Bloomberg seems to think it knows who’s on the very short list of Kerry’s potential running mates, based on word from “campaign and Democratic party officials familiar with Kerry’s deliberations.” None of these names will surprise you, assuming it’s legit.
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is focusing on five potential running mates who may help him attract voters concerned about the war and the economy or who have appeal in states such as Florida and Iowa that were decided by less the 1 percent in the 2000 election.
Kerry is considering four of the men he defeated in party primaries — retired Army General Wesley Clark, Senators Bob Graham of Florida and John Edwards of North Carolina, and Representative Richard Gephardt of St. Louis — as well as Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, according to campaign and Democratic party officials familiar with Kerry’s deliberations.
It’s easy to make a good case for any of these five. I wish Bill Richardson was in the mix, and I’ve heard plenty of rumors about Evan Bayh, but if it’s one of these five, I promise not to be disappointed.
I’m even slowly coming around on Gephardt, whom I initially thought would be a disaster. While he wouldn’t be my first choice, Gephardt would help mobilize labor support in states like Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, while probably boosting Kerry’s chances in Missouri.
And get used to hearing Vilsack’s name. He doesn’t have a high national profile, but the guy would make a fine addition to the ticket. Iowa would no longer be a concern, he’d bring geographic balance, he’s a lifelong Catholic, he’d help throughout the Midwest, and he’s an outside-the-beltway pol with a strong record of accomplishments. Not to be overlooked, Vilsack has a tremendous personal narrative, after having been orphaned as a child and growing up in Pittsburgh.
While the choice is obviously critical, I hope it’s made quickly. I look forward to having another person out there raising money, making appearances, responding to attacks, and levying a few of his own. Bush is letting (read: ordering) Cheney to play the attack dog role, while Kerry is by himself. The sooner Kerry has a running mate, the better.
“That’s what vice presidents are supposed to do,” said Michael Dimock, research director at the Pew Research Center in Washington “To be an attack dog and to allow the candidate to stay clean and positive.”