Obama says he's decided on running mate

[Anonymous]

This afternoon Obama told USA Today he has made his choice of a running mate but wouldn't say who it was or when he'll reveal the choice.

Obama said he wanted somebody who is "prepared to be president" and who will be "a partner with me in strengthening this economy for the middle class and working families."

He said he was looking for not just a partner but a sparring partner. "I want somebody who's independent, somebody who can push against my preconceived notions and challenge me so we have got a robust debate in the White House."

It certainly sounds like Hillary Clinton could fit the bill. Not Kaine; I think he used his meeting with Kaine today to tell him he's not the pick. Maybe Biden. Bayh doesn't seem like much of a sparring partner. But that middle class and working families thing sure sounds like Hillary.

Full USA Today blog entry here:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/08/obama-says-hes.html

[Anonymous]

I'm praying he picks HRC, and I don't even pray. Not because I like her -- I don't. And I know it will be hard for Obama, who likes to like people, to work with Hillary, whom he dislikes. Plus Hill & Bill will always be pushing him around a bit and who needs that? If I were Obama and let ego guide my choice, there's no way I'd pick Hillary after everything she did to him.

But he needs her. The polls are tightening. Adding HRC is really the ONLY way of unifying the Democratic Party -- which we need desperately. Additionally, there is no better campaigner than Bill Clinton. If Hillary is on the ticket, he'll become very active in the campaign. We need him, too. He's our Jason Lezak.

Fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Who's Jason Lezak? I actually don't think Obama and Hillary dislike each other. He doesn't love her like he does Kaine or Sebelius, but he can't afford to go with a "heart" pick like that (just as McCain can't really go with his heart and choose Lieberman). Hillary is a team player. She will do the right thing if Obama chooses her. Bill can be managed. And we'll win this election.

What do you want to bet that Obama doesn't announce until Friday or Saturday? He's having too much fun with McCain's seven houses!

[Anonymous]

Hill & Bill completely undermine the entire change message IMHO. After all Bill's trash talk and divisive approach to blacks (of which I am one), I don't think he could win over any undecideds to Obama. OK, I admit that I just don't like her.

If it's Kaine, can someone get him a haircut before the debates?

Personally my dream veeps would be Michael Bloomberg or Bill Richardson. Now THAT would be historic.

Whomever it is, can't wait to see Jeff Steele's response.

[Anonymous]

Who's Jason Lezak????

Jason Lezak is the Olympic swimmer that beat the French by fractions of a second and won the rely for the USA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hill & Bill completely undermine the entire change message IMHO. After all Bill's trash talk and divisive approach to blacks (of which I am one), I don't think he could win over any undecideds to Obama. OK, I admit that I just don't like her.

If it's Kaine, can someone get him a haircut before the debates?

Personally my dream veeps would be Michael Bloomberg or Bill Richardson. Now THAT would be historic.

Whomever it is, can't wait to see Jeff Steele's response.

OP again. So sorry about Jason Leezak; I haven't read the Olympics coverage today. I'm embarrassed!

I hear you, PP, and understand you don't like Hillary. No problem. If Obama thinks she's the best choice, though, and she gives him the best chance of winning, I imagine you'd be okay with that. To be honest, anyone but Kaine or Sebelius undermines the change message, right? I mean, Joe Biden?! But I think Hillary is a change agent and I think a woman is obviously a change. Bloomberg? Obama won't pick an independent. Richardson? Obama won't choose a Latino. But thanks for being up front about not liking Hillary. Though you might at least admit, too, that Hillary would be historic. More than Bloomberg or Richardson, who both have an X and a Y chromosome.

I truly doubt Obama will pick Kaine, a first term governor whose only other experience in public life is three years as mayor of Richmond, and who went to Harvard Law School just like Obama did. But I completely agree with you about his hair. It needs a makeover, regardless of whether he's the VP nominee.

[Anonymous]

Obama is such a tease!

[Anonymous]

AnonymousI truly doubt Obama will pick Kaine, a first term governor whose only other experience in public life is three years as mayor of Richmond, and who went to Harvard Law School just like Obama did. But I completely agree with you about his hair. It needs a makeover, regardless of whether he's the VP nominee.[/quote wrote:

17:02 here. OP, I'm LMAO! Love your post. I'm totally stealing the Harvard Law cabal theory. Supposedly Sebelius is out because Missouri dems are saying it would be a Kansas Conspiracy. (Obama's mama.) Biden. Would he be happy working for a clean and articulate president.

You're right. I'll probably suck up my Hill-hating if it is her. The right to vote is too important. But that doesn't mean I can't complain about tapered pants, cantaloupe upholstery jackets and shamrock scarves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

AnonymousI truly doubt Obama will pick Kaine, a first term governor whose only other experience in public life is three years as mayor of Richmond, and who went to Harvard Law School just like Obama did. But I completely agree with you about his hair. It needs a makeover, regardless of whether he's the VP nominee.[/quote wrote:

17:02 here. OP, I'm LMAO! Love your post. I'm totally stealing the Harvard Law cabal theory. Supposedly Sebelius is out because Missouri dems are saying it would be a Kansas Conspiracy. (Obama's mama.) Biden. Would he be happy working for a clean and articulate president.

You're right. I'll probably suck up my Hill-hating if it is her. The right to vote is too important. But that doesn't mean I can't complain about tapered pants, cantaloupe upholstery jackets and shamrock scarves.

Love your post too. You should write with Robin Givhan. Men have it easy, though: A well-cut dark suit hides all their figure flaws. It's harder for women.

Don't know if this is true, but Mike Allen is reporting, under the head "Hillary gets stiffed," that Obama never even vetted her -- meaning he didn't really consider her despite saying "she'd be on anybody's short list." Not his, apparently, even though she almost tied him in the popular vote (and got more votes if you count FL and MI). If it is true, it's a probably a colossal mistake and a major sign of overconfidence. And it is going to infuriate her supporters. I would be astonished if he didn't even consider her. That's just not smart. More than 17 million people voted for her; about 3 voted for Joe Biden. (I'm exaggerating Biden's poor showing in the Iowa caucuses, but you know what I mean.)

[Anonymous]

I have heard from a reliable source that it will not be Clark (wasn't vetted) or Daschle (vetted but not selected).

Hoping for Clinton (because that's just how I am) or Biden.

[Anonymous]

OP again: Ambinder reports that a company has been printing Obama/Bayh bumper stickers and other material. If he's the pick, it will be quite interesting as he was a major hawk on Iraq.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again: Ambinder reports that a company has been printing Obama/Bayh bumper stickers and other material. If he's the pick, it will be quite interesting as he was a major hawk on Iraq.

Bayh also voted to make medically-necessary late-term abortion a federal crime - and to make it a federal crime to assist or give medical care to a young woman seeking an abortion who leaves a state that requires parental consent to go to a state where parental consent is not required.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:OP again: Ambinder reports that a company has been printing Obama/Bayh bumper stickers and other material. If he's the pick, it will be quite interesting as he was a major hawk on Iraq.

Its a fake sticker. Wrong font, wrong shade of blue, wrong color orientation, uses a star inside the "0" of "08" that doesn't appear on other Obama stickers.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again: Ambinder reports that a company has been printing Obama/Bayh bumper stickers and other material. If he's the pick, it will be quite interesting as he was a major hawk on Iraq.

Its a fake sticker. Wrong font, wrong shade of blue, wrong color orientation, uses a star inside the "0" of "08" that doesn't appear on other Obama stickers.

Good catch, Jeff. You're sharper than the media. I'd tell my friend that he has egg on his face, but all the outlets have picked it up already! He's also reporting that a charter flight is on its way from Chicago to New Castle. Isn't this all hilarious?

[Anonymous]

It is Biden.
He might bring in the older White skeptical votes. Since he has said some questionable things in the past regarding race, which might actually help.