Obama’s Vice Presidents?

According to CNN, Jimmy Carter said, in a convention last night: (emphasis my own)

“I think it would be highly unlikely for Obama to ask [Hillary Clinton] to take it,” Carter said. “Because I don’t see how it would help his ticket. I think he needs somebody like a [former Georgia Sen.] Sam Nunn, but I won’t name others.”

“But I think if he asked her, she would take it,” Carter added.

The former president also reiterated that he does not have direct contact with either campaign and is not privy to the VP deliberations.

Carter also said a unity ticket would likely help the party come together after the prolonged and at times divisive primary race. But he stopped short of saying such a ticket would be the strongest Democrats could field

“That would be the ticket the republicans would favor I think,” he said.

Carter, a Democratic superdelegate, has yet to formally endorse a candidate, but he has strongly hinted he is in favor of Obama.

So that led me to look up Sam Nunn, and he is, according to Wikipedia, as follows: (emphasis added)

Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr. (born September 8, 1938 ) is an American businessman and politician. Currently the co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NTI (Nuclear Threat Initiative), a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Nunn served for twenty-four years as a United States SenatorGeorgia from (1972 until 1997) as a member of the Democratic Party. His political experience and strong credentials on national defense reportedly put him into consideration as a potential running mate for Democratic candidate John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential election, and have fueled rumors that he could become the running mate of Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama in 2008.

[...] Overall, Nunn was a moderate-to-conservative Democrat^[5] who often broke with his party on a host of social and economic issues. He strongly opposed the budget bill of 1993, which included provisions to raise taxes in order to reduce the deficit. He was also vehement in his opposition to President Bill Clinton’s proposal to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military. He voted in favor of school prayer, capping punitive damage awards, amending the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced budget, and limiting death penalty appeals. On certain issues like abortion, the environment, gun control, and affirmative action, Nunn took a more moderate line. He consistently voted in favor of increased immigration.^[8] One of his most controversial votes was his vote against the Gulf War. ^[9]

[...] On August 3, 2007, Nunn confirmed that he has had discussions with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg about the current political climate. He also stated that he hadn’t ruled out the possibility of declaring his own candidacy in the 2008 presidential election as an independent. However, Nunn indicated that he would decline any offers to run for Vice President by saying, “The only thing I would consider would be running for the big office.” On August 19, Nunn said he would not decide on a presidential bid until after the 2008 primary season, once the major parties have produced de facto nominees.

Speculation over a Nunn bid ended on April 18, 2008, when he endorsed Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama.

Despite having publicly declared his disinterest in being a vice presidential candidate, Nunn is mentioned by some political pundits as a potential running mate for Obama.

So, the positive points for Nunn: Lots of political experience, white male, from the south, strong on defense, and for some people, his moderate social views. For me, that’s a negative.

So I decided to look up some other candidates for Obama’s vice president. Next, I looked up Jim Webb, who is my personal pick.

James Henry “Jim” Webb, Jr. (born February 9, 1946) is the junior Senator from Virginia. He is also an author and a former Secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

A 1968 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Webb served as a Marine Corps infantry officer until 1972, and is a highly decorated Vietnam War combat veteran. During his four years with the Reagan administration, Webb served as the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, then as Secretary of the Navy.

Although he was elected to the Senate by very narrow margin, Webb is often mentioned as possible Vice Presidential Democratic nominee in 2008,^[43] due to his experience and moderate positions. More importantly, he has vast military experience, not to mention a son currently serving in Iraq. This could serve as a shield against Republican attacks on Obama’s lack of military experience. ^[44]

Additionally, Webb was against the Iraq war from the start, which would provide a lot of consistancy with Obama’s position. Furthermore, he is also a white male from the south, and is super in favor of gun owner’s rights, which could be a key issue for a lot of voters. Sounds like a perfect guy, right? Well, not entirely. He wrote an article called “Why Women Can’t Fight,” about not allowing women in the military. A few days ago he also said he wasn’t interested in being the vice president. Also, he is said to be an incredibly loose cannon who has a temper. An amusing story about Webb follows:

On November 28, 2006, at a White House reception for those newly elected to Congress, Webb declined to stand in the line to have his picture taken with the president, whom Webb often criticized during the campaign. The president approached Webb later and asked him, “How’s your boy?”, referring to Webb’s son, a Marine serving in Iraq. According to Congressman Jim Moran of Virginia, aides warned the President to be “extra sensitive about talking to Webb about his son, since Webb’s son has had a recent brush with death in Iraq.”^[26] Webb replied “I’d like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President.” Bush responded, “That’s not what I asked you. How’s your boy?” Webb responded, “That’s between me and my boy, Mr. President.” Webb was so angered by the exchange that he was reportedly tempted to “slug” the president and later remarked, “I’m not particularly interested in having a picture of me and George W. Bush on my wall.”

And finally for now, another person that has been thrown around a lot as a vice presidential candidate, Kathleen Sebelius. Her information:

Kathleen Gilligan Sebelius (born May 15, 1948), viewed by many U.S. political commentators as an articulate rising star in the Democratic Party, is currently serving as the 44th Governor of Kansas.^[1] She is the second female governor of Kansas, the 2008 respondent to the State of the Union address,^[2] and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors Association.

Sebelius gave a well received Democratic response to the 2008 Presidential State of the Union address, and is closely allied with Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama.

During the 2004 election Sebelius was named as a potential running mate for John Kerry.^[17] In the aftermath of Kerry’s defeat in the 2004 presidential election, some pundits named Sebelius as a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 2008. Sebelius’s supports abortion rights and opposes capital punishment. Many contend that her appeal would be broad among her fellow Midwesterners. ^[18]As of 2008, speculation remains that she will be a contender for the vice-presidential slot on the Democratic ticket this year, if headed by Barack Obama.^[19] The Washington Post has listed her as the top prospect for the 2008 nomination.^[20] James Carville has also mentioned Sebelius’ name.^[21] Speculation that the Vice Presidential nomination lies in her future was heightened by the fact that she was chosen by the Democratic Party’s congressional leaders to give their party’s official response to Republican President George W. Bush’s 2008 State of the Union Address.^[22] The next day, she endorsed Obama’s campaign, one week before the Kansas caucus on Super Tuesday.^[23] Obama won the caucus easily, with 74% support.^[24]

Also, due to Sebelius being term-limited in 2010 and owing to her being a popular Democrat who has achieved election to statewide office in the heavily Republican state, Sebelius is also speculated as a possible Democratic candidate for the US Senate seat currently held by Republican Sam Brownback in 2010, who has said he will not seek reelection. Michael Moore also speculated on his website MichaelMoore.com that she may run for President in 2016.

Sebelius is a former chair of the Democratic Governors Association, a popular launchpad for those with national political ambitions

While Sebelius isn’t my top pick, I think she is the most likely to the vice. Her pro and con: she’s a liberal woman from the midwest.

A link to the Washington Post article listing their top five picks for Obama and McCain is here.

The top five for Obama interestingly don’t include Webb, but are instead as follows: 1. Kathleen Sebelius, 2. Ted Strickland, 3. Hillary Clinton (ewww), 4. Tim Kaine, and 5. Sam Nunn.

I have to disagree with Strickland as number two, he is way too big a Clinton supporter.