Early Prediction: It's going to be Obama/Sibelius vs McCain/Pawlenty

zulchzulu

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Fri May-09-08 01:37 PM
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Early Prediction: It's going to be Obama/Sibelius vs McCain/Pawlenty

Obama's choice would appeal to the midwest, women, disappointed Hillary Clinton supporters and would not outstage him. She's not the loudest speaker, but with the full throated attack on Roe vs Wade as McCain's challenge to appeal to the Repigious Reich, she can certainly hold her own on that issue.

Here's a glimpse of the spin:

One of the key reasons Kansas Democrats are in fighting mood is their governor, Kathleen Sibelius. Sibelius's vote represents an island of Democratic blue in a sea of Republican red on the political map, and she has impressed by reaching the middle-ground voters in a startlingly successful first term. Shunning the hot-button social issues, she has focused on education, jobs and health. This has earned her approval ratings touching 68 per cent in a state that was overwhelmingly pro-Bush in 2004.

Sibelius has cracked the political holy grail: persuading heartland Republicans to vote Democrat. 'Her style works here, and then bringing over Parkinson to the Democrats has been the coup of all coups,' said Professor Bob Beatty, a political scientist at Washburn University near Topeka.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jun/25/usa.paulharris

I'd like Jim Webb or Richardson as VP, but they can be strong cabinet members...

McCain will choose Minnesota's governor, Tim Pawlenty as his VP. He's younger, has campaigned for McCain in the primaries, or as this site (warning: it's a tad red):

Pawlenty's low-key, regular-guy persona has gone over so well with suburbanites inclined to vote for "Minnesota nice," and Pawlenty would probably go over better with female voters than a crusty old-timer like Fred Thompson or Phil Gramm.

http://www.redstate.com/stories/elections/2008/meet_tim_pawlenty

A little more into Pawlenty's schtick:

At CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference), Pawlenty laid out what he calls his �Sam�s Club conservatism,� which he contrasts with �country club conservatism.� He says that his vision is necessary to confront �new political realities�:

�The country is changing,� Pawlenty says. �Socially, demographically, economically, technologically. And that doesn�t mean that you throw your principles that you built your party on, your philosophy on, out the window�you just have to make sure they are translated into terms�relevant in the political marketplace of today, not to mention tomorrow.�

http://ww3.startribune.com/kerstenblog/?cat=36

He also gets the so-called Pro-Life nod:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is drawing praise from pro-life advocates for his appointment of Eric Magnuson as the next chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. The state's high court has been a thorn in the side of pro-life groups for years for a 1995 decision requiring the state to pay for abortions with tax dollars.

(snip)

"This is the fourth appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court by pro-life Governor Tim Pawlenty and we are pleased with his appointments," Fischbach said. "Governor Pawlenty has been a strong pro-life Governor signing into law our Woman's Right to Know law.

http://www.newsbull.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=59370

Hey, I could be wrong. I think it's certainly possible. It's also time for Democrats to start focusing on this opportunity to kick the Republicans' butts up and down the voting tally in the fall.