Are Top Surrogates Also Top VP Candidates?

by animated, Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 02:31:00 PM EST

With Barack Obama set to announce his vice presidential pick within weeks (and maybe just a couple weeks), it's worth considering the faces we've seen representing the Senator in public. After all, a VP candidate should be tried and tested in the media spotlight, right? In particular, you'd expect potential candidates who hadn't spent much time in the national spotlight to have a "test run" on at least one Sunday show, and at least a few weekday cable news show appearances.

Evan Bayh, Tim Kaine, Joe Biden, and Claire McCaskill have all taken leading roles as surrogates. Bayh is particular has cropped up all over the place just as his name has risen in the "Veepstakes."

Who haven't we seen? Kathleen Sebelius. Despite being a prominent name on almost every list, I can't think of a lengthy appearance Sebelius has done for Obama.

Sam Nunn. Nunn was always a questionable choice IMO, but he's also been absent for the most part on the cable shows.

Add to this list of no-shows (for the most part) VP longshots Sherrod Brown, Brian Schwietzer, and Janet Napolitano.

Of course, Clinton or Edwards arguably wouldn't need this kind of media vetting.


Poll
Obama's MOST LIKELY choice at this point is:
Bayh
Kaine
Sebelius
Clinton
Edwards
Nunn
Biden
McCaskill
Dodd
Other

Votes: 11
Results : Vote Link : Polls


Tags: barack obama, VP (all tags)

Display:
Permalink :: 6 Comments :: Post a Comment


Re: Are Top Surrogates Also Top VP Candidates? (none / 0)

Wow, I really don't like Evan, he just seems like such a flat pancake.

Tim or Joe work for me.

Yeah, Seibeluis has been AWOL, but that not mean anything.

Personally, over that list, I would prefer Wes Clark, my first choice, or Senator Clinton.

We shall all see soon enough, I guess.


"Well the danger on the rocks is surely past... Still I remain tied to the mast"...Don Fagen, Poet and Piano Player
by WashStateBlue on Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 02:58:04 PM EST

Re: Are Top Surrogates Also Top VP Candidates? (none / 0)

I watched Bayh on Sunday and then today and he's actually not bad. Stays on message while being charming and projecting an average guy kind of appeal. It does seem, understandably, that most of us tend to lean towards the big name picks (Clinton, Gore, Edwards, etc.), while the campaign probably wants someone who is going to be a team player in terms of the campaign...and those things don't always lead you to the same choice:D


by animated on Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 03:06:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Are Top Surrogates Also Top VP Candidates? (none / 0)

I agree that Bayh has been a surprisingly good surrogate. He is very good at delivering the campaign message. He doesn't get tripped up by anything. And, he's so damn ordinary that his advocacy for Obama's positions assures voters that said positions are mainstream and responsible.

I'm not ready to embrace him as a VP candidate, but it's given me some comfort to see how well he appears on TV. I've long been disappointed with many of our TV surrogates, so this isn't a trivial quality to me. I still think Biden is probably Obama's best surrogate on foreign policy, but he too is an imperfect veep candidate.

I've been hoping for Scweitzer, but I think he's unlikely at this point (and many don't want him to leave the Montana governorship vacant, with good reason). So, I currently don't have much of a favorite, although there are several people who I absolutely don't want (Nunn, for example).


by DPW on Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 04:19:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

so who do you think its going to be? (none / 0)


"Me Fail English? That's Unpossible." Ralph Wiggum
by canadian gal on Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 03:17:16 PM EST

Re: so who do you think its going to be? (none / 0)

I'd have to go with Bayh, Kaine, or Biden, at this point.


by animated on Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 05:04:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I think the train has left (none / 0)

the Sebelius bandwagon; she got ambushed by one of O' Reilly's goons a week ago regarding her connection to an abortion doctor and she couldn't answer the guy's questions.  Not a strong showing for the VP candidate as she won't be able to run away if she's across the stage from Romney or Pawlenty.

Bayh is a "FISA" dem, "war" dem, and I believe a "bankrupcty bill" dem.  He's got three strikes against him; he hasn't caved on offshore drilling, which is surprising given his conservative inclinations.


by Blazers Edge on Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 04:14:45 PM EST


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