Hypothetical: Dean has won the nomination

[Gringo]

What should he do?

[jpgray]

1. He shouldn't pick Kerry

The educated activists are the base of both Dean and Kerry, and since both are NE, it wouldn't really broaden Dean's appeal.

[cjbuchanan]

2. Regarding Clark

If it were a Dean/Clark ticket, I do not think they would use Clark to attack Bush on Iraq. I think they would use him to shield the ticket from claims of being weak on the military. This would then focus the race on domestic issues and Bush & Co. do not want to run on domestic issues.

[Woodstock]

4. Clark would be a very strong voice about Iraq

He literally backs all of Dean's positions, and coming from a military man, that strengthens them. So I'd go the opposite of what you are saying.

[cjbuchanan]

19. Yes he does strengthen them

What I was trying to say is that I do not think they would make Iraq the central issue of the campaign. With Clark on the ticket (who felt the same way as Dean concerning Iraq) would protect them from the Repug attacks of being weak on defense and foreign matters. That would force a domestic issues campaign and Dean (or any other Dem) will have an easier time winning on these issues.

[Quahog]

15. Amen

I see Dean's biggest weakness (other than his predileciton for being a big meannie to DK) being his lack of experience with foreign relations, especially in the areas of defence and security. If it's not Clark, he'll have to pick someone who fills in this gap.

But yes, with a Dean/Clark combo, ShrubCo has nothing to run against.

[JVS]

3. He should pick Gephardt

He needs more credibility among unions, and Gephardt will bring out the vote in the Midwest (IO, MI, MN, WI) and the more western and northern parts of the South (Missouri, West Virginia)

[Woodstock]

5. Explain this to me about Gephardt

He was minority house leader, and we didn't do well in 2002. He stepped down. My impression is he was not a strong leader. Which is why I don't want to vote for him. How could he overcome this impression? Why am I wrong to think this way?

[JVS]

11. Because we don't have the luxury of being able to throw away good people

By that logic I could say I don't want to vote for Democrats in 2004 because we've lost before. Also to make Gephardt the scapegoat for a failure of the party in 2002 is an incorrect placement of blame on two grounds. I don't think that being minority leader of the house makes him responsible for the success of other representatives in the house. They all ran for re-election, Gephardt won his, several Democrats didn't. The other reason that that is wrong is that I see no indicator that he was in charge of setting party strategy, so why should he be held accountable for the failure of others. Furthermore, 2002 was an extremely bad situation for Democrats.

[Woodstock]

13. So you think people will make the connection

that he stepped down because he wanted to (presumably to have time to run for president)?

instead of

he failed in some way (which is the usual reason they step down)?

[JVS]

I doubt they'll remember that he was minority leader at all

What they will remember is that he's a familiar face. They'll remember that he used to be speaker of the house. They'll be comfortable with a Democrat who has had his name on the national level for over 10 years.

[JVS]

16. Oops

double post

[ryharrin]

22. You're wrong about Dean's lack of credibility with unions.

He was the second choice of many of Gep's union endorsements. He also beat him in the last Iowa poll among union households 29-25.

[JVS]

23. I didn't mean to imply that he was weak there

I'm glad to hear that he has good union credibility, but to me it is just not as strong as Gephardt's. To me Dean/Gephardt or Gephardt/Dean would be the best combo as long as it would end both the war and NAFTA. There is definitely a perception floating around that Dean in the "limosine liberal" candidate. I don't think that that is true, but it would be nice to balance the ticket with someone who didn't go to Yale.

[liberalnurse]

6. I like Dean/Clark but he has hinted

that he wants a Washington insider, Larry King Show....That would be Graham..... He also threw it out at the first debate in a flirting/joke-like fashion to Graham......

[Woodstock]

14. Graham would, of course, be good WRT Florida

I'm sure the thugs have BIG plans for cheating there, so to pull it off will need some help (especially for a Vermonter)?

[cjbuchanan]

21. He could also be referring to Edwards

He is from the South and knows Washington. Just putting that out there.

[RamboLiberal]

31. Washington Insider can also be Pentagon

Clark knows how the game is played there and he knows what happens in the halls of Congress.

[On the Road]

7. I Would Select Graham as VP

because of Florida. But more important than the VP candidate is that the campaign radiate hope and optimism rather than be characterized by attacks. Clinton could attack and be optimistic. If Dean can figure out a way to do the same, he'll win the election.

[realFedUp]

8. Senator Byrd

Just kidding, but that would be a cute couple and....outspoken.

[Terwilliger]

9. He should pick Kucinich

then he MIGHT have a chance of winning

[bitchkitty]

26. That's my dream ticket too -

I wish there were more of us who though so.

[jfkennedy]

10. drop out

He should then drop out for the good of the Party. Why? He cannot win against Bush. The same as Nader should of dropped out on election day for the good of the environment and liberalism and to keep the warmonger out of office.

After he drops out he should give it to Clark.

[Gringo]

12. You're entitled to your opinion

But I daresay, it ain't gonna happen. He's got a helluva lot of momentum, and if he gets the nom, he will take it and beat the snot out of the worst "president" ever.

If he loses, Kerry or whoever would be wise to pick him as a VP nominee.

I'm puzzled as to why you rhink he can't win. He's a more appealing candidate than Gore, and Gore won.

[VolcanoJen]

17. I think Clark would never accept a VP nom, but...

... he'd make one helluva Secretary of State or Defense.

No way in hell does the former SACEUR take marching orders as a VP. I think any general's ego is too big for Veep Lust.

- Jennifer

[Philosophy]

24. Do you really think Cheney is the one taking the orders?

He could be a trusted adviser just like Cheney, except he wouldn't spend all his time lurking in and pulling strings from an undisclosed location like some sort of sinister nosferatu.

[killbotfactory]

18. Dean/Graham with Clark as Sec. of Defense...

Anti-Iraq war triple-threat.

[DEM FAN]

20. Just Picture A Dean/Clark Team. WOW. That Would Be The BOMB.

:-)

[Snow]

25. Sharpton....

what a debater! what a rhetorician! ~sigh~ but not gonna happen.

[Zan_of_Texas]

28. and???

Max Cleland, former Senator of Georgia? (Who, in my opinion, won his state for Senate in 2002. But, they counted his votes on Diebold machines.)

Harken, Senator of Iowa?

I'm trying to think geographic diversity here.

I'd say Barbara Boxer of California....except -- I was impressed with her until I saw her interrogate Jeff Skilling at the Enron hearings. He was lying up one side and down the other, but (and I'm sad to say this) I thought she was outmaneuvered. Others differed in their analysis, but that was mine.

But, it would be great to get a big state on the ticket.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

27. Other....

There was not a choice on that list that would inspire me.
Third party? maybe... depends how it all shapes out.
Dean was a top choice of mine when I first started hearing about candidates and possible candidates. I had wanted Kucinich to run since Feb 2002 when he gave his speech, 'Prayer for America'.

So out of your choices I choose 'other'. None make me care anymore than if he didn't have a running mate.

If you had a choice for Dennis Kucinich I would have voted for that.


TWL

[Gringo]

30. I know that there's a lot of pro-Kucinich sentiment

And my heart is still with him (I even sent him a check a few months back), but after seeing his weak, passive performances on a number of talk shows, I've pretty much given up on him as a candidate. I love old-fashioned, fiery pro-labor liberal populism, but he is not the guy to sell it in the 24-hr. cable news era.

If he could perform when posed with questions as well as he does when he's preaching to the faithful (then he's at his best, quite inspiring.), he might be able to overcome his obvious "visual impairments" but nope, it ain't about to happen.

I did like the Tom Harken suggestion. I think Max Cleland would be more of a symbolic choice, only meaningful to activists and Georgians.

[indigo32]

29. After seeing Edwards last night

he has my vote for VP

[Gringo]

32. Kickin' this baby into the nite.

I might just e-mail this to the Dean blog folks!

[whirlygigspin]

33. pick Anne Richards as VP

and steal back Texas from Shrubron!

[ibegurpard]

34. Oh I love her!

I have despised shrub ever since he "took over" for her.