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xcurmudgeon

Kaine: Obama "would be well-served" with Webb as Running Mate

by: Lowell

Fri Feb 01, 2008 at 6:54:17 AM EST


Well, well, well, isn't this interesting:

With the Feb. 12 Democratic primary in Virginia now on the horizon, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, an early supporter of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, told the News-Press in Richmond last week that he felt Obama, if nominated, "would be well served" by selecting Virginia's junior U.S. Sen. Jim Webb as his running mate.

[...]

"I think he should choose someone who is strong in foreign policy and defense issues," he said. He then went on to drop the name of Sen. Webb.

In contrast, the News Press reports, former Gov. Warner says, "I think Sen. Webb has his hands full and is enjoying doing a fantastic job as a U.S. Senator."  

I'm not sure exactly what to make of all this, but it's certainly fascinating to see all the speculation about Jim Webb as Barack Obama's running mate.  My view is that Barack Obama would definitely benefit from having Jim Webb's national security, military and foreign policy gravitas on the ticket. The big questions are, what does Senator Webb think about all this, and would Barack Obama consider him for his ticket if he wins the nomination?  Stay tuned, I guess...

UPDATE: Chris Cillizza has the line on possible VP picks.  Tim Kaine's on it, and Jim Webb isn't, all while Tim Kaine is touting Jim Webb!  Ha. :)
Lowell :: Kaine: Obama "would be well-served" with Webb as Running Mate
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Kaine: Obama "would be well-served" with Webb as Running Mate | 59 comments
a couple of comments (4.00 / 2)
1) you could get the foreign policy / national security with Wes Clark, plus it would represent a healing with the CLinton wing

2)  No one seems to want to talk about the other reasons Webb would make sense - his commitment to economic equity.   That would make former Edwards supporters far more enthusiastic.   And an Obama-Webb ticket would be the realization of Jim's dream of uniting the African-Americans and Scots-Irish into what could be an unbeatable coalition.

And I think were Jim approached with #2 rather than #1, it would make it far harder for him to say no.

I actually think that #2 is more compelling (0.00 / 0)
than #1.  Totally agree with you, that would be amazing.

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[ Parent ]
lets not forget the other side as well (0.00 / 0)
And do not think that Rice is not at the top of the list for people like Romeny as a VP selection. What an impact that could have if she is on the ticket on the Republican side with the whole gender/race issue being bounced about on the Dem side.  
[ Parent ]
Yup. (0.00 / 0)
1) True, Clark would be a good second choice. The disadvantage is that he has never actually won an election and he has been pretty much invisible for the past 2 years. But Clark would be a solid pick and I'd be very happy with him.

2) Exactly. It's Webb's Edwards-style populism, appeal to rural voters and 2md Amendment Democrats that would make him especially valuable to the ticket.

I think that the key to convincing Webb to do it would be taking his own obsession with Andrew Jackson and throwing it right back at him. General Jackson didn't really want to get into politics at first. He only decided to run for President when he was convinced that it was his duty to his country and that it was the only way for him to advance the interests of the people whom he was the most concerned about.

After this past year in the Senate, certainly Webb has noticed how ponderously slow his work is in that setting. As Vice President, he'd be in a position to have an executive portfolio of his own (like Gore and Cheney did) through which to advance his social goals by using both the executive branch and his connections in the Senate (which he would become President of).

[ Parent ]
The Cincinnatus effect (0.00 / 0)
[ Parent ]
A (4.00 / 1)
Obama-Clinton ticket or Clinton-Obama ticket is the "dream" ticket. We would crush the rethugs. Just a landslide.
Otherwise Clark or Richardson or Dodd even.
Clinton-Obama if she wins (0.00 / 0)
I think Hillary will almost have to take Barack as her running mate to ease the tensions and bad blood and reconsolidate the base after this primary season.

However, I don't think the reverse is true. In fact, I don't see how Barack can put Hillary on his ticket without really hurting his message of change from the status quo ante.

Webb and Richardson seem like good fits for Barack's ticket (depending upon if they endorse him when it matters), as do Sebelius or Napolitano.

It'll be an interesting next 12 days.  

[ Parent ]
doubt it (0.00 / 0)
If you analyze the HRC personality this just will not happen. You know those behavior/personality screening some of us take with our employers? maybe we should have our candidates take that where we would most liklely see here that the two personalities would not/could not co-exist. Its like Type A and B in our workplaces.
As to Webb. Would he not make a better cabinet member with his background than a VP. I would rather see him take a cabinet position, like Sec of Defense than the VP slot. If it comes down between losing him as a Senator to be the VP I am not in support of that. Think for a second. How long has it been since we had two Democratic Senators? Do not get of course here and hijack what really matters in the long term and thats our Virginia. Webb resigns and the door gets swung wide open again with two contested Senate seats up for grabs. Think Warner, John Warner, and the longevity issues that would benefit Virginia if Webb stayed in the Senate.
[ Parent ]
Not a dream ticket. (0.00 / 0)
I don't see either of these candidates being good for the ticket of the other.

Both Clinton and Obama lack foreign policy and defense experience. McCain will bludgeon them with that. Either nominee will need to address the vulnerability by choosing a running mate who adds that kind of experience.

What you are suggesting here is not really a dream ticket. It's a convenient thing to suggest in close, bitter fight that has exposed a gulf between factions of the party. But it's not very practical.
 

[ Parent ]
Maybe it's me.... (4.00 / 1)
but if you listened closely to the arguments Barrack was making about the decision to go to war with IRAQ, they could have been lifted from Webb's campaign.

Where Obama comes off as Intelligent, Articulate and Thoughtful, a gentlemanly scholar,  Webb compliments those virtues (officer & gentleman) and he adds the aura of being a hard ass fighter. Webb is the perfect foil personified to a John McCain.

OBAMA WEBB 08  

Forgot about McCain (4.00 / 2)
Indeed, Webb is the perfect foil! Good point!

VBDems.org - Blogging our way to Democratic wins in Virginia Beach! Go RK!  
[ Parent ]
Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves . . . n/t (4.00 / 1)

I don't believe we are at all. (4.00 / 2)
The prospect of an Obama/Webb ticket gets me fired up, and I presume gets others fired up, to work doubly hard to make sure that Barack Obama wins the Democratic nomination.  It all fits together, at least the way I look at it, and certainly doesn't have to be in rigid chronological order.  Hope is a powerful thing!

Thank you for visiting RK! Click here to learn how to join Virginia's progressive online community.
[ Parent ]
How audacious of you, Lowell! (0.00 / 0)
;)

VBDems.org - Blogging our way to Democratic wins in Virginia Beach! Go RK!  
[ Parent ]
don't lose site of the impact on Virginia (4.00 / 1)
While he may benefit the road to the White House, the wake in Virginia politics it leaves behing could be substantial Lowell and alot of your efforts and hardwork could get tossed for a VP slot? Keep him in the Senate my friend. Virginia will need strong leadership in the coming years.
[ Parent ]
But it clears up the seat for a run by none other than (0.00 / 0)
TIM KAINE


I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna soak the fat boys and spread it out thin.
[ Parent ]
point taken (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
If Obama's weakness is experience... (0.00 / 1)
I don't see how someone with 23 months of public service helps out.
excuse me? 23 months in the Senate, perhaps (4.00 / 2)
but his public service includes

about 4 years on active duty in the Marine Corps

4 years on House staff for Committee on Veterans Affair

3 years as Assistant Sec Def for Reserve Affairs

about a year as Sec Nav

that means he will have about 13-14 years of public service by the election  -  That is more than sufficient

[ Parent ]
Thanks Ken (0.00 / 0)
Where do people come up with stuff like "23 months of public service?"   Webb has more experience than just about anyone I can think of, unless you're only counted years running for elective office.

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[ Parent ]
I'm troll rating that comment (0.00 / 0)
because it's just the kind of idiocy that causes real trouble.

Webb was a genius candidate for the Senate specifically because of his LIFETIME of exemplary, heroic, triumphant, and unparalleled public service.

I'm going to refrain from namecalling, but only because it's against the rules here.  



Don't believe the lies about Obama.

[ Parent ]
That is BS. (0.00 / 0)
Webb has had a long career in public service before running for Senate. Like, say, running the entire United States Navy.
[ Parent ]
Plenty of reasons Webb would make a great choice for Obama (0.00 / 0)
1. He is a Southerner. The last successful Democratic ticket without a Southerner was ... well, I guess if we consider Missouri a southern state, it was 1940, when the ticket was Roosevelt and that other guy.

2. Strong military record that neutralizes McCain's to some degree. Also, his military background will be needed when the GOP attacks start that withdrawing from Iraq is tantamount to surrender.

3. Webb knows how to rip apart an opponent without seeming nasty. He just comes across as no-nonsense.  Again, go watch him take Lindsay Graham apart in their MTP encounter several months ago.

You are thinking of 1944... (0.00 / 0)

When Truman was the running mate.  

In 1940, the running mate was Henry Wallace (from Iowa), who later formed the Progressive Party.  My dad worked on that campaign, and has the pictures to prove it :-).

[ Parent ]
That's pretty cool (0.00 / 0)
but I meant 1940, since if we assume Missouri is a Southern state, then 1944 included a Southerner (Truman)
[ Parent ]
Webb is from Missouri... (0.00 / 0)
[ Parent ]
A problem with Webb... (0.00 / 0)
...are the statements he made in the 1970s and 1980s about women in the military, even though he says he has changed his views and has certainly not acted in accordance with them.  There's no question that if Webb is named for VP, those statements will be among the first things the media pick up on.

The first duty of either Clinton or Obama, if they do not want to put the 'loser' on the ticket or if that person turns it down, is to avoid making a choice that would rub salt into the wounds.  If Clinton wins, that means a nondescript white male like Evan Bayh or Tom Vilsack, for Obama, it means someone like Jim Webb.

Thats stuff was all aired out (0.00 / 0)
pretty extensively during the Allen-Webb race.

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[ Parent ]
Yes, but only in Virginia... (0.00 / 0)
...IIRC, that stuff did not become a big national story (unlike 'macaca').  To those outside Virginia, it would be relatively new--and would further upset Hillary Clinton supporters.
[ Parent ]