Who should Hillary pick as her VP choice?

[Mister Mets]

Regarding age…..keep in mind that 73 year old Bob Dole picked 61 year old Jack Kemp to be his running mate in 1996.  So no, I don't think it's out of the question for Clinton to pick someone over 60.  If there's a really compelling reason for her to do it, she would do it.  But over 70 (that is, as old as Biden is now, or older)?  Yeah, that's not going to happen.

Dole/ Kemp lost, and Democrats have a preference for younger candidates, as well as a good record with them (Presidents JFK, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama) so that party's more likely to go younger.

Even older Republicans tend to pick younger running mates. Ike went with a Senator who wasn't even 40. Ford dumped Rockefeller for a guy 15 years younger. McCain had Palin. Romney had Ryan.

There would have to be a compelling reason to go with someone older.

56 year old George HW Bush had great foreign policy/ national security/ business experience, a good fit for a celebrity turned Governor. Kemp had a following on economic issues, and a national reputation from his decades in Congress/ previous presidential bids. Hickenlooper would still be older, and Mark Udall would be elderly.

Democrats may end up nominating two people in their 60s. But the other person would have to bring something big to the ticket, to make them a better choice than a younger generic Democrat.

[Mordecai]

Also, I meant Susan Rice not Condi Rice. Hillary won't pick her because she's not a safe enough pick. But she's probably more qualified to be president than almost anyone else on that there list (and has more relevant experience than anyone in the buzzed about Republican field). But I think don't think Hillary will consider any of the names on my list.

Besides, my posts expire after 6 days.

I agree and I think Rice is on track to becoming Secretary of State in a Clinton administration.

What about Mark Udall or Hickenlooper instead of Bennet?

We'll see how their reelections go.

Both are in their 60s. That could be an issue. I really don't see Hillary Clinton selecting an older running mate unless he brings something incredible to the ticket.

Voted Biden, Kerry, Napolitano, Rice. Gore wouldn't accept.

You think Biden would want to be VP again? Or that Kerry would accept? They'd both be well into their 70s in 2016, have the baggage of their entire political careers and wouldn't energize the base at all. Rice is also still a Republican and tainted by the Bush administration. I think that considering Hillary is carrying the baggage of Benghazi, she should be looking for someone outside the Obama administration.

Most importantly and absolutely essential..........
NOT A WOMAN!

I agree with this also. I don't get why people would think another woman would be a realistic choice. Or someone even older than Hillary. Or has-beens like Biden and Kerry. Or city mayors and lieutenant governors.

In most cases, I agree with you.

Castro does bring something unique to the ticket, even though it would be a major distraction to have the Democrats forced to debate whether he's qualified for national office in a way that wouldn't apply to Steve Bullock (who has been Governor for less time for a state with a smaller population.)

I don't think Newsom's a great choice, but I can't see Hillary completely ignoring one of the few current officeholders who backed her over Obama in '08.

Both mayors have somewhat high profiles, which may make it an easier sell to the people who care about that stuff. Giving a national address in 2012 or gaining national attention in 2004 make the mayors seem like plausible candidates for national office.

I just don't see Hillary taking that kind of risk with Castro. I think Newsom would be under consideration if he had won the nomination for Governor.

Speaking of Hillary 2008 supporters, what do you think about Joe Sestak? He was a three-star Navy Admiral and was Bill Clinton's Director for Defense. He served two terms in the House representing Pennsylvania. He's currently considering running for the Senate in 2016 so he's still interested in national politics. The downside is that he'd be 65 by the end of 2016.

[Mister Mets]

Tim Ryan, a 40 year old Ohio Congressman has given keynote speeches for Ready for Hillary fundraisers. He was elected to Congress at 29, and is a member of the appropriations committee.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/12/you-can-never-be-too-ready-for-hillary/282354/

I'm wondering if he's trying to establish himself as the Democratic version of another Congressman Ryan, one who was just on a national campaign.

I don't think Hillary should pick him, but I could definitely see it.

[BaconBacon96]

John Hickenlooper. He's a popular governor whose domestic experience balances Hillary's experience in foreign afffairs. He's also a Washington outsider so there's less baggage there.

[henster]

Tim Ryan, a 40 year old Ohio Congressman has given keynote speeches for Ready for Hillary fundraisers. He was elected to Congress at 29, and is a member of the appropriations committee.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/12/you-can-never-be-too-ready-for-hillary/282354/

I'm wondering if he's trying to establish himself as the Democratic version of another Congressman Ryan, one who was just on a national campaign.

I don't think Hillary should pick him, but I could definitely see it.

If Hillary is picking anyone from Ohio it's Sherrod Brown definitely it's been proven that people from the House do not make good picks for VP's Hillary will pick someone who's won statewide before.

John Hickenlooper. He's a popular governor whose domestic experience balances Hillary's experience in foreign afffairs. He's also a Washington outsider so there's less baggage there.

I would've said Hickenlooper maybe a year ago but he's certainty fallen from grace his approval rating has dropped dramatically and it's looking likely his race will be competitive next year. Also he's too old Hillary is probably gonna pick someone much younger than herself.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

She needs to go left.

Brown, Fraken, Baldwin, Warren, Hirono.

Gore or Dean could work, too.

Maybe a couple others on that list (O' Malley? Schweitzer?) , I didn't carefully consider every one.

[morgieb]

How about Martin Heinrich?

I thought Bennett would be the best solution but obviously he's got a Senate race to run in 2016.

[Brewer]

How about Martin Heinrich?

I thought Bennett would be the best solution but obviously he's got a Senate race to run in 2016.

From what I've seen, Martin Heinrich is unbelievably boring and robotic, but I could be wrong on this.

[windjammer]

Jay Nixon

[henster]

I think Hillary should pick a Governor but the question is who? The Dems Governor bench is pretty weak the only good potential candidate is Steve Bullock of Montana. And what if Clinton picks Heinrich and Christie picks Martinez?

[BaconBacon96]

Jay Nixon

This. I said Hickenlooper earlier, but if Clinton wants to gain rural votes, than this will help.

[Frodo]

Jay Nixon

This. I said Hickenlooper earlier, but if Clinton wants to gain rural votes, than this will help.

Another possible option is Gov. Steve Beshear of Kentucky. 

[Brewer]

Jay Nixon

This. I said Hickenlooper earlier, but if Clinton wants to gain rural votes, than this will help.

Another possible option is Gov. Steve Beshear of Kentucky. 

Age would be an issue, but of course the healthcare rollout in KY was very successful, so who knows what way that would go. I probably wouldn't support the ticket, however.

[Suburbia]

I think that Evan Bayh or Dick Gephardt would be good choices. They may provide a huge boost to the Midwest, and they are relatively safe choices. O'Malley would be good and Sherrod Brown could help in Ohio, Kentucky.

[SWE]

These choices are all terrible

[Suburbia]

These choices are all terrible

Do you think that Bernie Sanders would be a bold choice for Hillary?

[henster]

Still hoping for Klobuchar as Hillary's VP.

Also think Klobuchar would be a great VP pick for Clinton she would help her in the Midwest/Rust Belt especially if Walker is the nominee. Clinton seems weak in Iowa and Wisconsin could be in play with Walker, Klobuchar has farm connections and would play well with the rural population.

[history nerd]

I think Hillary needs a westerner in order to be compete. She won't need to worry about the north east and should do decent in the south depending on who the GOP picks. I would love for her to run with Schwietzer but I think we all know that won't happen. Next up would be Hickenlooper who I think would be a good choice. Beyond that I think either Michael Bennet (CO) or Martin Heinrich (NM) would be good choices. They may be relative unkowns but they could be the blank (western) canvas she needs. I would say go with a Udall but they are both too old to balance with Clinton at this point.

[Mordecai]

I think Hillary needs a westerner in order to be compete. She won't need to worry about the north east and should do decent in the south depending on who the GOP picks. I would love for her to run with Schwietzer but I think we all know that won't happen. Next up would be Hickenlooper who I think would be a good choice. Beyond that I think either Michael Bennet (CO) or Martin Heinrich (NM) would be good choices. They may be relative unkowns but they could be the blank (western) canvas she needs. I would say go with a Udall but they are both too old to balance with Clinton at this point.

I agree with this.

[Randy Bobandy]

A gay.

[whanztastic]

A gay.

Wow.

[Bull Moose Base]

No one really picks a running mate based on geography or swing state. The most likely profile would be a younger, male governor but at the same time, there are plausible scenarios where she picks a female senator in her 60s: needs to pick Warren to energize the base, has a double-digit lead and picks Murray, etc.