WaPo: Obama's Veep Vetting Enters New Stage, more candidates being exposed to "deeper dig."

[jefferson_dem]

Obama's Veep Vetting Enters New Stage

Barack Obama's vice presidential vetting process has moved into a new stage in which a larger than previously reported group of candidates is being exposed to a "deeper dig" into their backgrounds -- in the words of a source familiar with the process.

The hard vetting involves follow-ups to lingering questions about candidates' backgrounds and clarifications of their stands on issues. While the process is intensifying, the fact that the number of potential candidates still being considered is larger than generally believed, suggests that no decision is imminent, just 26 days before the opening of the Democratic National Convention.

It also runs counter to much-publicized comments by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine Tuesday that "there has been a long list. It seems to be getting shorter."

The spate of meetings between Obama and his vetting team this week in Washington were designed to brief Obama on the loose ends that the group is chasing down concerning various candidates rather than some sort of conclusive gathering in which a choice is settled upon.

No one The Fix spoke to for this story would confirm the names being subjected to the "deeper dig." Speculation over the past 48 hours has zeroed in on three names -- Kaine, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden -- but the idea of a wider list of potential veeps suggests that names like Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, former Sen. Sam Nunn and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (among others) are still in the mix.

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http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/07/obamas_veep_vetting_enters_new.html

[babylonsister]

1. Love it. No one knows nothing at this point, not even Obama.

But keep guessing! :crazy:

[tekisui]

5. In the meantime, a lot of good Dems are getting wide National exposure.

Kaine on Charlie Rose last night came across as well-informed, sharp and strong in convictions.

They are keeping the focus on the Dems, and will ultimately make a winning choice.

[babylonsister]

6. I watched that, and thought it was a great profile of Kaine. I now

feel like I know a lot more about him, and I liked him. But ultimately, it is Obama's choice. I'm just excited at the possibilities.

[Rowdyboy]

2. Good to hear.....there's no rush and we have to live with the choice

for a long, long time.

[Kber]

9. maybe as long as 16 years.

I believe Obama will be elected. I believe his administration will be largely successful and he will be re-elected.

I believe that his VP will be able to springboard off the success of the Obama administration to his / her own election at the top of the ticket in 8 years.

And I believe that Obama will do a good enough job in picking a running mate that the person will be able to succeed on his / her own merits and get re-elected.

That's what I believe.

[Rowdyboy]

11. We're on the same wave length....I want a 16 year break from

Republicans, the religious right and neo-conservatives.

[Kber]

15. Let's see.

in 16 years, I'll be 10 years from retirement.

My son (going into the 6th grade in September), will have graduated from college, maybe even have a master's degree and be in the workforce. He might even be married and have a kid or two.

My daughter will be just heading off to college.

A lot can happen in the next 16 years that could make their lives easier, or harder. Frankly, the last 8 have been kinda tough.

[Inuca]

3. Is the campaign sending

confusing messages on purpose or is the media just being the media? Or both. Sit down and enjoy the spectacle :-).

[saltpoint]

4. Just for fun, let's say that all the above names are still alive as options,

and let's add some wild (and not-so-wild) cards:

Bob Casey (Don't tell me, 'But Old Crusoe, you fool, he's a Senator,' because I already know he's a Senator. Rendell would replace him with a Democrat; we retain the seat.)

Brian Schweitzer (Don't know if Jag would greenlight a Schweitzer pick. Jag likely would feel fenced in in DC. Just the same, I really love the Governor of Montana.)

Bob Graham (Ok, he's a borderline OCD, but if Obama is going for someone who can walk into a group of older voters and reassure them that an Obama White House would not abandon them the way Bush has abandoned so many sectors of the population, Graham could be a huge plus. Obama is more vulnerable to older voters than he'd probably like to be. Graham could be The Assuager. Plus Florida voters like him.)

Tom Harkin (Democratic Iowa Governor replaces him with a Dem; seat retained. Harkin plays hard and could smack the Republicans around but he's Huck Finn with an education and good ADLs and from a state we want back in blue from Bush's red in 04.)

Kathleen Sebelius is listed in your post, and I think her chances are rising, not falling. She doesn't have as good a dog as Schweitzer, but who does? She should get a dog, which would add to all the other strong positives she'd bring.

Feingold, RFK Jr, Boxer, Moyers, Mario Cuomo, and a handful of others of demonstrable progressive merit would appear to have no practical chance of being asked onto the ticket, but for dull political reasons and not because they would not loyally serve a President Obama. IMO he needs the benefit of their counsel, if not as his vice president then possibly as Special Appointments. The more good minds and good hearts in the White House, the better off we all are.

[babylonsister]

7. Snort!

See, no one knows! But you love the guessing game! You have more people on that possible list than I've even thought about, OC.
Fer instance, Cuomo hasn't even endorsed Obama. MAybe he won't til he's selected as VP? :silly:

[saltpoint]

8. LOL! Yep. Maybe Mario thought Obama should ask for his

endorsement, or maybe someone on one of their staffs fumbled the exchange, or -- and this is getting into some serious fictional speculaton -- maybe Mario wanted Obama to choose HRC so that son Andrew could run for that seat.

I think he'll come around with the endorsement.

I'm thinking Mario Cuomo is listening to the same news interviews we are and when McCain comes on, he probably lunges for the remote and switches to I LOVE LUCY reruns. And I wouldn't blame him one bit!


:hi:

[Inuca]

10. I wonder more and more

if in the end it's not going to be a name barely or not at all mentioned during all the insane chatter. Oh, the fun Caroline K and Holder and the rest of the small group that actually KNOW must have seing what's going on :-).

[babylonsister]

12. I love the fact that it's really such a secret!

We're all going to be surprised, I'm thinking.

[windbreeze]

13. It seems we were told, to ignore any names that came up just a couple weeks ago

because no info would be coming from his campaign regarding his VP?....that's why all the speculation cracks me up...the names we hear are being floated by the MSM...not Obama...imo he's being very, very selective, and very, very careful, because he intends to win...he's not exactly an idiot...he sees what he's been subjected to so far, and realizes he has to take special care not to give them ANY ammunition with his pick...wb

[Barack_America]

14. I no longer think it will be Kaine.

They've blown the narrative. If it were to have been Kaine, it would've happened yesterday. Now that it's there prematurely, the narrative is going to lose its power.

But good on Kaine for playing ball to distract the media attention from McCain's BS. I do believe that Kaine will find a home in the administration in some capacity, but likely after he finishes his term.

I could be wrong about an Obama/Kaine ticket, but I don't think so.

I don't know who my top pick would be now. I strongly believe in the "Washington outsider" idea. And I'm strogly opposed to removing another Dem from the Senate. So, I don't know, I guess I'd say Dean?

[TwilightGardener]

16. MSNBC is still operating under the assumption that Jack Reed is a possibility--

I don't know if they didn't hear him say he wouldn't accept the offer, or if they know something?