getting a call about the VP gig.
