John Nance Garner, a former House Speaker who became one of FDR’s vice presidents, is widely credited with having said that the VP’s office isn’t worth “a warm bucket of spit,” though reporters are rumored to have changed the spelling of the last word to make it appropriate for publication.
Of course, that was nearly 80 years ago. Since then, Al Gore became one of the most powerful VPs in history, and then Dick Cheney radically expanded the power of the vice presidency (to the extent that he effectively declared the office of the VP a fourth branch of government). Now, the job is sought after, especially by senators.
It’s unusual, but right now we have three sitting senators remaining as presidential candidates, and as such, for the first time ever, we’ll see two sitting senators facing each other in a general election. Their 97 colleagues are probably thinking, “Hey, if they’re good enough for national office, so am I.” And if you ask some of them, they’ll even say so.
Every senator who looks in the mirror may see a potential president — but in a new survey, they’re a bit more equivocal about the No. 2 job in the executive branch.
Since the final three presidential hopefuls are sitting senators, a member of that body is sure to occupy the White House this fall. The Hill asked the remaining 97 if they’d consider accepting a vice presidential slot.
Some said they’d be happy to join the ticket. “Yes. Sign me up,” said Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware. “I’ve been kidding people for years: The hours are better, the wages are just as good — whoever heard of a vice president getting shot at? — and it’s a great opportunity to travel.
“And actually since time has gone by, the job is robust … So sure. Anybody here would, if they’re going to be honest. The chances are slim to none. But I promise you, I would deliver all three of Delaware’s electoral votes.”
In all, more than a fifth of the chamber would “seriously consider” an offer to join their respective party’s presidential ticket. Given some of the names who demurred, it’s safe to say the actual number of interested senators is considerably higher.
The Hill asked all 97 senators not running for president the same question: “If you were asked, would you accept an offer to be the vice presidential nominee?” Nine said they would undoubtedly accept an offer, 12 said they would think about it.
Republican prospects John Thune of South Dakota and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina dismissed the possibility, while conservative Sam Brownback (Kan.) expressed concern about how independent voters would react to him.
On the Democratic side of the aisle, Sen. Jim Webb (Va.) also dismissed the idea — but with a grin. Sen. Evan Bayh (Ind.), another Democrat whose name has surfaced in vice presidential speculation, was more candid: “I suspect that’s not the sort of thing you say no to.” […]
“Of course,” Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) said. “Big house, big car, not much to do. Why not?”
“Absolutely,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.). “I think I would be great. First of all, I know how to behave at weddings and funerals. And I know how to be commander in chief. I’d bring a lot of fun to the job. We would rock the Naval Observatory.”
It sounds like the gig has come a long way since it was a “warm bucket of spit.”
The fact that Webb answered the question “with a grin,” by the way, will not go unnoticed by the political establishment. There’s been quite a bit of talk about Webb’s possible role on the ticket — he’s a young, decorated veteran from a possible swing state, with broad independent appeal — and his answer will only stir additional speculation.