Posted on 06/23/2008 8:10:53 PM PDT by Coleus
Jack Kakolewski of Ridgewood chipped in $250 for Bill Bradley's bid for the presidency, convinced that he was an authentic antidote to a country weary from the Clinton-era scandals. Nine years later, Kakolewski remains a Backer of Bill — this time as a possible running mate for Barack Obama, the likely Democratic nominee for president. "He is a thoughtful and independent thinker,'' said Kakolewski, a marital therapist, who was unaware of the Bradley for VP buzz that started in a newsletter last week and continues to churn in political cyberspace.
"I think we need a moderate perspective and a change in the country. He is very straightforward, willing to take an unpopular position, even against party ideology,'' he added. Kakolewski (whose first choice would be Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware) may not have realized it, but he made the case against an Obama-Bradley ticket. Obama is a self-styled "change agent" — why would he need another one on the ticket? Obama already has won the hearts of the educated, liberal, affluent bastions of Ridgewood, Montclair and Princeton, Bradley's key supporters from nine years ago.
"I have to wonder whether or not it makes sense to put two people on the ticket with such high IQs,'' said Senate President Dick Codey a longtime Bradley supporter who was New Jersey chairman of his 2000 presidential campaign. And there is another practical consideration. Vice presidential candidates are often picked to boost prospects in large, electoral states, but where the presidential candidate's support is soft. Obama is touted, at this point, to carry blue New Jersey.
Bradley was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Obama, endorsing him as he entered a grueling make-or-break match with Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. Since then, Bradley, the Hall of Fame basketball star, has lent his gravitas and star power to the Obama campaign, serving as a surrogate on the stump and on television. Last week, Nick Acocella, publisher of PolitifaxNJ, a popular newsletter, wrote that a former Democratic governor from another state told him that Bradley was high on Obama's list and was the preferred choice of chief strategist David Axelrod.
That tidbit was quickly picked up by political Web sites and blogs. Attempts to reach Bradley on Monday were unsuccessful, and the Obama campaign did not respond to a request for comment. But Rick Wright, Bradley's former campaign manager and personal friend, said he was not aware of any effort by the Obama campaign to discuss or vet Bradley for the vice presidential post. Still, the issue keeps perking up. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer didn't reject the possibility of a Bradley VP candidacy when asked about it at an appearance in Paramus on Monday.
"There's no doubt he could be president and many supported him for president when he ran, so I think that would be a choice the American public would certainly respond favorably to," Hoyer said during an event with 5th District congressional candidate Dennis Shulman. To some Democrats, Obama-Bradley would be a dream team: two independent-minded, progressive wonks with star power, who are not easily shoehorned into partisan casting.
Bradley is unafraid to be blunt, to unspool complicated policy on the stump (often to his detriment); Obama is far more polished, but inspirational. Bradley is a dullard with credibility; Obama the orator is still trying to prove his. Bradley established his reputation as a cut-against-the-grain moderate, who compiled impressive record of working across the partisan divide to craft significant accomplishments, such as the acclaimed 1986 overhaul of the federal tax code.
That reputation of independence could neutralize the maverick credentials of Republican John McCain, the likely GOP nominee. But political analysts say there are plenty of strategic factors working against Bradley. Obama needs to bolster support among women, Hispanics and blue-collar voters.
Obama also needs to shore up support among voters nervous about his lack of foreign policy experience. Under that scenario, the top choices would be Clinton, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who is Hispanic, and Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, a decorated veteran and former Navy secretary. And then, there is another reason: Bradley's star power has dimmed since he was thumped by Al Gore in the 2000 primary.
Despite working for an investment house and lecturing, Bradley has been off the radar. He's a well-respected relic that would need to be dusted off and reintroduced. As Larry Sabato, the political analyst and author from the University of Virginia said Monday: "It would be more going back, than going into the future." E-mail: stile@northjersey.com
Well he sure does satify the boring white guy qualifier.
Doesn’t Bradley have worse heart problems than Cheney?
How about Bill Bradley’s jowls ? They make Jabba the Hutt’s look like Amy Winehouse’s.
Does every has-been got his own veep article?
How about Gary Hart?
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