Posted on 07/04/2004 7:48:33 AM PDT by Bonaventure
Over the last few weeks, Sen. Kerry has had many more face-to-face meetings with potential picks than the press has reported.
One such meeting, several well-informed sources say, took place last Thursday night.
Kerry was in his home in Georgetown, and at around 10:30 pm, the last reporter staking him out -- someone from ABC News -- appeared to leave for the night.
Our sources say that Kerry and his Secret Service agents then went the very short distance to the nearby home of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Albright is a supporter of Kerry and has her office now in the same office building in Washington as the Kerry campaign.
At Albright's house late Thursday night, Kerry had a meeting with just a small group of people -- one of whom, our sources say, seemed to be the person Kerry at that moment planned to pick as his running mate.
Although Kerry said as recently as yesterday that he has not made a decision, our sources believe that this meeting might have served as the final face-to-face session the future running mates will have before announcement day, which could be as soon as this Tuesday.
Of the three potential picks whose advisers have confirmed have handed over reams of background information and believe themselves to be still in the running, there's only one we think was in DC that night -- Dick Gephardt. Tom Vilsack's staff says he was in Iowa and John Edwards, like many great Americans, was at Disney World with his family.
Other options -- Senator Joseph Biden, former Defense Secretary Bill Cohen, well, we are still checking to pin down where they were on Thursday night.
Of course, Senator Kerry could have changed whatever decision he might have made since last Thursday, and it is possible he has sent mixed signals (purposefully or not) to his advisers.
The Kerry campaign had no comment on this.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
What was Gephard's draw in the primaries?
This explains Kerry's outreach (with palm up) in the "rural midwest" swooping downwards from Minnesota.
Agree, but will he do the smart thing? I hope not.
We need video of Kerry criticizing Edwards during the primaries...anyone got a link? Thanks in advance.
Gephart, will only help in the St Louis area. He couldn't even do anything in Iowa.
My instincts tell me it won't be Edwards because Edwards has no military record. Gephardt served in the National Guard for like 6 years. Kerry is going for (I think) the Democratic veterans as president message.
I agree. Gephart has been around the block too many times. He doesn't deliver. He has presided over losing too many house elections. Vilsack-full is a governor, has no huge scandals following him around and could deliver the midwest more effectively than the Geph. I hereby declare Vilsack-full my choice for Dem VP nomination winner. What do we get if we're right, BTW? Is there a prize?
Oh dear God, do we have her to look forward to as well?
I thought Edwards was suppose to be in North Carolina for some walk on the beach thingy??
That line ("Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"?) fits Kerry to a tee, Ivan!
Oh that would be funny
"Picking Gephardt" the Kerry campaign has been quite easy to do...
Time to turn back and descend the stair, I dare say. ;)
Regards, Ivan
Does Gephardt deliver Missouri into Kerry's column? If he does, that's no small qualification. Missouri has, what, 11 electoral votes? Not exactly chump change.
Exactly. Hints and whispers to the local pols. "We'll be back here a lot -- so upgrade your facilities for WiFi, find us the best long-term lodging, give us your union lists (oops!),etc."
This means Florida is off the table, which gives Rove the primo opportunity to direct all his forces to the Midwest swing states while also building backfires in Oregon, W. Va., Penn., etc.
Picking Gephardt is an admission of defeat by Kerry. It paints him into a must-win MO/OH corner. Call it the "Mooooh" Strategy - as they are both duller than cows standing in the field.
I thought Edwards was suppose to be in North Carolina for some walk on the beach thingy??
No way. Kerry would never pick anyone who would upstage him.
It will not be Edwards. There is some bad stuff in his file that is not publicly known.
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