2008: If Obama picked Dick Gephardt (D-MO) as his VP

[Suburbia]

In June and July of 2008, some Democrats wanted former House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt on Obama's ticket. What if in 2008, then Sen-Barack Obama (D-IL) had picked former Missouri congressman Richard A. Gephardt as his running mate, instead of Joe Biden?
-What would be his upsides and downsides?
-Would have Gephardt's lobbying work undermine the campaign?
-How would Gephardt have done against Sarah Palin in a VP debate?
-Would Missouri have went Obama's way?
-Would Gephardt bring any other states?
-What would he have brought to the ticket?
-Would Gephardt have been a charisma drain on the ticket?
http://www.usnews.com/news/campaign-2008/articles/2008/07/01/gop-envisions-gephardt-as-possible-obama-running-mate

[DKrol]

Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL/Fmr. HML Dick Gephardt, D-MO - 385
Sen. John McCain, R-AZ/Gov. Sarah Palin, R-AK - 153

Gephardt brings in a Mid-western appeal that helps swing the close states of Missouri, Montana, and Arkansas.

[MATTROSE94]

Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL/Fmr. HML Dick Gephardt, D-MO - 385
Sen. John McCain, R-AZ/Gov. Sarah Palin, R-AK - 153

Gephardt brings in a Mid-western appeal that helps swing the close states of Missouri, Montana, and Arkansas.

That looks about right, give or take Arkansas though.

[TX Conservative Dem]

What would be the percentage be between Obama and McCain ?

[MATTROSE94]

What would be the percentage be between Obama and McCain ?

I would image probably about the same in most states, though Dick Gephardt's presence in the ticket might have increased Obama's margins in parts of the Midwest and labor-union heavy areas due to Gephardt's pro-labor voting record.

[Maxwell]

Dick Gephardt would not add much. The same map, maybe even minus Indiana.

[SteveRogers]

Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL/Fmr. HML Dick Gephardt, D-MO - 385
Sen. John McCain, R-AZ/Gov. Sarah Palin, R-AK - 153

What? No. That's absurdly unlikely. No VP pick has that kind of impact.

Gephardt brings in a Mid-western appeal that helps swing the close states of Missouri, Montana, and Arkansas.

??

[TX Conservative Dem]

Obama carrying Arkansas?

I seriously doubt it due to deep racial hostility down there.

I'd still have Indiana going to Obama though.

[WillTheMormon]

[Mister Mets]

Obama would likely have carried Missouri. The presence of a native on the ticket is probably worth 0.13% of the vote.

Obama did lose Arkansas by 19 points. Gephardt would not have helped there.

Nor would Gephardt's midwestern appeal be likely to be worth over two points in Montana.

There would be a slight question about Biden in another office. Apparently Obama offered Biden a choice between Veep and Secretary of State. So perhaps Hillary Clinton would have become the first female Secretary of Defense instead.

If Biden stayed in the Senate, Kerry might have been unhappy. He wouldn't have become Chairman of the Foreign Relations committee, a position he liked. It's possible he would have quit. Or maybe things would have worked out the same for him.