The NBC morning news mentioned only two names on Obama's short list this morning... Biden and Bayh, and they noted that the announcement should come this week... so...

if this is it, it is now a very short list.

why start a brand new thread, when we already know Bayh HAS BEEN DISQUALIFIED???

Just because NBC has an old opinion, why bother with a new thread?

BTW-as you too like "conspiracies" nite owl-

NOTE-how NBC and CBS seem to be the two stations now involved in anti-Obama or Anti-McCain McCain says, type news
Why?
Because ABC is not in the debates.

so they want to discredit NBC and CBS so NBC and CBS are nicer to McCain at the debates
(remember same stratgegy worked that final debate when Hillary railed against Obama with Stephie and Gibson)

I don't believe it is a "conspiracy"... I do believe it's the truth.

I saw your post... which would essentially leave Biden if the choices are getting down to that few. I tend to believe that there are a couple more on the short list, but Biden could be "it".

I like Biden, but I'm not sure he has wide appeal... but he sure would be a bulldog to go after McCain and is far more intelligent and knowledgeable than McCain imho. He would help shoot down McCain's foreign policy...

I believe the networks court controversy and will try anything to create it and that basically means that they will be attacking Obama and boosting McCain to make the race as close as possible. It also plays to their favor just in case McCain manages to win the election. I believe we'll see more GOP biased reporting as the election draws nearer and closer. They want to be on the Dems good side if Obama wins but will side more with McCain if they believe he can win. I don't believe it is a "conspiracy"... I do believe it's the truth.

Why would Barack choose someone to help on foreign policy and national security if these are the areas he is most comfortable with and the most daunting issues facing this nation are economic and a Sen. from DE does nothing to help shore up the midwest which Obama needs to win in Nov.?

Comes down to that one little word that you used to cite regarding Obama...

Biden has it in spades... especially with regard to foreign policy...


Gravitas

and... Biden is much more widely known than Bayh.

... and I believe he appeals to the Democratic base... but to a much different demographic.

I will grant you that he is much better known.

But does Obama need help on the coasts where Biden's appeal is greatest or in the middle of the country where there is a lot of voter skepticism regarding Northeast liberal elitists?

I will grant you he is better known, has much more experience than Bayh, and that he is a great attack dog.

But that plagiarism issue is a big one.

If he is going foreign policy he should go with Clark. McCain's two biggest pluses are his perception as a maverick and his war hero status...Clark would at least provide military experience to the ticket...

I have nothing against Bayh...

I don't know that plagiarism is going to be a big deal no matter how much the GOP would try to make it an issue. There are far too many issues that would be more important right now. The public is pretty willing to give people passes on many minor character flaws... especially when there are critical issues at hand. Maybe it's just me but I just don't see this as a real dealbreaker... not on the order of most political corruption.

God knows if character flaws and past history were a determinant, GWB would have never been elected... but we know what happened.

Condie may yet be VP
after all, Georgia/Russia is her issue and mccrappyinthepantsy made it his

and... Biden is much more widely known than Bayh.

... and I believe he appeals to the Democratic base... but to a much different demographic.

'

Biden also has widespread appeal with white male and female voters.

'

Biden also has widespread appeal with white male and female voters.

I don't see him as all that smart and I wouldn't want to see him leading the country.

Compared to McCain... or most others ???

I don't think McCain is the brightest bulb in the pack.

To me he's more like a 40 watt bulb that has dimmed as time has gone by.

Biden seems more than intelligent enough to me as compared with most anyone else in this fight.

Biden would be 1000times better than Bayh but not my ideal choice
I would rather Daschle or Bob Graham
if not going to be Gore or Kerry.

Obama looked vulnearable?

He gained 15 points in the last 10 days, another 2 weeks and Hillary would have been toast

bad analogy

mcCain is not even running in Mass.

'

Biden also has widespread appeal with white male and female voters.

How widespread?

Do you mean on the coasts or in the Midwest?

Are midwesterners really going to trust a northeasten liberal elitist plagiarist or someone who has grown up in their part of the country, rebuilt the Indiana Democratic party from nothing, and won 5 statewide elections in a red state serving as Secretary of State, Governor and US Senator?

As I have said before, there may be questions in the midwest regarding Obama's race, but the only thing midwesterners may be more skeptical about I think is a northeast liberal elitist...which Biden comes across as...

This is why I think we need someone from the midwest taking a page from the Clinton/Gore playbook...

How would you rate Barbara Boxer?

You know, out West we don't really know jack about Bayh to be truthful. Perhaps because of Biden supporting a lot of the bills for the Western U.S - he seems more one of us than not... but, then besides CA does that West really count..

You know, out West we don't really know jack about Bayh to be truthful. Perhaps because of Biden supporting a lot of the bills for the Western U.S - he seems more one of us than not... but, then besides CA does that West really count..

Well, I think this year NV is just as important as CA, maybe more so because McCain cannot compete in CA, but he can in NV so that makes it a toss up.

I think that would go for a great cross section of America. Bayh is quite regional in his appeal imho.

Just another $ .01 Taz. Not de-Bayhing here.

Nevada is quite a mess this season, and I wouldn't put too much stock in those big polls many look at. Normally, S. Nevada overwhelmingly votes Dem - but two items have infuriated them - Obamas vote for the Cheney energy plan (which immediately impacted Nevada) and his vote on FISA. His increasing hawkish stance hasn't helped - but on the flip side he has endeared himself to many moderate Republicans because of those exact issues.

At our bi-weekly meet and greets the above has been the main topic of discussion because what is happening in S. Nevada is totally foreign to us.

I figure we won't know for sure until the votes are counted. A sad commentary for this season right now is - for our state primary election last week only about 16% turn out... and that normally doesn't bode well for Nov 4th... historically, anyway.

Four main issues here - we are number 1 in foreclosures, highest unemployment rate in 17 years, immigration and because of Nellis AFB - the Iraq/Afghanistan War. So Economy and the War..

Bayh is not a great speaker, but he can communicate well -- much better than Biden IMHO who is just like Kerry.

This is my biggest reason for pause with Biden. No economic experience.

Bayh and Richardson would provide that...

People in America are hurting. They need to know their president is sensitive to this. The way to show it is to pick someone who has dealt with these issues -- not someone who is ethereal and inaccessible -- but instead a populist who can communicate well.

Bayh is not a great speaker, but he can communicate well -- much better than Biden IMHO who is just like Kerry.

I'm glad you like Biden.

Richardson was horrid speaking in the primaries. What the hell was going on I have no idea, but that's not the Richardson we know out here. But over the last few days he's been out doing just the right amount of attack on McCain, and he's been on spot.

It's the reason I've been thinking more of a Richardson type person would be a better choice than Biden. Plus that moves the Hispanic vote ... and a big chunk of the Western vote.

Who the heck knows... I guess we'll all have to wait and see - and either be elated or say why oh why did you do that.

Hey, I have said if he is the choice, then I will fall in line like a good little lemming.

BUt until then, I reserve my right to comment freely.

I posted an article which discusses Biden's long windedness.

This hurt Kerry and it could hurt Biden because people will stop listening to him --- its hard to attack if no one listens IMHO

I strongly supported Kerry, but he was longwinded. No doubt about it.

Most Dems seem to have that "college thesis" problem in speaking.

Gotta get it down to an 8th grade level. Short, simple and sweet.

Why is that so darned hard for 'em ?

They forget who their audience is...

haha... So very true. You find the answer and solution you'll be set for life!

Just yanking your chain.

Most Dems seem to have that "college thesis" problem in speaking.

Gotta get it down to an 8th grade level. Short, simple and sweet.

Why is that so darned hard for 'em ?

They forget who their audience is...

Guilty as charged...

why start a brand new thread, when we already know Bayh HAS BEEN DISQUALIFIED???

August 19, 2008
Obama Ready to Announce Running Mate This Week
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JEFF ZELENY

WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama has all but settled on his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate rollout plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday morning, aides said.

Mr. Obama’s deliberations remain remarkably closely held. Aides said perhaps a half-dozen advisers were involved in the final discussions in an effort to enforce a command that Mr. Obama issued to staff members: that his decision not leak out until supporters are notified.

Mr. Obama had not notified his choice — or any of those not selected — of his decision as of late Monday, advisers said. Going into the final days, Mr. Obama was said to be focused mainly on three candidates: Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware.

Some Democrats said they still hoped that he would choose Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, or Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, who has been under steady consideration by Mr. Obama’s campaign.

By all indications, Mr. Obama is likely to choose someone relatively safe and avoid taking a chance with a game-changing selection. A similar strategic choice now faces Mr. Obama’s Republican rival, Senator John McCain of Arizona, who has been under pressure from some Republicans to make a more daring choice.

Mr. Obama’s advisers said he all but reached his decision while on vacation in Hawaii. They said it was the end of what proved to be an unexpectedly intense process, condensed because he did not want to start actively vetting potential running mates before Mrs. Clinton quit the race in June.

By contrast, Mr. McCain, who had wrapped up the Republican nomination months earlier, began his process in late spring.

That gave Mr. Obama’s team of lawyers less time to review candidates, and several Democrats said it appeared that the list of candidates who were deeply vetted was limited to about a half-dozen people. (Campaigns typically check the background of candidates who are not necessarily in play, as a way of gaining favor with various constituencies or to keep the other party off balance.)

The team of advance workers and aides involved in planning the rollout — timed to galvanize Democratic voters as Mr. Obama heads to Denver next week for the party convention — have not been told who Mr. Obama will be selecting.

If all goes according to plan, the announcement will be made with text and e-mail messages to supporters early in the morning, in time to capture coverage on the morning news shows and take advantage of a full day’s news cycle.

Mr. Obama and his running mate will begin, perhaps that day, a visit to swing states. Plans call for them to be on the trail together for much of the time between the day of the announcement and the day Mr. Obama arrives in Denver, a week from Wednesday, but their most intense campaigning together will come after the convention.

Mr. Obama’s schedule calls for him to awaken on Tuesday in Orlando, Fla., and by the end of the day be in Raleigh, N.C. By Wednesday, he is scheduled to be in Virginia. The Obama campaign has cautioned against reading anything into his schedule, saying it could be changed in an instant to accommodate the plan to introduce the running mate.

Aides said the announcement would come at the earliest on Wednesday morning.

Mr. Obama’s advisers said they wanted to time the announcement to get maximum publicity going into the convention, after a stretch in which Mr. Obama was on vacation in Hawaii and Mr. McCain made good use of having the political stage largely to himself. Vice-presidential announcements are one of a handful of moments when the presidential candidates are given a clear grab at the public spotlight, and both Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain have put much thought into the timing of their announcements.

If Mr. Obama is looking to build excitement going into the convention, Mr. McCain’s aides have looked to announcing his choice right after the Democratic convention, which ends Aug. 28, a Thursday, as a way of stepping on whatever bounce Mr. Obama enjoys from his nomination.

The Republican convention begins the following Monday.

Democrats close to the process said the ability to turn up information on the Web had made it easier for Mr. Obama’s search team — Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, a former deputy attorney general — to plumb the backgrounds of prospective running mates with relatively little notice. In addition, because so many of the candidates were senators, they were required to file annual financial disclosure reports.

Mr. Holder and Ms. Kennedy have been working largely out of Mr. Holder’s law firm in Washington, using lawyers in his firm and others — many of whom are veterans of the process from having worked for Senator John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000 — to check the backgrounds of the potential candidates.

Mr. Obama was briefed frequently throughout the proceedings — receiving updates by telephone and e-mail — and came to Washington for a handful of meetings with a small group of senior advisers in the law offices of Covington & Burling, where Mr. Holder is a partner. With the vetting concluded, there was no activity on Monday in the firm’s suite of offices on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Unlike in previous selections, Mr. Obama has been largely spared the obligation of staging elaborate cloak-and-dagger processes to interview prospective running mates because he has been campaigning with them in close quarters, giving him a chance to get to know them.

The rampant speculation during the selection process encompassed many of the best-known names in the party, including Mr. Kerry and Mr. Gore, Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia.

The big choice for Mr. Obama, advisers said, was the extent to which he needed to choose someone who would fill perceived holes in his résumé — lack of experience, particularly in foreign policy — versus a candidate who would reinforce his promise of change or one who might help him win a contested state.

Mr. Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, clearly fell into the category of helping Mr. Obama on foreign policy, while Mr. Kaine is a relative newcomer to national politics and would reinforce the notion of change. Both Mr. Kaine and Mr. Bayh would help Mr. Obama in a state that Democrats are trying to put in play.

For all the attention to Mr. Obama’s deliberations, it is by no means assured that his choice will make a big difference in the outcome of the campaign.

“Vice-presidential candidates can make a marginal difference,” said Matt Bennett, the co-director of Third Way, a Democratic advocacy group, “but they rarely matter in terms of winning a state or region — as Mike Dukakis and John Kerry found out. And a weak candidate doesn’t really drag the ticket into the drink — as George H. W. Bush found out.”

I didn't know he had, but I remember that he said he was taking himself out of the running right?

I am so worried that Obama is going to pick caine? It doesn't matter much to me. I don't know anything about the guy and I might like him a lot, but the name...the name....the name...anyone who is religious will take it as a very bad omen. It's not bad on a ticket alone, or with the Mc or Mac prefix, but Obama/Kaine will give a lot of people a pause.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cain#Qur.27an