I have reason to believe Barack Obama will pick a woman to be his running mate. It just won’t be Hillary Clinton. Posted on 06/16/2008 10:21:27 AM PDT by K-oneTexas
I have reason to believe Barack Obama will pick a woman to be his running mate. It just won’t be Hillary Clinton.
Several months ago, I wrote that Obama did not need Hillary. He does not need her now – unless she has pictures.
But short of making him an offer he can’t refuse, I believe Barack Obama will select Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to be his number two.
I am certainly not the first person to speculate about Sebelius. According to liberal blogger Ben Smith, former Democratic presidential aspirant Wesley Clark introduced Sebelius as “the next vice president of the United States” during a political fundraiser in Texas earlier this month. Smith quipped, “A sign of the times from a Clinton loyalist.”
You might recall that it was Sebelius who delivered the Democratic response to President Bush’s last State of the Union Address in January. The following day Sebelius formally endorsed Obama, helping him win the Kansas Democratic Caucus on Super Tuesday.
There are several reasons for Obama to tab Sebelius.
First, there is no question there is an element of feminists within the Democratic Party that is furious that Hillary did not win and threatening to vote for McCain or sit out altogether. Picking Sebelius would go a long way in mollifying them. Sure, they would rather he pick Hillary. But if Obama wins in November, he automatically establishes Sebelius as a viable future Presidential candidate in 2016.
Second, Sebelius is a two-term Democratic Governor in a state that is overwhelmingly Republican. How did she pull that off? She did so by balancing the budget without raising taxes. That takes some doing. Sebelius brings credible credentials to the table but wouldn’t overwhelm Obama in the way Hillary Clinton would. Sebelius would not have won two terms in office if she hadn’t accomplished something and didn’t present herself as a centrist. Although one might wonder if Obama and Sebelius could resist the temptation of campaigning in Liberal, Kansas? But if Sebelius can win over moderate and conservative voters in Kansas, particularly of the blue collar variety, imagine how she could help Obama in other states.
Third, one such state is Ohio. Sebelius’ father, Jack Gilligan, was Ohio’s Governor from 1971 to 1975. They are the first father-daughter combination to be elected as state governors. Last year, Gilligan retired from politics after serving nine years on Cincinnati’s Board of Education. The 87-year-old Gilligan still has political clout. Both Sebelius and her father could persuade Cincinnati’s GOP voters to pull a lever for Obama. That alone could clinch Obama the White House.
Finally, Obama’s late mother, Ann Dunham, was born and raised in Kansas. Obama has a sentimental reason to pick Sebelius.
Sebelius is by no means the only person Obama is considering. New Mexico Governor and onetime Presidential hopeful Bill Richardson, Virginia Senator Jim Webb, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner and even Nebraska Republican Senator Chuck Hagel have been mentioned as potential running mates.
But selecting Sebelius would demonstrate tremendous political savvy on Obama’s part. He would pick a fiscally responsible Democrat who could appeal to Republican voters in tough economic times while at the same time clipping Hillary Clinton’s wings. An Obama-Sebelius ticket would be very formidable indeed.
I would not be surprised if Obama will put Tim Russert on the ticket posthumously.
A posthumous candidate has run for public office before (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Posthumus ).
I know how McCain can sew up the election:
He needs a VP pick who will appeal both to women and people who don’t like Obama.
He needs a VP pick who will both pander to the left, and make him look conservative.
He needs a VP pick who will reach across party lines.
He needs Hillary!™...
He’s already got the womens vote, so I think the smart money
is on him picking someone to help with a bloc he might have problems attracting, namely hispanics. Bill R is the guy
and you heard it here first.
I was at an event Saturday which Sebilius openned - it was Symphony on the Prairie. A lot of us in the audience sat on our hands. A lot. In Council Grove KS
The Finnish composer?
Repeatedly endoresed by Planned Parenthood. Enough said.
I don’t see two minorities on the same ticket. Politically that’s not wise if he’s having trouble with white voters.
That sentence alone shows that he has no idea what or who he's talking about. It'd be nice to see Obama waste his Veep slot on Sebelius, but it really makes no sense politically and I doubt he'll do it.
Yet another example that Mr. Transcendental Negotiator, Barack Obama, has made his choice for us all....a baby’s arm holding an apple.
Where I was sitting there was a very audible sound of derision - I’m sure that it could be heard on stage.
If you get the chance, close your eyes when Sebelius talks and you’ll think you’re listening to Hillary. They sound eerily the same.
She’s a lightweight. Therefore a perfect match.
As much as I’d love to see Kathy OUT of the state of Kansas, she won’t be picked as his running mate, IMO. I highly doubt Kansas would go blue for him so why bother with her?
It won’t help him win KS or any other state. She’ll help Barry O as much as Ferraro helped Mondale.
Nada.
So Barry, go ahead and pick her!
Only the RINO ones.
Because she adds all the pluses of Hillary, AND she won't have Obama assassinated.
That's plenty of reason.
I would be pleased with a bonehead move like this...
I agree with you. I’ve always thought that Bill Richardson was the best of the dem nominees. Second to that, he was be the best VP on the ticket. I hope that Obama DOES select Sebelius. While she will help with the woman’s vote, the older woman have already begun flocking to him. He needs Hispanics, who might be encouraged to vote McCain for a number of reasons. I heard some pundit over the weekend assume that he would pick Biden. I think he’s stronger than Sebelius. Let him choose Sebelius.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.