Do you think that Kerry could be a potential VP candidate in '08?

[WI_DEM]

Not for somebody like Clinton (Can't have two nominees from the NE), but how about with Gore? or Obama? or Vilsack? or Richardson? or Clark? or somebody like that. His experience is impressive.

[rockymountaindem]

1. I said no, but I do think he would make an excellent candidate

for Sec. of State or Attorney General. I think he could have a greater impact there. Plus, since Mass. now has Gov. Patrick to fill his seat, he'll be free to take one of those jobs without putting one of our Senate seats at risk.

[Perky]

4. Kerry adds zip to a national ticket electorally.

Unless sou think he could help solidify our tenuous hold on Massachusetts?

[WI_DEM]

5. on the other hand some people say that Obama needs someone with

more experience than he to be his running mate (if he were nominated) and certainly Kerry would qualify there. What did Cheney of Wyoming add to the Bush '00 ticket? he was brought in to add stature to the ticket--of course Obama has a lot more stature than the chimp did. And it can't be underestimated the fact that he won more votes for president than any other candidate and certainly has a strong core of supporters nationally. That is the pro arguement. You gave the con arguement which is regionally he doesn't add anything.

[SteppingRazor]

2. I guess my first thought would be, "why?"

What does having John Kerry on the ticket as a V-P add to a ticket?

No Democrat desperately needs a northeasterner to pull in the Northeast vote. He's got good foreign policy expertise -- but then, so does Richardson, and he's from the Southwest and also Hispanic.

I could see a Kerry presidential run, but I just don't see any other presidential candidate adding him to a ticket -- whatever substantive things he offers, there are others that offer even more. :shrug:

[BOSSHOG]

3. Attorney General John Kerry, please issue the subpoenas

Yes President Clark.

[jobycom]

6. I think so, and I think he'd do it. Maybe for Clinton, but probably not.

There are two tactics to picking a VP. One is to ick someone who balances your ticket, hopefully regionally as well as ideologically and demographically. Kerry picked Edwards, Gore picked Satan, etc. The other way is to pick a genuine superstar to augment your own strengths, as Clinton and, in a lesser way, Bush, did. Clinton and Gore were strong southern politicians in the same age group and with similar social agendas. The combination strengthened their message and their appeal to a younger age group. It also strengthened their appeal in the south, where the Democrats had to fight hardest to win. It paid off perfectly.

Clinton choosing Kerry would combine two national superstars, so regional appeal wouldn't be as important. Ideologically they are similar but not identical (and both are far more liberal than the Swiftboaters around here want people to think). Kerry gives Clinton some solidity, and a military presence on the ticket. They might even get some mileage from arguing that they both were "fooled" by Bush on Iraq, but both saw the mistake. They could augment that message.

I don't think that's a perfect combination, though. They have similar negatives--mainly the created perception on the right that both are old 60s hippie protestors who flip-flop. False perceptions, obviously, but they would spend a lot of time overcoming it. It could work, but I'm not sure that's the best combination. However, who knows what will change by 2008.

For other candidates, Kerry adds a solidity and superstar quality to the ticket. This is good unless he looks better than the head of the ticket. He would pair well with Gore, Clark, or Obama, I think. I don't know enough about Vilsack. Richardson... dunno. I don't expect him to be in the picture by election time, though he'd be a valuable advisor.

Just my thoughts. Probably wrong, as always. I might not agree with them myself in a few hours. :)

[Mass]

7. I hope not. Vice President is a role that does not matter when the president has

a huge ego. And presidents have huge ego.

[sandnsea]

8. Probably no

Unless someone like Obama decided to really take on all the criminal shit this country has been involved in.