Hillary's VP choice

[LVZ]

external Hillary's VP choice poll



Assuming Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, here is my take
on potential Vice Presidential running mate choices:



Joe Biden - I really like the guy (more than Hillary), but as another northeastern
politician and another Senator, he brings no advantage to the ticket.



Michael Bloomberg - as a nominal Republican, being Jewish, and a very successful
businessman and New York City mayor he could likely appeal to more independent,
results-oriented voters. However, as another New Yorker, he is prohibited by the
Constitution from being on the ticket and could not add regional balance.



Wesley Clark - as a former four star general, his presence may add military credibility
to the ticket, he could help the Dems pick up his home state of Arkansas. Downside:
in 2004 he showed that his political instincts are poor. As just the VP candidate,
that may not be so important.



Chris Dodd - another ho-hum, aging northeastern Senator



John Edwards - did not help carry any southern states in 2004, seems to have
burned his bridges with the Clintons, unlikely choice.



Rahm Emanuel - my top choice, young, energetic, telegenic, a tough political
fighter from Chicago, and former senior political advisor to Bill Clinton. He adds
midwest regional balance. His Jewish heritage should help with states like
Florida. His youth will offset the Clinton "yesterday's generation" tag.



Chuck Hagel - a fairly conservative Republican from farm state Nebraska, yet a
sometimes critic of the Bush administration and very publicly anti Iraq war. He
would certainly provide cover for moderate Republicans upset with the direction
of their party. Downside: my guess is that retiring Senator Hagel has lost his
zeal for politics and wouldn't want to abandon his longtime party, even if it has
in many ways abandoned him.



Barack Obama - both Hillary and Barack have "cool" personalities, just not as
extreme as Democratic loser John Kerry. This may work in the northeast and
parts of the midwest, but most of the country prefers a warmer, personable,
less academic persona. Since the Republicans are already attacking Hillary
about her lack of "executive" experience, adding another one-term Senator
doesn't make much sense.



Colin Powell - would be my second choice. He got burned by the Bush
administration and needs to restore his formerly good reputation. Who could
speak more to the lies and misrepresentation about the Iraq war and other
Bush excesses than an insider. His military background and White House
experience would add gravitas to the ticket.



Bill Richardson - as a governor and Clinton cabinet member, he adds
more experience to the ticket. He would ensure that the Dems win his
home state of New Mexico and might energize latino turnout in Colorado,
Arizona and Nevada. As a moderate border-state Governor, he could bring
direct experience to the illegal immigrant issue.



Jim Webb - being a conservative Democrat, Webb could offend a lot of
more liberal Democrats, but what would be their alternative, if selected?
Webb proved in beating an incumbent Republican Senator that he is a very
capable and aggressive campaigner. Webb would very likely ensure that the
Dems win his typically Republican state of Virginia (13 electoral votes). Since
Virginia also has a Democratic Governor, Dems still retain his Senate seat.