UPDATE: Kerry begining to pick....

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Sorry Bandit you yorself might be a big liberal but most americans are not...

They are. Over 90% support increasing the minimum wage - something Congress and the Bush regime have refused to do.

A vast majority of Americans also support reining in health care costs.

[Gustaf]

Sorry Bandit you yorself might be a big liberal but most americans are not...

They are. Over 90% support increasing the minimum wage - something Congress and the Bush regime have refused to do.

A vast majority of Americans also support reining in health care costs.

Actually, I think a lot of Ameicans are liberals, but few vote...to get 50% of 50% to vote for the party of the rich is not too hard...

[opebo]

Sorry Bandit you yorself might be a big liberal but most americans are not...

They are. Over 90% support increasing the minimum wage - something Congress and the Bush regime have refused to do.

A vast majority of Americans also support reining in health care costs.

Actually, I think a lot of Ameicans are liberals, but few vote...to get 50% of 50% to vote for the party of the rich is not too hard...

Nah, those people who don't vote aren't necessarily liberals - they're mostly just complete ignoramuses.

[Gustaf]

Sorry Bandit you yorself might be a big liberal but most americans are not...

They are. Over 90% support increasing the minimum wage - something Congress and the Bush regime have refused to do.

A vast majority of Americans also support reining in health care costs.

Actually, I think a lot of Ameicans are liberals, but few vote...to get 50% of 50% to vote for the party of the rich is not too hard...

Nah, those people who don't vote aren't necessarily liberals - they're mostly just complete ignoramuses.

I think that most of these people are poor and would vote for the Democrats. Maybe liberal isn't the right word, maybe socialist would be more accurate.

[Nation]

Heh, it's probably better that some people don't vote -- although the law they have in Australia for compulsory voting might in a sense be a good thing, but odds are, you have got a bunch of people completely ignorant of government and current events going to the polls.

[Gustaf]

Heh, it's probably better that some people don't vote -- although the law they have in Australia for compulsory voting might in a sense be a good thing, but odds are, you have got a bunch of people completely ignorant of government and current events going to the polls.

That depends on their reason for not voting. Maybe 50% of your VAP are a bunch of ignorant idiots...I didn't say it, you did...'America is a great country...'

[Nation]

It's quite possible that 50% of the American  VAP are ignorant idiots.

[Gustaf]

It's quite possible that 50% of the American  VAP are ignorant idiots.

OK. In Sweden 80% of VAP vote...

[opebo]

It's quite possible that 50% of the American  VAP are ignorant idiots.

Oh at least.  I don't much like full democracy.

[Gustaf]

It's quite possible that 50% of the American  VAP are ignorant idiots.

Oh at least.  I don't much like full democracy.

It beats the alternatives.

[Nation]

What was that one Churchill quote...democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.

[Michael Z]

I'm not too enthusiastic about Bayh. He doesn't seem to add much variety - the last thing Kerry needs is another bland grey personality on the ticket.

John Edwards is a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned. He's got youth, charisma, mass appeal, has future President written all over him, and should be able to pick up votes for Kerry in battle states like Ohio or WV.

Otherwise, Bob Graham or Mark Warner. The rest don't figure in my opinion.

[zachman]

I still have never heard Bayh speak, but based on crudentials he looks solid.

[© tweed]

I still have never heard Bayh speak, but based on crudentials he looks solid.

He's very boring.

[Michael Z]

I still have never heard Bayh speak, but based on crudentials he looks solid.

He's very boring.

That's one thing which may detract people from voting Kerry-Bayh. Two boring lanky guys.

Kerry-Edwards, on the other hand...

[Gustaf]

What was that one Churchill quote...democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.

Exactly.

[© tweed]

Is Bayh lanky?

But the way I see it, Bayh makes the most sense electorally.  Kerry will lose the whole south no matter who his VP is, but that isn't the case in the midwest.  Birch Bayh was a midwestern icon, and Evan is making a name for himself too.

[Gustaf]

Edwards would hep in more places than just the South.

[zachman]

The VP choice is crucial for Kerry.

His deficiencies are:
   Is branded as a liberal
   Is from the northeast (Why do you hate us?)
   Is a boring speaker
   Is a flip-flopper
   Is tough and rigid, and that makes independents hesitant to vote for him.

The VP needs to reduce all of these.
 
Edwards- Can do all of these, but he too is a bit of a flip-flopper.
Bayh- I don't know much about him, but that does isolate the south. He has raised money.
Graham- fixes the rigid image one perfectly, but he too is a boring speaker.
Warner-  I don't know much about him
Richardson- a less attractive Edwards, but a latino.

I think Edwards would be the strongest, and the media has stopped branding him a loser, although I will flip-flop on my VP pick a dozen times.

[Michael Z]

I've been rooting for a Kerry-Edwards ticket ever since the Iowa caucus. It has the best crossover appeal, demographically and geographically speaking. And as Zachman pointed out, Edwards is the one candidate who cancels out most (if not all) of Kerry's perceived weaknesses.

[lidaker]

I've been rooting for a Kerry-Edwards ticket ever since the Iowa caucus. It has the best crossover appeal, demographically and geographically speaking. And as Zachman pointed out, Edwards is the one candidate who cancels out most (if not all) of Kerry's perceived weaknesses.

There are some problems with Edwards too. He is almost too charismatic and could outshine Kerry when appearing together with him. Not good, because that would underline Kerry's charisma problems. And Cheney would win the debate on foreign policy. He would also not balance the ticket very much (in reality at least, the question is whether he will be viewed as a liberal).

But the biggest problem of them all: he's from the wrong state. NC probably won't vote democratic even if Johnny Sunshine is on the ticket. You could say that he could tip a state like Ohio but someone from that region might perhaps be more of an asset. The Midwest will be a heck of a battleground and it would be good if JK picked a guy who really knows that area.

[zachman]

Edward's will not outshine Kerry, because the media has already come up with its own excuses to say Kerry is superior. Edwards is middle-class so he may have the same type of effect that Gephardt or Bayh would have in the midwest. Edwards would be helpful in Iowa, and NH and Florida, although other picks would certainly be as well. Go for the national strategy.

[lidaker]

For those who want to evaluate Bayh's personality, here's a great link:

http://www.c-span.org/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=evan+bayh

[zachman]

That's a real fair place to evaluate personality- C-SPAN. Although judging by that directory, Dean was exciting. He had one good event listed, when he spoke at the 2000 convention.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

After seen Edward's son jumping up and down with the sign during yesterday's concession, how could anyone not vote for a Kerry-Edwards ticket?