VP Mark Dayton?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Yeah I know it's going to be laughed at by the guy who seriously suggested Martha Coakley.

But let's stop and think:

-Strong campaign skills. Won in two GOP wave years.
-Solid progressive and a very capable Governor. One of the most successful in the country, brought in marriage equality and a more progressive tax structure.
-Not a Senator so no risk of his seat especially with how many Democratic Senators have Republican Governors now. And devastation of the Democratic Gubernatorial bench leaves him strong there.

Not many downsides really for Hillary. May not be the most inspiring fellow but the main purpose of a VP candidate in my view is not do any harm, and as far as that goes he's pretty well off.

[Suburbia]

Good choice. Midwest appeal. Classic Democratic values and could appeal to independents like me.

[IceSpear]

Yeah, if Hillary wants to go the "do no harm/give a gift to the base" route, Dayton or Merkley would probably be best. If she's trying to get a boost in a swing state, then Kaine or Brown. And then of course there's Castro as the dark horse.

[morgieb]

Pretty sound choice. Age could be a concern though.

[IceSpear]

Pretty sound choice. Age could be a concern though.

Good point, he is pretty old. It would also depend on whether or not he can maintain his popularity over the next two years.

[Maxwell]

Dayton would have problems explaining his Senate record, and he's pretty consistently underperformed fellow Democrats in Minnesota. I'm not sure he's a solid pick.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

That would be a really good choice, especially since the Midwest will likely trend Republican again.

[KCDem]

Another Democrat who blew his comfortable lead? and who underperformed Al Franken? No thank you.

[Mr. Morden]

If Gillibrand was at the top of the ticket rather than Clinton, this would make some sense, but I doubt a 69 year old presidential nominee is going to pick a fellow 69 year old as her running mate.

[jd1433]

Hahahaha.... That's hilarious...

Nominating a dumber than $hit white rich trust fund baby who hasn't seriously worked a day in his life that couldn't campaign his way out of a paper bag from a state that wont help Dems one bit in 2016?

Please...please do this! Not only would you rid us of probably the most $hit for brains Governor in the country, but you would have actually succeeded in adding a net minus onto your national candidates ticket.


Never thought I would say this, but Franken ran a 10 times better campaign than Dayton did. Actually kind of impressed me in a "worthy adversary" sort of way.

If Johnson wasn't such a tool and instead GOP fielded a quality candidate, Dayton wouldn't have been able to muster any talent to combat the wave (like a Hickenlooper, Malloy, or Shaheen). Instead he would have been ran right over like Quinn.

[Mister Mets]

Bad choice. He's elderly, and his Senate record is abysmal. That isn't something Democrats want to highlight, along with his alcoholism and previous treatment for mild depression.

He's been a decent Governor by all accounts, although he barely won his initial election, narrowly winning a primary and beating a far-right state legislature by 0.4%.

[Maxwell]

If anything, Al Franken sounds more appealing. More liberal, but most importantly, won on running as a liberal in a light blue state (a state with an appallingly weak state GOP, but nevertheless).

[socaldem]

Bad choice. He's elderly, and his Senate record is abysmal. That isn't something Democrats want to highlight, along with his alcoholism and previous treatment for mild depression.

He's been a decent Governor by all accounts, although he barely won his initial election, narrowly winning a primary and beating a far-right state legislature by 0.4%.

I'd like to think the country is beyond this but we don't want a Muskie repeat...

Plus he was a boring senator and is an underwhelming governor. There are numerous better candidates better suited for VP.

[morgieb]

If anything, Al Franken sounds more appealing. More liberal, but most importantly, won on running as a liberal in a light blue state (a state with an appallingly weak state GOP, but nevertheless).

Worry with Franken is that his past career might be more relevant if running for Veep and could be good attack material for the Pubs.

[BaconBacon96]

He has his benefits although he his age is probably holding him back there.

[Fritz]

As a Minnesotan who voted for Dayton's re-election yesterday, I will nonetheless agree with other posters that he is a poor choice for VP.

[Mister Mets]

If anything, Al Franken sounds more appealing. More liberal, but most importantly, won on running as a liberal in a light blue state (a state with an appallingly weak state GOP, but nevertheless).

Worry with Franken is that his past career might be more relevant if running for Veep and could be good attack material for the Pubs.

I don't think an elderly celebrity is a great fit for Hillary, but Franken has been a sober and serious Senator, and an effective spokesman for liberal values, so I do see the argument.

He'd be a solid match for a Julian Castro of Cory Booker.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Yeah, he's too old. I think Tim Kaine would be the best pick for Hillary.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Age could be a problem, especially if he's to be paired with Hillary.

[Brewer]

Hahahaha.... That's hilarious...

Nominating a dumber than $hit white rich trust fund baby who hasn't seriously worked a day in his life that couldn't campaign his way out of a paper bag from a state that wont help Dems one bit in 2016?

Please...please do this! Not only would you rid us of probably the most $hit for brains Governor in the country, but you would have actually succeeded in adding a net minus onto your national candidates ticket.


Never thought I would say this, but Franken ran a 10 times better campaign than Dayton did. Actually kind of impressed me in a "worthy adversary" sort of way.

If Johnson wasn't such a tool and instead GOP fielded a quality candidate, Dayton wouldn't have been able to muster any talent to combat the wave (like a Hickenlooper, Malloy, or Shaheen). Instead he would have been ran right over like Quinn.

While I like Dayton a lot, I must say I agree that he'd be a poor VP candidate for reasons already stated. However, I've just got to point out the fact that I actually laughed out loud at this post. Those last two sentences? Man, you should honestly find a career in comedy.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Hahahaha.... That's hilarious...

Nominating a dumber than $hit white rich trust fund baby who hasn't seriously worked a day in his life that couldn't campaign his way out of a paper bag from a state that wont help Dems one bit in 2016?

Please...please do this! Not only would you rid us of probably the most $hit for brains Governor in the country, but you would have actually succeeded in adding a net minus onto your national candidates ticket.


Never thought I would say this, but Franken ran a 10 times better campaign than Dayton did. Actually kind of impressed me in a "worthy adversary" sort of way.

If Johnson wasn't such a tool and instead GOP fielded a quality candidate, Dayton wouldn't have been able to muster any talent to combat the wave (like a Hickenlooper, Malloy, or Shaheen). Instead he would have been ran right over like Quinn.

While I like Dayton a lot, I must say I agree that he'd be a poor VP candidate for reasons already stated. However, I've just got to point out the fact that I actually laughed out loud at this post. Those last two sentences? Man, you should honestly find a career in comedy.

I'm not the biggest Dayton fan, but the idea that he has no campaigning skills is hilarious. The Republicans picked up the MA, MD, and IL governorships. With a terrible campaigner, MN would have flipped, too.

[Skill and Chance]

No, I don't think he has the charisma by any stretch of the imagination.  At this point, I think the only logical choices left are Hassan, Hickenlooper, or Kaine.  I would lean toward Hickenlooper because it looks like she needs some help in the West.  He also enacted the entire national Dem agenda in a swing state and survived 2014, which is more than anyone else can say right now.

[IceSpear]

No, I don't think he has the charisma by any stretch of the imagination.  At this point, I think the only logical choices left are Hassan, Hickenlooper, or Kaine.  I would lean toward Hickenlooper because it looks like she needs some help in the West.  He also enacted the entire national Dem agenda in a swing state and survived 2014, which is more than anyone else can say right now.

Hickenlooper has no spine. But maybe that would be a plus for a VP.

[Mister Mets]

No, I don't think he has the charisma by any stretch of the imagination.  At this point, I think the only logical choices left are Hassan, Hickenlooper, or Kaine.  I would lean toward Hickenlooper because it looks like she needs some help in the West.  He also enacted the entire national Dem agenda in a swing state and survived 2014, which is more than anyone else can say right now.

Clinton has a decent amount of choices.

I think Clinton won't pick a woman, and will be less likely to pick someone in their 60s or older. But that leaves plenty of options.

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet has major experise on education.
When Julian Castro became HUD Secretary, Democrats basically built HRC a plausible Hispanic running mate.
Xavier Becerra is another Hispanic guy who can help her with Congress.
Cory Booker impresses Obama voters, without the baggage of the Obama administration.
Gavin Newsom is a young westerner who led the way on gay marriage.
Anthony Foxx could help with African-American turnout, and make North Carolina more competitive.