The VP Derbies -- Talk Is Cheap. But . . .

[Ben_Hecht]

Toteboard faves, by party, according to current live "buy" bids posted on Intrade:

Dems:

Jim Webb 5-1
HRC 5 1/4-1
Wesley Clark(!) 10-1
Claire McCaskill 10 3/4-1
Kathleen Sebelius 10 3/4-1

GOP:

Flipper 24-5
Tim Pawlenty 5 1/2-1
Sarah Palin 7-1
Huck 8-1
John Thune 9-1

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I actually think Hillary may be the pick by default now that Edwards and the Ohio governor are out.

I think McCain will pick Pawlenty by default as well. I don't think anyone seems to want either job.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Flipper wants it, bad. But if he gives it to him, Mac is going to have to supress his gag reflex, throughout the fall.

I'd love to see Webb get it, if he can make his way through the mysogonist flack.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'm going to feel stupid as soon as I get the answer, but who is Flipper?

Romney?

 

[Deeper_Background]

'Drivin Miss Kathy'...all the way to the White House.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Flipper wants it, bad. But if he gives it to him, Mac is going to have to supress his gag reflex, throughout the fall.

I'd love to see Webb get it, if he can make his way through the mysogonist flack.

Webb would be exactly what Obama doesn't need if he's wooing HRC supporters...

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I'm going to feel stupid as soon as I get the answer, but who is Flipper?

Romney?

Yowsah. Mitt, it is.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Flipper wants it, bad. But if he gives it to him, Mac is going to have to supress his gag reflex, throughout the fall.

I'd love to see Webb get it, if he can make his way through the mysogonist flack.

Webb would be exactly what Obama doesn't need if he's wooing HRC supporters...

Don't disagree, but if negative repercussions weren't an issue, he's dead solid perfect.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Flipper wants it, bad. But if he gives it to him, Mac is going to have to supress his gag reflex, throughout the fall.

I'd love to see Webb get it, if he can make his way through the mysogonist flack.

Webb would be exactly what Obama doesn't need if he's wooing HRC supporters...

Don't disagree, but if negative repercussions weren't an issue, he's dead solid perfect.

I agree. I really like Webb. But trying to keep women out of the military isn't going to win you fans among Dems.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Does Romney really want it? I thought he had taken his name out of the mix, which could mean anything, but when he bowed out as gracefully as he did so early on, I think it was so he could be on the ticket and then run for President in 2012 if McCain only stays in office one term.

Everything I read says McCain wants Pawlenty, but his advisors want him to pick someone who either has a national presence (Romney) or someone who can deliver a swing state (Probably no one).

I don't think Romney can deliver Massachusetts and I don't think Pawlenty can deliver Minnesota.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Does Romney really want it? I thought he had taken his name out of the mix, which could mean anything, but when he bowed out as gracefully as he did so early on, I think it was so he could be on the ticket and then run for President in 2012 if McCain only stays in office one term.

Everything I read says McCain wants Pawlenty, but his advisors want him to pick someone who either has a national presence (Romney) or someone who can deliver a swing state (Probably no one).

I don't think Romney can deliver Massachusetts and I don't think Pawlenty can deliver Minnesota.

Romney wants it, bad. He's eagerly thrown himself into the mix. If he performs, he positions himself as a prominent front-runner for '12. And the
potential fund-raising chops he can bring to the table are not insiginificant.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Does Romney really want it? I thought he had taken his name out of the mix, which could mean anything, but when he bowed out as gracefully as he did so early on, I think it was so he could be on the ticket and then run for President in 2012 if McCain only stays in office one term.

Everything I read says McCain wants Pawlenty, but his advisors want him to pick someone who either has a national presence (Romney) or someone who can deliver a swing state (Probably no one).

I don't think Romney can deliver Massachusetts and I don't think Pawlenty can deliver Minnesota.

Romney wants it, bad. He's eagerly thrown himself into the mix. If he performs, he positions himself as a prominent front-runner for '12. And the
potential fund-raising chops he can bring to the table are not insiginificant.

I'm not a huge fan of his, but he would probably be the best pick for McCain.

 

[Oz]

I actually think Hillary may be the pick by default now that Edwards and the Ohio governor are out.

She would be a lousy pick for a candidate whose whole campaign is based on change.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I actually think Hillary may be the pick by default now that Edwards and the Ohio governor are out.

She would be a lousy pick for a candidate's whose whole campaign is based on change.

This is a Pandora's Box which really needs to remain closed.

Any upside isn't worth the potential costs.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Obama's VP pick is going to get him a ton of grief...

He picks Hillary, people will be pissed.

If he picks anyone else, the first question will be "Why didn't you pick Hillary?"

She could ease the pressure by saying she's not interested, but I don't see her doing that.

He's in a tough spot.

 

[Oz]

Obama's VP pick is going to get him a ton of grief...

He picks Hillary, people will be pissed.

If he picks anyone else, the first question will be "Why didn't you pick Hillary?"

After Rev. Wright and all the others flaps thrown his way, that VP "grief" would be nothing.

 

[rico_the_redneck]

I still think McCain's biggest problem is his base and I just don't see the evangelicals buying into a Mormon who basically ran as Dem candidate for senate and governor in Massachusetts.

I think putting Mitt on the ticket may give McCain the Econ gravitas he lacks, but at the cost of alienating a base that will see both the GOP nominee and his running mate as lacking the real conservative credentials they want. In effect, you'd have two candidates on the ticket who have flip-flopped in recent years on most of the big issues these voters care about.

Huck is the way for McCain to go if he wants to nail down the base. How he wins the election with that 25-30 percent of the electorate locked up is still beyond me.

Agree on Webb. He's got too much baggage with regards to women. I think Obama needs to pick a governor like Kaine, Richardson or Sebelius ... Edwards would be great, too, if he would take it.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Obama's VP pick is going to get him a ton of grief...

He picks Hillary, people will be pissed.

If he picks anyone else, the first question will be "Why didn't you pick Hillary?"

She could ease the pressure by saying she's not interested, but I don't see her doing that.

He's in a tough spot.

She wants it.

She'd be crazy NOT to want it.

It's her lone legitimate shot at this particular brass ring.

 

[Grimace]

I still think McCain's biggest problem is his base and I just don't see the evangelicals buying into a Mormon who basically ran as Dem candidate for senate and governor in Massachusetts.

I think putting Mitt on the ticket may give McCain the Econ gravitas he lacks, but at the cost of alienating a base that will see both the GOP nominee and his running mate as lacking the real conservative credentials they want. In effect, you'd have two candidates on the ticket who have flip-flopped in recent years on most of the big issues these voters care about.

Huck is the way for McCain to go if he wants to nail down the base. How he wins the election with that 25-30 percent of the electorate locked up is still beyond me.

Agree on Webb. He's got too much baggage with regards to women. I think Obama needs to pick a governor like Kaine, Richardson or Sebelius ... Edwards would be great, too, if he would take it.

Exactly. There's a reason Romney didn't win the Republican nomination and did so poorly in the South. In these scary economic times, how can you expect people to cuddle up to a rich, white millionaire who was born into money. Can't forget about the Mormonism, too. It might not be fair, but the concerns are out there.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I still think McCain's biggest problem is his base and I just don't see the evangelicals buying into a Mormon who basically ran as Dem candidate for senate and governor in Massachusetts.

I think putting Mitt on the ticket may give McCain the Econ gravitas he lacks, but at the cost of alienating a base that will see both the GOP nominee and his running mate as lacking the real conservative credentials they want. In effect, you'd have two candidates on the ticket who have flip-flopped in recent years on most of the big issues these voters care about.

Huck is the way for McCain to go if he wants to nail down the base. How he wins the election with that 25-30 percent of the electorate locked up is still beyond me.

Agree on Webb. He's got too much baggage with regards to women. I think Obama needs to pick a governor like Kaine, Richardson or Sebelius ... Edwards would be great, too, if he would take it.

Exactly. There's a reason Romney didn't win the Republican nomination and did so poorly in the South. In these scary economic times, how can you expect people to cuddle up to a rich, white millionaire who was born into money. Can't forget about the Mormonism, too. It might not be fair, but the concerns are out there.

McCain owes Huck plenty for splitting the conservative base with Flipper, thus leaving the door wide open, but the VP nom is a reward Mike isn't at all likely to get.