Terry McAuliffe Tips His Hand: Hillary Won't be VP Candidate With Obama

[kpete]

According to a July 24th article in the Falls Church News-Press (Virginia),
http://www.fcnp.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3335:mcauliffe-touts-kaine-for-v-p-in-fairfax-talk&catid=13:news-stories&Itemid=76

The former national chairman of the Democratic Party who ran Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign this year told 200 Democratic activists in Fairfax County Tuesday that Virginia Governor Tim Kaine would be his party's best choice as Barack Obama's vice presidential running mate.

In a Bill and Hillary Clinton camp loaded with steadfast loyalists, few stand out as strongly and as forcefully as Terry McAuliffe -- who is a Clinton diehard (both Bill and Hillary) as they come. He's the money raiser par excellance for them, campaign manager, former Chair of the DNC at Bill Clinton's behest, etc.

So when he tells a group of Virginia Dems that Kaine would be the best VP for Obama, he is revealing that Senator Hillary Clinton is not going to get the nod. It's a very telling acknowledgement in the season of VP speculation, and particularly whether Clinton has a chance on a "Unity" ticket.

Let's be crystal clear, as they say, McAuliffe and the rest of the Clinton staff fought tenaciously to the last moment to try and secure the nomination. McAuliffe would not be touting another VP candidate if he though Hillary had a chance. Period.

You just don't do that with the Clintons. You fight till the last dog dies for a Clinton.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/437

[Colobo]

1. This doesn't surprise me.

[saltpoint]

2. As for Kaine, I think he would be of great and multiple service to a

President Obama.

[NightWatcher]

3. I said Kaine or Nunn would be the VP candidate. I was told I was silly, but I've heard these names

more and more.

I met Kaine the week before Super Tuesday as he was making the rounds for Obama as a campaign surrogate here in the Deep South. He seems very excited and I think he'd bring a lot to the ticket.

[trueblue2007]

27. Who is Governor Tim Kaine? The VP had BETTER be a woman!!

CRAP!!!!

No, I want a woman Vice President and I want one now.

[bunnies]

4. Good. That settles that. nt

[highplainsdem]

5. If she isn't on the ticket, Obama will have made a certain Democratic victory in November much less

likely.

I hope he's not that foolish. Because if he is, and he loses, the meme after November will be that Obama threw away an easy victory because he was afraid of having his strongest Democratic rival on the ticket.

And for that matter, if you think the media and the Republicans won't be speculating about this before the GE, you're naive. It will NOT make Obama look stronger to choose someone other than the strong Democratic politican whose inclusion would do the most to unite the party, and whose 18 million primary votes and poll results already show she'd do the most to help Obama win the GE. The meme will be that he felt threatened by her strength and chose someone he knew he could easily overshadow. Whoever he picks, other than Clinton, will probably be cast by the press and GOP as this election's Dan Quayle.

[saltpoint]

6. Not persuasive. Polling indicates that Obama alone defeats McCain,

and that regionally his candidacy is enhanced by Edwards in 2 or more states, Richardson in 2 or more states, and so forth.

I have seen zero statistical support for the claim that he's hurt by not choosing "her," and significant support that demonstrates the reverse.

[highplainsdem]

15. Then I guess you didn't see any of the news stories about polling

by three different organizations over a period of months

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6537911&mesg_id=6538270

showing she would help him.

Btw, if that link doesn't work, it's reply #43 in this topic:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6537911

[saltpoint]

18. I've seen that polling, but it argues for the exclusive boost for Obama

by Clinton at the expense of polling indicating that independents are not drawn to her or her husband, and have not been for some time.

Not very Democrat is a Clinton Democrat, you know.

Some Democrats are more drawn to other possibilities, and the OP clearly pointed out that it is Terry McAuliffe -- himself a Clinton Democrat -- now promoting Tim Kaine as Obama's vice president.

That ought to have been your starting point: a Clinton loyalist and insider now endorsing Tim Kaine.

[GarbagemanLB]

7. And likewise, if he does pick her, the meme will be that it was forced.

[Windy]

8. you're entitled to your opinion, but its getting old...and repetitive. nt

[SeaLyons]

9. I completely agree with you....

[saltpoint]

10. The press is not going to cast Joe Biden or Bill Richardson, for example,

as "another Dan Quayle."

Wes Clark as a Dan Quayle? Kathleen Sebelius? Brian Schweitzer? Jack Reed?

As Dan Quayles?

I don't think so.

[stray cat]

11. Back to the future as Obama's new campaign slogan?

[bunnies]

12. Right. Lets just hand over all the indy votes to McCain.

That'll make it an easy November win for sure! :sarcasm:

[stray cat]

13. Hillary on the ticket didn't help in the polling did it?

[blm]

14. If Hillary was so 'strong' she would've run in 2004 against Bush. Instead, Clintons and loyalists

worked from 2001-2005 to keep the easier 2008 open for her.

SURPRISE!

[NV Whino]

17. Oh for god's sake. Stop beating that poor dead horse!

[lojasmo]

21. Stupid, stupid meme. Thanks for sharing, though.

[Andy823]

26. Yes I can see it now.

Every day there will be a "new" add out by the republicans, and a repeat of old ads, where Hillary is telling the world that Obama is "not" ready to be president. The republicans will use this as their talking points especially the one where Hillary says that she and McCain bring a lifetime of "experience" and Obam only brings a "speech"! Yep, with Hillary as the VP running mate, the republicans won't need to pay actors to do their commercials they just have to replay her words during the primary, over and over and over...! :eyes:

[Forkboy]

34. It would turn off just as many Indy's if he did pick her.

Making it just as equally likely that picking her would hurt him as much or more than not picking her.

[msongs]

16. he needs to get some fresh blood in there nt

[griffi94]

19. this could mean that the fix is in

hillary wouldn't take the vp slot since the fix for mccain is in.
instead she'll wait for 2012 for the top spot. the gop will be beaten down even further than they are now.

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. If Obama wins WITHOUT HRC on the ticket...

Will HRC challenge him in 2012?

[nomaco-10]

22. If hillary was so inevitable, why didn't she .....

run in 2004 and save us from the national nightmare of another four years of george w. bush*?

Not to mention the unnecessary and needless slaughter and maiming of thousands of american military and iraqi civilians.

As far as I'm concerned, there is no place on the national stage for the clinton's in this country EVER again.

Let's not forget, billy's got the shame of rwanda on his hands.

I'm so over the clintons, both of them.


edited for spelling only, not content.

[SwampG8r]

23. i just wonder

when he finally naes his VP
and it is not hillary
will the hillary shills here finally at long last have to stop undercutting the nominee?
or will she somehow STILL be considered relevant to the GE?

[flamingdem]

24. On to bigger and better things - Great News!

:toast:

[highplainsdem]

25. The statement McAuliffe released yesterday, backpedaling:

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/07/is_hillary_out_of_the_veepstak.html

Terry McAuliffe obviously thinks very highly of Governor Kaine and praised him in his trademark, exuberant way to a packed room of Virginia Democrats. There's a tremendous field of potential Vice Presidential candidates, including Senator Clinton and Governor Kaine. And Mr. McAuliffe supports whatever decision Senator Obama makes.

[bunnies]

28. What you seem to be unwilling to comprehend is...

that he would NOT have praised Kaine if Hillary was still in the running. Terry is an extremely loyal Hill Shill bar none.

Either she has decided she doesnt want the position whether its offered to her or not, OR the decision to go with Kaine has been made. If McAuliffe is propping up someone other than Hillary... Hillary is out. Bank on it.

[highplainsdem]

29. You all seem to have forgotten that McAuliffe predicted Biden would be VP a couple of weeks ago:

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/1042226,CST-FTR-zp07.article

July 7, 2008

BY BILL ZWECKER Sun-Times Columnist

-snip-

Asked to guess Obama's running mate choice, McAuliffe picked Delaware senator and ex-presidential candidate Joe Biden, due to the Senate foreign relations committee chairman's ''international experience.''

-snip-

Wonder which potential VP Terry will pick next, and if DUers will once again be all atwitter about what his latest guess means?

[bunnies]

33. You're not getting it.

He wouldnt be promoting anyone BUT Hillary if she were still in the running. The fact that he's promoting everyone else just solidifies the point I made above. He would not be promoting Hillarys competition if she wanted the position. Its not logical.

[MGKrebs]

30. It is unnecessary to use all the "fighting" and animal references

to characterize the Clinton people. It doesn't support the point therefore it hurts the credibility of the story, and by extension doesn't do anything to help alternative media gain influence.

Starting off a speculative statement with "let's be crystal clear" is bootleg, and it's a questionable speculation at that.
The only evidence presented to back the assertion is "you just don't do that"? Not good enough.
I would grant that McAuliffe and Co. wanted to have HRC be on the "short list", I think we have seen evidence of that, and McAuliffe has even admitted to it I think. Anything beyond that (without evidence) is just inventing drama and completely made up.

We would criticize punks like George Will and Glenn Beck for making whacked statements like that. I think we can do better.

I think it is quite plausible that HRC doesn't even want to be V.P., but as a matter of prestige and reputation, wanted to be on the short list anyway. Besides, the point of the story can be made without having to make that speculative leap with all the "fighting" and animal references. If McAuliffe is talking about another candidate, then yeah, there's a good chance HRC is out. No need to get all "National Enquirer" on the subject with the breathless insider insight.

I love what you guys do at Buzz, but I want you to be better. We NEED you to be better. I hope my criticism is taken in the spirit in which it is given.

(I'll probably cross-post this over there too.)

[derby378]

31. Tim Kaine? Surely you jest...

I think Hillary would be a much better choice than Kaine. But then, I have a few people in mind who I consider a better fit for VP than Hillary.

[elkston]

32. I think the biggest mistake Obama can make in the VP choice

Is picking a "controversial" democrat like Tim Kaine or even worse, Hagel. Let me make this clear: I am a centrist democrat and either one of these chocies would not bother ME.

But a reach-across-the-aisle pick will not work this year. Not for VP, at least. (definitely for the cabinet if he wins, though).

I think Obama wins by supercharging democrats and increasing turnout. He may get SOME swing votes, but right now those people who the media regard as "getting to know Obama..." are never going to vote for him. They are infected with racism and just can't get over the grudge. Its the reason we don't seem to move much in the polls despite overwheling evidence that Obama is the man.

Obama needs to pick Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden. I would prefer Hillary because that image of a united democratic party would convince maybe HALF the stubborn holdouts from Clinton's loss to reluctantly vote for Obama. It will also get more and more people excited because of Hillary's positive energy.

McCain has peaked. The polls are close because they are not polling the people that will truly make a difference this election -- the NEW voters.

Keep this one strong in the Democratic side, Barack and come Novemeber there wll be a blowout because a massive turnout for change.