Gephart to retire in 2005, Kerry asks McCain to reconsider his offer as VP

[Shermy]

After the meeting Edwards said this:

"Senator Kerry has made clear that he wants that whole process to be quiet and confidential, which I think is the correct way to do it," Edwards told reporters earlier in the day. "Because of that I'm silent."

[capt. norm]

I had never thought about that. Whoever he chooses will know that he was Kerry's second choice.

Or lower on the scale than that if you consider how many times he has asked McCain.

[spoiler2]

Sounds like the interview wasn't that positive......

[twigs]

I think it's entirely possible that Hillary suspected this too and was trying to spin the capture as a manipulative and planned timing for the election.

[Shermy]

Sounds like the interview wasn't that positive......

Seemed to be a clear knock down.

[wyattearp]

"Rap is to music what the Etch-A-Sketch is to art"

Obviously, you've never seen what I can do with an Etch-A-Sketch!

[TexasCajun]

So Kerry thinks the best man for the job is a Republican, too funny!

[1Old Pro]

I think it's entirely possible that Hillary suspected this too and was trying to spin the capture as a manipulative and planned timing for the election.

Hillary would probably hold OBL until the weekend before the election even if he were caught months earlier. She's devious. Thus, she thinks everyone else is evil too. She's a sick woman.

[Kenton]

I had never thought about that. Whoever he chooses will know that he was Kerry's second choice.

Second choice after a Republican!

[twigs]

I can understand McCain turning down the VP spot, because he currently has a much better job and could get a good position in a Kerry administration. But Edwards? He has even moved to the DC area. He had to give up his Senate seat to run for president and it looked like he might not have won it anyway. The Clintons, from what I remember, suggested that he move to DC and hang tight. I would think that the VP would be most advantageous to him, unless the Clintons have something else for him up their sleeve.

[Alberta's Child]

Serving as VP is a good stepping-stone to the White House. Being on a losing ticket as a VP candidate is generally a political death knell.

Think of how quickly people like Geraldine Ferraro, Lloyd Bentsen, Dan Quayle, and Jack Kemp disappeared from public view. And the only three losing VP candidates in the last 30 years who actually pursued White House bids all went down to humiliating defeat in future elections or primary campaigns (Dole in 1996, who was Ford's running mate in 1976; Mondale in 1984, who was Carter's VP; and Lieberman in 2004, who was Gore's running mate in 2000).

[GiveEmDubya]

I tell ya, even my liberal friends don't like Kerry (and these people despise Bush)--it seems they can't find themselves voting for him. I've been telling them that if they can't vote for Bush, vote for Nader (the best we can do given the circumstances) but some were leaning towards staying home.

Then again, I'm a New Yorker, so it doesn't matter much anyway.

[johnb838]

McCain says he and Kerry are friends, but after sitting in a North Vietnamese prison eating rats and listening to his captors boast about what a friend they have in John Kerry, it is hard to imagine that it is very deep.

[capt. norm]

Obviously, you've never seen what I can do with an Etch-A-Sketch!

Maybe you are to Etch-A-Sketch what Rick James (who's work I do like) is to rap. Also, I never argue with a guy who packs a "Buntline Special".

Rick did rap that actually had musicians in it as opposed to scratching LP discs back and forth on a turntable.

Actually I do like some of the earlier rap groups like Xavier, Sugarhill Gang, and Run DMC.

[wyattearp]

"How many people who have been on the losing end as the VP nominee have gone on to become president?"

Better question: how many VP's have gone on to be elected president in the last century?

One? George HW Bush? I think that's it. VP isn't a stepping stone to anything other than a totally awesome retirement package, unless the President gets assassinated, that is. (Which is why nobody in their right mind would select Hillary as a running mate).

[TC Rider]

Edwards has no gravitas - he has two years experience in the Senate while spending most of his time on the campaign trail. He has no other experience other than being a trial lawyer which helps him raise money but is no substitute for experience necessary to serve as a VP while the country is at war on terror.

Worse than that, he would be one rough patch of gravel on the bike path from the presidency. Or, one stalking tree on the snowboard slope from the Oval Office. Or, one killer shark at Surf City from the highest office in the land.

We can not risk our country on inexperienced leaders.

[Lazamataz]

The scary part is, Kerry wouldn't be asking so often unless the answer was not necessarily NO.

[cabrera]

McCain's already tunred it down like seven times! How dense is John Effin?

[OneTimeLurker]

If you were to tag everybody who changed their minds about things a flip flopper, then anybody who is not a flip flopper is a total moron. Not changing ones mind in the face of new evidence, for the sake of maintaining consistency is the hallmark of a fool IMO.