If Obama had picked a different VP...

[Orser67]

If Obama had picked a different VP (particularly a younger one), how well do you think that VP would be positioned to run in 2016? Do you think Clinton would still be considered the favorite by most people?

Some of the options:
-Bayh (currently 59 years old)
-Kaine (56)
-Sebelius (66)

[Del Tachi]

If Obama's primary motivation in choosing a VP in 2008 would have been establishing a clear successor, he would have picked Clinton.  Biden was chosen as VP in part because he was clearly not in a position to succeed Obama.

[Blair]

Read in Game Changer that Sebelius and Bayh were both considered weak choices who simply weren't good enough to be VP.

I still think that Obama should of picked Jack Reed. Foreign policy credentials and elder statesmen image imo

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Read in Game Changer that Sebelius and Bayh were both considered weak choices who simply weren't good enough to be VP.

I thought Game Change said that it was a coin flip between Bayh & Biden. Probably would've been Bayh had he not been Hillary's most likely VP.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Bayh would have been an unbelievably terrible choice. I would not have voted for Obama.

[Vega]

I don't know why Sebelius would have been considered. She is a Cabinet type politician.

[IceSpear]

She'd probably still be leading them by a huge margin, but by a lot less than she's currently leading Biden.

[Bull Moose Base]

If Sebelius were VP, 2016 chatter for her would have started back in 2008. I'd guess she and Hillary would probably poll fairly close now. The other guys wouldn't be nearly as close but I agree with Ice they'd be closer than Biden.

[Blair]

Read in Game Changer that Sebelius and Bayh were both considered weak choices who simply weren't good enough to be VP.

I thought Game Change said that it was a coin flip between Bayh & Biden. Probably would've been Bayh had he not been Hillary's most likely VP.

Yeah I couldn't remember if it was Bayh or Kaine who was considered crap along with Sebelius

[pbrower2a]

One reason for selecting Joe Biden was that he lived off his Senate income with practically no personal assets other than his home and his savings. He could never be connected to any corrupt deals or conflicts of interest.

[RFayette]

Bayh would have been an unbelievably terrible choice. I would not have voted for Obama.

Could you please elaborate?

[Mister Mets]

Interesting question.

I think there would have been a lot of behind the scenes manuevering.

It might be like California with Newsom and Harris both wanting the governorship.

[Bull Moose Base]

Interesting question.

I think there would have been a lot of behind the scenes manuevering.

It might be like California with Newsom and Harris both wanting the governorship.

She can't want it that badly if she's running for senate 2 years before it opens up.

[Jerseyrules]

Al Gore might've been fun.  And minus Rielle Hunter, I feel like John Edwards could've been a solid choice.  Good-looking, fairly charismatic, solid liberal credentials, national exposure from being Kerry's number 2 in 04.  But what would've become of Joe Biden?  Secretary of State instead of Hillary?

[ShadowRocket]

Al Gore might've been fun.  And minus Rielle Hunter, I feel like John Edwards could've been a solid choice.  Good-looking, fairly charismatic, solid liberal credentials, national exposure from being Kerry's number 2 in 04.  But what would've become of Joe Biden?  Secretary of State binstead of Hillary?

I was wondering the same thing. Would Obama have pick Biden as SoS instead and appoint Hillary to another cabinet position (Secretary of Defense perhaps), or does she remain in the Senate?

I mean, her time as SoS played a huge part in her current position right now. Would she still be the prohibitive frontrunner if she had remain a Senator or served in the Cabinet in a different capacity?

[Jerseyrules]

Al Gore might've been fun.  And minus Rielle Hunter, I feel like John Edwards could've been a solid choice.  Good-looking, fairly charismatic, solid liberal credentials, national exposure from being Kerry's number 2 in 04.  But what would've become of Joe Biden?  Secretary of State binstead of Hillary?

I was wondering the same thing. Would Obama have pick Biden as SoS instead and appoint Hillary to another cabinet position (Secretary of Defense perhaps), or does she remain in the Senate?

I mean, her time as SoS played a huge part in her current position right now. Would she still be the prohibitive frontrunner if she had remain a Senator or served in the Cabinet in a different capacity?

I feel like if she wasn't appointed Secretary of State, she wouldn't have a political incentive to take another cabinet position.  Other than State (and potentially even State), no position would offer her the national coverage that she'd receive by staying in the Senate, supporting (or on perhaps a few occasions opposing) the President's agenda.

She'd also maintain the independence to distance herself from the President if/when necessary to keep herself clear of any association with the administration come 2016, but that offers up a greater chance of being challenged from the left.  Warren v. Hillary 2016?  Or would Warren still believe the benefits of having the first female President outweigh ideological impurity?

[Mister Mets]

Interesting question.

I think there would have been a lot of behind the scenes manuevering.

It might be like California with Newsom and Harris both wanting the governorship.

She can't want it that badly if she's running for senate 2 years before it opens up.

That came after Newsom essentially forced her hand.

Al Gore might've been fun.  And minus Rielle Hunter, I feel like John Edwards could've been a solid choice.  Good-looking, fairly charismatic, solid liberal credentials, national exposure from being Kerry's number 2 in 04.  But what would've become of Joe Biden?  Secretary of State binstead of Hillary?

I was wondering the same thing. Would Obama have pick Biden as SoS instead and appoint Hillary to another cabinet position (Secretary of Defense perhaps), or does she remain in the Senate?

I mean, her time as SoS played a huge part in her current position right now. Would she still be the prohibitive frontrunner if she had remain a Senator or served in the Cabinet in a different capacity?

Apparently Obama offered Biden his choice of being Veep or Secretary of State.

Clinton might not be the prohibitive frontrunner if she hadn't served as Secretary of State. It gave her a higher profile, while allowing her to take credit with Obama supporters for working in his administration. If she wasn't given this chance, the biggest opportunity for her might have been Governor of New York.

This is a What If, so we could just imagine Biden rubbing Obama the wrong way, and Obama still picking Clinton as Secretary of State.

[Jerseyrules]

Al Gore might've been fun.  And minus Rielle Hunter, I feel like John Edwards could've been a solid choice.  Good-looking, fairly charismatic, solid liberal credentials, national exposure from being Kerry's number 2 in 04.  But what would've become of Joe Biden?  Secretary of State binstead of Hillary?

I was wondering the same thing. Would Obama have pick Biden as SoS instead and appoint Hillary to another cabinet position (Secretary of Defense perhaps), or does she remain in the Senate?

I mean, her time as SoS played a huge part in her current position right now. Would she still be the prohibitive frontrunner if she had remain a Senator or served in the Cabinet in a different capacity?

Apparently Obama offered Biden his choice of being Veep or Secretary of State.

Clinton might not be the prohibitive frontrunner if she hadn't served as Secretary of State. It gave her a higher profile, while allowing her to take credit with Obama supporters for working in his administration. If she wasn't given this chance, the biggest opportunity for her might have been Governor of New York.

This is a What If, so we could just imagine Biden rubbing Obama the wrong way, and Obama still picking Clinton as Secretary of State.
[/quote]

That's really interesting, I didn't know Obama had such a deep respect/preference for Biden.  Were the two really close during their time in the Senate together?

[Intell]

Initial VP Choices considerd by the public

Major Presidential Contenders Considered for VP 

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York
Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico
Senator Joe Biden of Delaware

Governors Considerd for VP

Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia
Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania
Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas
Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana

Senators Considered for VP

Senator and former Governor Evan Bayh of Indiana
Former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island

[Intell]

Short List Candidates Considerd by the Media

Delaware Senator Joe Biden
Indiana Senator Evan Bayh
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed
Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd

[Intell]

Obama's Final List for VP Choice

Senator Joe Biden of Delaware
Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana
Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia
Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Bayh would have been an unbelievably terrible choice. I would not have voted for Obama.

Could you please elaborate?

The worst of the thankfully defunct right-wing DLC.

[Mister Mets]

Al Gore might've been fun.  And minus Rielle Hunter, I feel like John Edwards could've been a solid choice.  Good-looking, fairly charismatic, solid liberal credentials, national exposure from being Kerry's number 2 in 04.  But what would've become of Joe Biden?  Secretary of State binstead of Hillary?

I was wondering the same thing. Would Obama have pick Biden as SoS instead and appoint Hillary to another cabinet position (Secretary of Defense perhaps), or does she remain in the Senate?

I mean, her time as SoS played a huge part in her current position right now. Would she still be the prohibitive frontrunner if she had remain a Senator or served in the Cabinet in a different capacity?

Apparently Obama offered Biden his choice of being Veep or Secretary of State.

Clinton might not be the prohibitive frontrunner if she hadn't served as Secretary of State. It gave her a higher profile, while allowing her to take credit with Obama supporters for working in his administration. If she wasn't given this chance, the biggest opportunity for her might have been Governor of New York.

This is a What If, so we could just imagine Biden rubbing Obama the wrong way, and Obama still picking Clinton as Secretary of State.

That's really interesting, I didn't know Obama had such a deep respect/preference for Biden.  Were the two really close during their time in the Senate together?
[/quote]Not really. They developed more respect for one another during the primary, and the aftermath.

At the time Obama was willing to select Biden as his running mate, he presumably had a high opinion of the guy.

Random link on the topic, which I think was in Game Change.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2009/01/jill-biden-tell/

[Blair]

Still wonder if Al Gore would of been a good choice? Can't see him wanting to be a VP again for 8 years but really well qualified, and Gore 2016?

[Rockefeller GOP]

All I know is that Delaware would have fallen right into the GOP's hands!