Posted on 03/17/2008 11:32:53 AM PDT by SmithL
After last week's developments on the campaign trail, it seems highly unlikely that Barack Obama would agree to be Hillary Clinton's vice presidential running mate.
But would Harold Ford Jr.?
Several days ago, Clinton's campaign floated the idea of selecting Obama as her running mate as a way of keeping Democrats unified in the November election.
Obama shot that idea down the day before his win last week in the Mississippi primary.
So if Clinton were to win the nomination, where else might she turn to find a running mate who could appeal to Obama's supporters, who include large numbers of young people and African-Americans?
Ford, chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council and a former congressman from Memphis, just might fit the bill.
"I wouldn't call it likely, but it's not a ridiculous proposition, either," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.
Sabato said Ford's moderate voting record during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives would probably be viewed as a plus.
"In the country as a whole, he would probably be seen as one of the three or four most moderate African-American members of the House," Sabato said.
Robin Smith, chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, agreed that Ford would be a middle-of-the-road choice.
"He's not near the far-left liberal that Barack Obama is," Smith said.
But Ford also has several strikes against him.
Bruce Oppenheimer, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University, notes that Ford lost his most recent election for a U.S. Senate seat almost two years ago.
Also, the troubles of other members of Ford's family might be a liability under the intense scrutiny of a national campaign.
Oppenheimer said Clinton might not gain much strategic benefit by picking Ford, anyway.
Although Ford might increase African-American turnout at the polls, Oppenheimer said those voters would be likely to support Clinton anyway.
From a demographic standpoint, Oppenheimer said Clinton might fare better by picking a Hispanic candidate who could help carry some important swing states.
From a geographic standpoint, Ford might not be the best choice, either.
Tennessee has a relatively paltry 11 electoral votes. Given recent voting trends, Republicans are likely to carry Tennessee.
Oppenheimer said a running mate from an expected battleground state like Ohio would be a safer pick. Even within the South, Oppenheimer said Florida and Virginia are much more likely to be in play than Tennessee is.
And, of course, in order for Clinton to be in a position to select Ford, she would first have to overtake Obama's lead in the delegate count and win the nomination. Smith thinks that could be the biggest barrier of all.
"When you look at the (political) landscape, the odds are not in (Clinton's) favor," he said.
If conventional wisdom holds, Obama wouldn't choose Ford because a ticket with two African-American candidates might be deemed too politically risky.
(Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen has also been mentioned as a possible Democratic vice presidential candidate, but he's considered a long shot for some of the same reasons Ford is.)
If Ford were to be selected as a vice presidential running mate, it would be a major breakthrough in his political career.
Although he's well regarded in many Democratic circles, winning a statewide election in a predominantly Republican state remains a formidable challenge for him.
A spot on the Democratic presidential ticket would give him a chance to vault onto the national stage, which, win or lose, could further his future political ambitions.
Ford said he's not waiting by the phone for a call from Clinton's camp, though.
While Ford says he's flattered by speculation that he could be a vice presidential candidate, he's just focusing his attention on helping whoever wins the Democratic nomination.
"It's the last thing on my mind," Ford said, noting that neither campaign has talked to him about the vice presidential spot.
But, to coin a phrase, if nominated, would he run? If elected, would he serve?
"Would you turn down an opportunity to be vice president?" Ford asked rhetorically.
Enough said.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Yep! No corruption associated with that name................
Get that drunk Ford to do it. She’s a hoot.
If I was Harold Ford, Jr., I would be pissed.
This is truly pandering racism of the worst order.
Which drunk Ford?
You know. That drunk Ford woman.
Is there more than one?
LOL.....Obama stunt double!
Ophelia and a bag of chips!
Anybody got that CSpan video of Ford, Jr coming ‘across the aisle’ after Jeanne Schmidt when she was making her statement to John Murtha. Very unbecoming of a gentleman!
The inmates have taken over the asylum, and we are going to have to storm the building.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Harold Ford: the other black meat?
I would like to see that.
Yeah but he and Bill would be able to go out and do the town right....
Harold “I’m really black even though I look white” Ford Jr.
It won’t do her any good in Tennessee. We already rejected Jr in 2006.
You don’t know Junior, dude. The guy is every inch as dangerous as Obama. Total fraud.
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