Congressional Insiders Poll of VP Choices -- Hillary Clinton way ahead

[highplainsdem]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/ip_20080712_8276.php

Congressional Insiders Poll
by Richard E. Cohen and Peter Bell

Sat. Jul 12, 2008


Q: Whom would you like to see as your party's vice presidential nominee?

Democrats (39 votes)

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 35 percent
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland 10 percent
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine 8 percent
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson 8 percent
Sen. Joseph Biden 6 percent
Sen. Christopher Dodd 5 percent
Rep. Chet Edwards 5 percent
Former Vice President Al Gore 5 percent

Also receiving votes: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, former Sen. John Edwards, Rep. Jane Harman, former Sen. Bob Graham, retired Gen. Claudia Kennedy, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, and "no idea," 3 percent each.

Clinton

"That would be the most exciting team in history. Young people, African-Americans, women, and Latinos would set new voting-participation records. It would be great for our democracy."

"She's strong for him in each area where he's weak."

"If he picks Hillary, the visual of the two standing side by side will unite the party like no other possible vice presidential pick."

"Her strengths among women, working families, and Latino voters will be critical to a Democratic victory in November."

Strickland

-snip-

Democratic Congressional Insiders Sens. Sherrod Brown, Ben Cardin, Thomas Carper, Christopher Dodd, Edward Kennedy, Frank Lautenberg, Barbara Mikulski, Mark Pryor, Ken Salazar, Jon Tester; Reps. Tom Allen, Robert Andrews, Michael Arcuri, Tammy Baldwin, Melissa Bean, Xavier Becerra, Howard Berman, Marion Berry, Rick Boucher, Michael Capuano, Dennis Cardoza, Chris Carney, James Clyburn, Jim Cooper, Joseph Crowley, Elijah Cummings, Artur Davis, Diana DeGette, Rosa DeLauro, Eliot Engel, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, Chaka Fattah, Bob Filner, Alcee Hastings, Mike Honda, Steve Israel, Jim Langevin, John Lewis, Zoe Lofgren, Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Ed Markey, Jim McDermott, Jim McGovern, Kendrick Meek, Jim Moran, David Price, Silvestre Reyes, Jan Schakowsky, Jose Serrano, Adam Smith, John Spratt, Pete Stark, John Tanner, Ellen Tauscher, Bennie Thompson, Chris Van Hollen, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Henry Waxman, and Peter Welch.

The poll also has choices for the Republican VP, and Romney's ahead, but not nearly as far ahead of the other choices as Clinton is among the Democratic choices.

[adoraz]

1. doesn't surprise me, but I don't think it means much

If this were a one on one, say Biden vs. Clinton or something, I think the results would have Biden out in front.

Hillary has a very strong fanbase, but also a very strong base against her. None of those other candidates have as big fanbases, but then again most of them aren't as hated as Hillary.

[patrice]

2. Don''t you suppose some of those folks HAVE to say that?

Also, how many of them are STILL trying to CYA on IWR?

I like Senator Clinton's "move to the Left" on FISA, but there are Democratic CAPITULATION issues STILL on the table and I WILL BE VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED IF OBAMA PICKS SENATOR CLINTON.

[joshcryer]

11. Yes, there was a theme during the primaries, of being a Hillary hater rather than an Obama supporter

...that theme continues.

[patrice]

12. I am not a Hillary hater. I have serious rational reasons for wanting to see her influence in our

party modified. I know that they ARE Political Critters, BUT political expediency at the price of the Commonweal MUST end and there's NO way for me to make that point if I temporize my attitude toward Senator Clinton.

[Colobo]

3. Not surprised, and Sen. Clinton is a strong choice.

[ErinBerin84]

4. VP speculation is fun, but in some ways, its annoying to me and it will be nice when we finally know

It makes me feel like after he picks the VP, all of the threads are going to be about how he made a brilliant choice, or how he made a horrible choice, etc. I wasn't here in 2004, is this what happened when John Kerry picked Edwards? I'm sure I'll be fine with whoever he chooses, it's his decision.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Congressional "Insiders" are the LAST bunch whose opinions I want influencing this deal.

Except for Freepers, wingnuts, and hardcore junkie pedophiles.

[Rageneau]

6. Obama does not dare name a blatant racist like Hillary as his VP.

During the Primary, I read countless posts here at DU (and heard countless comments in the MSM) to the effect that Hillary is far too dishonest, phoney, hateful and racist to be allowed to serve in ANY public office -- much less as VP.

Either the DU posters who said such things were wrong or they were right.

If the DU posters who hurled endless insults at the Clintons were WRONG, then they all -- each, individually -- owe the Clintons a public apology.

But if those DU posters were right -- if they stand by their previous statements and don't apologize for them -- then Hillary has forever disqualified herself to serve as VP by virtue of her overt racism.

One can't have it both ways -- unless one is a hypocrite.

Is one?

[highplainsdem]

7. I supported Clinton, and didn't say any of those negative things about her, and don't believe them.

Oh, and you left out all the silly posts by DUers suggesting she and Bill are homicidal, the sort of posts I alerted on again and again.

Her colleagues know better, of course, and they know she's a good choice for VP, and judging by that poll, most would think she's the best choice for VP. They also are very aware of what it takes to get elected, and what an Obama/Clinton ticket could do for Congressional races.

[Beacool]

10. Ahhhhhhhh yes, hypocrisy.....................

I used that word a lot during the primary. Hillary didn't pass the purity test for some, but who was the one who voted correctly on FISA??????

[patrice]

14. ?!?!?!?!!!! OF COURSE one can have it both ways on the Internet. Were these folks you refer to posti

ng under their own names?

Surely you're not so naive as to believe that such posts ARE in fact genuine. What is YOUR intent in, apparently, pretending that whatever you read was real?

[depakid]

8. "Congressional insiders?" You mean the 9% ers?

It takes hard work and immense political acumen to drive your public approval ratings to less than half of Bush's, so I'm sure their preferences will be accorded all the consideration that they're due.

[Egnever]

9. no surprise there

They are having trouble getting much of anything right the last few years why screw that up now?

[AtomicKitten]

13. indeed