The man Obama should pick as his running mate
James Forsyth 8:58pm
People don’t vote for Vice-Presidents is one of those clichés that is actually true. After all, George Bush senior got elected in 1988 despite all the doubts about Dan Quayle and adding John Edwards to the ticket in 2004 did little for John Kerry even in Edwards’s home state of North Carolina. But this year might just be the exception that proves the rule if Obama picks Chuck Hagel.
Hagel is a Republican Senator from Nebraska and a Vietnam veteran. He was one of the first Republicans to turn against the Iraq war—in truth, he was always fairly sceptical about it but still voted to authorise the use of force—and has emerged as the most vociferous Republican critic of the Bush administration. Perhaps most appealing to Obama, though, is that he was a major McCain backer in 2000.
Picking Hagel would greatly enhance Obama’s ability to make both the key positive and negative arguments of his campaign. On the positive front, picking a Republican would demonstrate that Obama really is serious about all his post-partisan talk—something that his Senate record does not bear out. On the negative side, having one of McCain’s most ardent supporters from 2000 on the ticket would seem to substantiate Obama’s claim that the McCain of 2008 isn’t the McCain of 2000 who independents and the media fell in love with, that somehow he’s been corrupted by his association with George W. Bush.
Hagel would also insulate Obama about the charge that he is somehow un-American. As a Vietnam vet with two purple hearts, Hagel is a fairly effective surrogate on the patriotism front.
The argument against Hagel is that the party wouldn’t wear a Republican on the ticket. But my sense is that Obama could overcome any such opposition because the Democrats want to win really badly, Hagel is not a crusading social conservative and the prize of Obama—the most liberal member of the Senate according to National Journal—in the Oval Office is so great.
TGF UKIP
May 27th, 2008 10:53pm Report this commentPlease, please God let Obama pick Hagel. I've seen this guy on TV and he's an opponent's dream. He simply comes across as the obnoxious bastard he is.
Craig Strachan
May 28th, 2008 12:40am Report this commentJim Webb would do all you say Hagel would do. And he's a Democrat (these days).
Ian C
May 28th, 2008 12:50pm Report this commentHe'd be too vulnerable to what the GOP knows about him and he'd be seen as a traitor - not America's most popular type of citizen. Good move for McCain, 'though he would hate it as a complication, but good for everyone else, especially Hagel.
Ian C
May 28th, 2008 1:28pm Report this commentI meant to write 'not good' for everyone else, espcially Hagel.
Christian
May 28th, 2008 1:52pm Report this commentWrong. Obama needs to pick Gov. Mike Easley of North Carolina. Easley is a "Blue Dog", i.e. "conservative" Democrat, who has served two full terms (he's looking for work). Easley is a reassuring figure, makes Obama look less radical - and he can speak to the people in Kentucky and West Virginia on their own terms. Plus Easley endorsed Hillary - which shows Obama isn't holding a grudge. Obama is no fool - Easley is the man.
David Lindsay
May 28th, 2008 4:19pm Report this commentWell, if it's going to be McCain-Lieberman, then why not? Although Jim Webb would still be better.
A lot of anti-interventionist moral and social conservatives like Obama anyway, and a lot of those (not all, but a lot) are not necessarily averse to plenty of government action at home, depending on what it is and for whom.
Obama should be making it clear that on certain matters he will be reaching out, perhaps even in formalised, institutional ways. That's a lot more than they could expect from McCain.
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