John Bell Edwards: Dark Horse Vice Presidential Pick

[Lief 🗽]

Would Governor-elect John Bell Edwards (D-LA) be a good VP choice for Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)? I think he'd give her a real boost.

Hillary Clinton (D-NY)/John Bell Edwards (R-LA): 331 EV
Marco Rubio (R-FL)/John Kasich (R-OH): 207 EV

[Maxwell]

I haven't heard a better idea in years since I've been here.

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

Horrible. He'll have been governor for less than a year and already vying for higher office. If Hillary loses it seals his fate for 2019.

[Horsemask]

Not for 2016.

But if he might be an option for later cycles.

[Türkisblau]

GREAT idea!

Can't Quell the Bel!!!

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I haven't heard a better idea in years since I've been here.

[Lief 🗽]

Horrible. He'll have been governor for less than a year and already vying for higher office. If Hillary loses it seals his fate for 2019.

Nope. No, he won't run for a second term as LA Gov in 2019 so he can focus on his 2020 presidential run.

[Lief 🗽]

GREAT idea!

Can't Quell the Bel!!!

[RFayette]

I haven't heard a better idea in years since I've been here.

Agreed, though Bell's stances on abortion and gun control may be problematic if Hillary chooses to hammer Rubio on holding similar positions.

[Suburbia]

It would be good. It would send a message that Southern Democrats are making a slow comeback.

[Lief 🗽]

Crazy 2016 Democratic primaries scenario. Young people turn out for Bernie in Iowa, he wins by 3% on a freezing February night. He gets a big boost in NH and ends up defeating Clinton by double digits. Shock NBC/WSJ national poll: Sanders 52, Clinton 45. Democrats are panicking. Debbie Wasserman-Schulz calls an emergency DNC meeting. The party establishment decides to put up John Bell Edwards. It's five days until the South Carolina primary, but the DNC buys $3 million in ads. Amidst claims of "ballot-stuffing" by the Sanders folks, the final result: Edwards 43, Sanders 42, Clinton 15. Clinton backs out the next day and endorses John Bell Edwards. Edwards wins all but one state on Super Tuesday and becomes the nominee. What happens next?

[Mister Mets]

I could see him being vetted.

Clinton does have plenty of alternatives, but it gives a good narrative for Democrats (er- aside from the unfortunate name) and a middle aged guy will appear experienced.

[morgieb]

Yes please. CAN'T QUELL THE BEL!

[Vosem]

Yes, David Vitter was a stunningly bad candidate and the outgoing Governor was very unpopular...but being elected as a Democrat in Louisiana in 2015 is still very impressive. If he wins re-election in 2019, he'd definitely be viewed as a national office possibility. (Or if the GOP wins 2016 I could see Edwards pulling a Mitt Romney, stepping down in 2019 and just immediately seeking national office. He does seem like an ambitious fellow to me).

[Holmes]

Definitely someone to keep an eye on if he wins re-election and is still popular at the end of his tenure as Governor. I don't know if he'd be able to go far on a national level as a Democrat unless he softens his stance on some positions, but he might be able to be the flag bearer of a Democratic resurgence in the South post-Obama.

[Asian Nazi]

Lol no

[Xing]

He's got a future, that's for sure, but next year is probably too soon.

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

Assuming the following statement is sarcastic,

I haven't heard a better idea in years since I've been here.

[Mehmentum]

No.

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

stop asking stupid questions

TheHawk hasn't posted in this thread dude.

[Skye]

Not in 2016.

[Frodo]

The way things have gone in the past decade, it is best for him (and the national Democratic Party) that he stay in Louisiana, and out of national politics.  This applies to all Blue Dogs. 

[VPH]

After less than a year in office? Nope.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

No, for the same reason nobody wanted Andrew Cuomo to run. Edwards isn't leftist enough for today's Democrats.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

He's a blue dog Democrat.... he may turn off some Democratic voters with his conservative positions.