Obama Bayh is like Clinton Gore

[JI7]

i think Obama might pick Bayh based on the Clinton Gore strategy except Obama's will be more of a midwest appeal while Clinton Gore were more southern.

Bayh is viewed as boring like Gore was at the time. both are sons of Senators who were liberals and defeated in conservative states. Bayh like Gore is seen as a conservative Senator. i think both even went to the same private school. but they have a record and background that most would say makes them ready to be President.

Obama and Clinton are kind of similar in that their mother was a major influence in their lives. more than their father(Clinton didn't even know his). Obama had a better and more stable childhood though while Clinton's was more sad(abusive step father). both were also raised by grandparents.

Clinton Gore were from neighboring states just as Obama Bayh are.

i'm not sure if OBama will pick Bayh, but if he does i think a big reason will be it's similarity to the Clinton Gore model.

one thing Bayh lacks that Gore had was strong support for any liberal cause. even while Gore was conservative a big issue for him was the environment. and yes he was a big reason for the internet even though he didn't invent it(and never claimed to). Bayh doesn't seem to have any of this.

[Bucky]

1. I'll accept Bayh if Obama makes me, but I'd bet good money it won't be him.

I'd put my money on Biden or Kaine. Even if Obama-Kaine sounds like an over-the-counter topical pain ointment.

[tekisui]

3. Kaine said he's out of the frame, and he very highly doubts it'll be him.

That leaves Biden!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

16. Bwahaha!

That's hilarious- "Obama- Kaine." That's like "lidocaine"

[vi5]

2. I don't like it one bit, but then again...

I didn't like Clinton picking Gore either. I just remembered Gore mostly from Tipper's exploits on the Parents committee for censoring bad words or whatever the hell that atrocity she was involved in during the 80's was.

So maybe my instincts aren't particularly correct on Bayh either, although I just think he's much more conservative than Gore ever was.

[JI7]

4. i feel the same way

that's why i hope it's not him but the reasons i listed are why i think he would pick him.

another thing Bayh lacks (or at least i haven't seen from him) is Gore's ability to be tough and an attack dog. this is where i think Biden would do well.

[vi5]

6. I don't care for Biden either but I can see the logic...

Biden is a good attack dog when he wants to be. The problem is that I don't always agree with his assesements of when he should or shouldn't be an attack dog.

I don't like Biden all that much but I can live with him as VP and definitely see the wisdom in doing so.

[Cosmocat]

5. He is better than Gore ...

IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TIME FRAME ...

Bayh has EXCEPTIONAL experience ... Not only a senator, but a VERY successful two term governor ...

I agree totally with the OP's premise of the regional appeal ... BO has a clear power zone around Illinois and Bayh would help to double down on it ...

I repeat in relation to the math - hold the Kerry states, win Iowa and Indiana, and the game is over ... Look at a map, Indiana is next to Iowa, Michigan, Ohio ...

People have gone off totally half cocked about Bayh here, making him into some kind of heretic ...

EVERY D goes off the reservation on SOME issues at some point ... Bayh is no more off the reservation than half the other Ds ... He is a D who has to REPRESENT an R state ...

[JI7]

7. but what do you think of the contrasts i made , i think those are huge

such as Gore's ability to be tough and an attack dog and actually having a record of commitment to a liberal issue like the environment.

Bayh doesn't have any of this. can he be an attack dog the way Gore was ?

do you have any links to Bayh talking tough against hte Republicans ?

[tedoll78]

10. Looking at the map..

I've come around strongly in Bayh's favor. Most of Kerry's weakest states were in the midwest, so a midwestern-themed ticket can help hold those. And if Bayh can boost Obama a few percentage points in Ohio and Indiana, I wouldn't object one bit to him being on the ticket.

[chiefofclarinet]

14. Probably not Iowa...

Most of your post makes sense, though many here will not agree with it. I have one problem with it. Bayh will not help us win Iowa.

Iowa and Indiana have basically no relations. The only times Indianans come to Iowa is for college sports. We in Iowa don't really consider Indiana a Midwest state. We aren't touching either; there's Obama's state of Illinois in the way. Evan Bayh may be good for reclaiming Ohio or holding Michigan, but it's a real stretch to say that Iowa will be helped.

[Mass]

8. But we are not in 1992. Big foreign policy challenges are part of the issues that matter

and we need people who know about that and are not close on the Lieberman side of the question.

I can see why Bayh makes sense with his moderate stance and his experience, but we need somebody who inspire confidence, and while I have been very reluctant until now to advocate for a strong foreign policy profile, between Musharaff resigning and the various crisis around the world, I have come reluctantly to think we need one, and, among the people thought to be in the short list, Biden is the best.

[JI7]

9. Bayh is viewed as having foreign policy experience

not as much as Biden is, but i don't think people would view him as not having any experience the way they might with some Governors like Tim Kaine or some freshman Senators.

i do agree that Biden would be the best choice. in 1992 foreign policy was not a top issue.

[Mass]

11. Oh, I agree that Bayh makes more sense than some names that are pushed around

by the media. I've always found him a serious contender.

However, I do not see how Obama gets from saying that the Iraq War is a question of judgment to choosing somebody who not only voted the IWR, but is one of the sponsors and a member of the Iraq Liberation Committee, next to McCain and Lieberman, and has never said he was wrong on these issues.

As much as I can see the attraction of Bayh's resume and local profile, it seems to me that it would take a real logical jujitsu to fit him in Obama's narrative.

[terrya]

12. We'd lose a Senate seat if Bayh was chosen.

I don't think it will be Bayh. Bayh's Senate seat would go to a Republican if Bayh was chosen.

[mdmc]

13. Yuck

Whatever Obama decides is fine. Whatever.
I think of it more in terms of Kerry Edwards.
Edwards didn't add anything to the ticket. He was just filler.
If we win with Bayh due to swing states in the midwest, then I am wrong.

[Avalux]

15. So much for change then. n/t

[YOY]

17. Oh yes...we so need a DLCer...

:sarcasm:

[peoli]

18. Obama Bayh is like Clinton Quayle!

[Phoonzang]

19. If he helps Obama then so be it but I think

Bayh may be a bit....soft. He won't be an attack dog. He needs a vicious attack dog to hammer McCain while he continues his high road act.

[Douglas Carpenter]

20. Evan Bayh is a dangerous and irresponsible foreign policy neoconservative extremist

I really find it outrageous the suggestion that putting a fringe foreign policy neoconservative like Bayh on the ticket will not cause a tremendous liability. And somehow the public will never pick up on it. What a mockery this will make of Sen. Obama's entire critique of the Bush/McCain foreign policy legacy if Sen. Obama had a running mate who saw eye to eye with Bush/McCain and shared their same worldview and policy goals. What a joke this would make the slogan, "Change that we can believe in".

Evan Bayh is such a foreign policy extremist that one of his biggest problems with the current Iraq War seems to be that he worries that in might prevent a war with Iran.
http://washingtonindependent.com/view/stop-obama-bayh-08

----

"This is a hallmark of Evan Bayh. A former chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council and a past recipient Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson Award for Distinguished Service from the neoconservative security think tank JINSA."

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/02/03/evan_bayh_tough_but_smart.php

-----

Evan Bayh was one of the earliest and most enthusiastic cheerleaders along with Sen. McCain and Sen. Lieberman and the whole crew of the neoconservative click for the War in Iraq.

"The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq (CLI) is pleased to welcome Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) as an Honorary Co-Chairman. Bayh becomes the third U.S. Senator to join the committee after Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced their participation on January 28.

The Committee is a neo-con group that was formed to propagandize the country into war. It boasted such illustrious neocon members as Bill Kristol, former CIA director James Woolsey, and even McCain senior foreign policy and Chalabi-bamboozler Randy Scheunemann, whom Josh has been blogging about."

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/bayh_as_veep_he_cochaired_wing.php

[cdavid]

21. Is Pelosi helping Obama?

I was shocked when I read Pelosi said of Obama, "a leader that God has blessed us with at this time."

GOD? Is she now working for the GOP? This pandering is whats making me more independent daily.

[TwilightGardener]

22. Agreed--it would be a solid ticket. Bayh helps shore Obama up without overpowering

the ticket. I dread Biden. I don't think he's nearly as bright as people make him out to be, and he's going to shove his foot in his mouth big time, if given the national attention he craves.