FL Senator Bill Nelson for VP?

[ringmastery]

http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/nw_columnists/article/0,2071,NPDN_14945_2519273,00.html

Graham, like Nelson, is instantly an attractive VP option because of the possibility he could deliver Florida and its 27 electoral votes in 2004. No Democrat needs to be reminded of how crucial a swing state Florida was in 2000.

But the talk on Graham has dramatically faded since his failed presidential campaign. His stump speeches were seen as meandering. The man who would be called upon to inject some life into the presidential candidate hasn't exactly been Mr. Excitement.

Among political insiders, Nelson has become the hot commodity and a serious bet to be on the VP short list with also-rans from the Democratic primaries. As for losing the seat, Democrats might find that issue to be somewhat moot as Republicans look increasingly likely to hold their majority in the Senate.

Norman Orenstein, a respected political analyst from the American Enterprise Institute, thinks Nelson's travels in the Space Shuttle Columbia and his demeanor could be a big boost to the ticket, aside from the obvious advantage of his geographical base.

"Here is a young, vigorous, attractive and articulate guy who was an astronaut," Orenstein said. "Don't discount those things."

[Bombtrack]

1. I think Graham would make a much better one

This guy barely won, but Graham has won Florida what, 5 times

Clark-Graham 2004

[MikeGalos]

2. I see 4 possible slates in November

Dean/Graham
Clark/Graham
Dean/Locke
Clark/Locke

Gary Locke (Governor of Washington) is an up-and-comer in the party, not running again and Asian-American which will probably be a plus in California and some other swing states.

Graham is, in my opinion, the most likely choice since he'll bring in Florida and that would help kill any Jeb Bush ticket in 2008.

[Bombtrack]

3. Locke might make an ok cabinet member, but not vp

Asians don't vote in a bloc anyway. Not anymore than Irish guys or white non-church-going protestants or Italians do.

If a place like California is competative for Bush, which I believe it very well could be if Dean is the nomination, because I believe a candidate as flawed as he could only depend on about a half a dozen states worth about 70-90 of electoral votes as "safe", then it's pretty much over anyway.

[salin]

9. I disagree with your assessment on California

it is a rather contradictory voting state. Even with Davis being rather unpopular... it took heavy hitters getting a 'glam' star in to beat him in the recall. This is a state that keeps re-electing Barbara Boxer, who has a history much more 'loud' (in the way that Dean is) than Dean. California is far away from the 'liberal oasis' that it is sometimes assumed to be - but then again it has a long history of voting in some very liberal folks - on a statewide basis - even while simultaneously voting in some vouch conservatives.

Despite the very wierd state of the recall, I seriously doubt that California is in play for Bush, regardless of who the democrat is. Ironically while the Whitehouse helped orchestrate the recall... Arnies first month hasn't gone so well as he has had to renige on item after item. He ran as if there wasn't really a crisis in the state - and thus made silly promises that to be held - without extreme other actions would be impossible to keep. He now has to 'govern' and his early moves haven't been too well received. The problem with creating a 'hero on the white horse' illusion ... it is easily smashed when one can't come close to living up to it. So the WH pushed thinking it was the only way they could bring California back into play for Bush. And Ka-boom... the plan bombs, heightening the distrust for republicans that had been bred and grew to a crescendo by the end of the Duekmejian (sp)/Wilson years.

[Bombtrack]

11. I don't think you disagree as much as you think

California shouldn't and won't be in play if we have a strong candidate as our nominee, like Clark, Edwards, or Kerry, or even Lieberman. But if a middleclass tax raiser like Gephardt or Dean get the nomination, it might very well be out of the safe, and into the lean-dem category, and in the instance where we have to spend and work for California as much as we do other Lean-dem states, in a state as big as California, we're screwed

[Devlzown]

4. Locke's a bore.

I saw him do that Democratic response after shrub's speech that time and he stunk on ice. I know you don't have to be Mr. Excitement to be VP, but we can do better than that.

[earthside]

5. I Know ...

The ticket will be:

Dean/Landrieu
:pals:


www.earthside.com

[madfloridian]

6. Isn't the AEI extremely conservative?

I know Nelson is very inclined to vote for corporate desires. He was very much in support of the Iraq war as well. He helped in parts the DRM, Digital Rights Management....though it was called 3 different things before its final forum.

He and Feinstein and Hollings were the main supporters of this bill which is coming out now in effect restricting consumer rights.

I am not that fond of him. He is part of The Fellowship, which is too unexamined for me to feel comfortable with it. His wife is on the corporate board.
http://www.thealders.net/blogs/archive/001292.html

[Bombtrack]

7. He's the less conservative of the 2 Nelson boys

Ben from Nebraska is a straight centrist, and gets 50 out of 100 from both lib and conservative groups.

Bill gets 70-80 from lib groups and 20 - 30 from conservative groups

This is off the top of my head. Check the ADA, www.progressivepunch.org , and the ACU

[madfloridian]

8. I have heard that.

I still have reservations about him. I don't like his connections to the Republicans in the Fellowship. He may be simply very religious and unaware that it is a group with such power ties. I doubt it though. It needs more examination.

[ripplingwater]

12. I could be wrong, but

I think that PNAC is housed withing AEI in some form. I recall seeing this somewhere.

Someone confirm please?

thanks

[Orangepeel]

10. Eh, he's no Graham...

I like Senator Nelson. He votes the right way most of the time and his office is very responsive. But I seriously don't want him plucked out of his Senate seat while Jeb is in office.