The Note: Obama, McCain Winnow Veep’s Lists
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein Reports in Tuesday’s Note: With all the boo-boos the candidates are picking up — what better time for some reinforcements?
To that end — surely there’s a short list, and surely someone will be chosen from it (or not).
Certainly Sen. Barack Obama will choose first (unless, of course, Sen. John McCain does).
Of course a pick comes before the Olympics (except if it doesn’t).
(Similarly — naturally there was a trip bounce, unless it bounced in the other direction. It just depends on which Gallup poll you buy.)
Obama’s top three (if you believe convention wisdom): Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Tim Kaine.
McCain’s top three (if you believe McCain believes in conventional wisdom): Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Tom Ridge.
Read the rest of The Note — and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day — from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
With Obama in Washington with his senior advisers — after a three-hour meeting with his vetters Monday, and more alleged "gym time" (sore hip and all) Tuesday morning – veepstakes speculation hits its first code red (or — remind us again — does blue go first?) of the season.
Among Obama’s meetings Tuesday, per an Obama aide: Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, whom he’ll sit down with at the Federal Reserve in Washington.
The betting’s on Obama to choose first and early — if only to put as much space as possible between his announcement and his down-time in Hawaii (and to give as much time as possible for jilted Clinton supporters to erupt and get over it in advance of the convention).
Gov. Kaine, D-Va. — in Washington Tuesday as well, for his monthly radio interview program, with plenty of time for secret and not-so-secret meetings — has the mixed blessing of holding the hot hand at the moment that’s either exactly right or totally wrong.
"Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has told close associates that he has had ‘very serious’ conversations with Sen. Barack Obama about joining the Democratic presidential ticket and has provided documents to the campaign as it combs through his background," Michael Shear and Shailagh Murray write in The Washington Post, adding that a pick is still probably several weeks away.
"Several people who have spoken to Kaine said he has talked about the seriousness of the possibility," they write. "One said Kaine has stressed that there are other top candidates but described his discussions with the campaign as ‘very serious.’ "
Continue reading today’s Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News’ John Santucci and Alexa Ainsworth contributed to this report.
Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will 
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
No Hillary as VP = No Vote for Obama.
HIllary – 18 MILLION STRONG!
Posted by: ch | July 29, 2008, 8:30 am 8:30 am
Time for Clinton supporters to erupt and “get over it”. Wow you really don’t get it do you. Clinton supporters aren’t going to vote for Obama, as he stole the nomination courtesy of the DNC and is totally unqualified for the job. We will write in Hillary, stayhome or vote McCain. See latest Gallup poll of likely voters.
This continued distain in the press for the over 18 million Americans who did not vote for Obama will come back to bite you and your boy toy Obama. We aren’t getting over anything. We are voting for a qualified POTUS who actually won his nomination process.
Posted by: s.b. | July 29, 2008, 8:32 am 8:32 am
@ ch & s.b.,
I am with you all the way!
Obama is never getting my vote.
Clinton 2012! McCain for now.
Posted by: Phil | July 29, 2008, 8:49 am 8:49 am
Seems Hillary supporters have conveniently forgotten that all the Democratic candidates agreed to the situation with MI and FL. There was no conpiracy or stealing of the primary from Hillary. She did a good enough job of shooting herself in the foot…..remember the Bosnia debacle? Apparently not.She took her early lead and got complacent. Now all of her “supporters” are making fools of themselves and quite possibly setting this country up for at least four more years of bad republican policy.
Posted by: seansatx | July 29, 2008, 8:55 am 8:55 am
I voted for Hillary in Pa. in the spring because I beleive and still do, that she is the better candidate. She lost, OK, so I thought OK, I’ll (gulp) support Obama. Of course this was probably because I thought he had enough brain cells to pick Hillary as VP. Apparently he doesn’t. So, bottom line, he doesn;t pick Hillary, I won’t pick him. Let the chips fall where they may. I would’t trust either one to cross the street alone , let alone a country. No Obama/Clinton = NO VOTE
Posted by: char19145 | July 29, 2008, 9:00 am 9:00 am
People!!!! Stop being so bitter.
Obama and Clinton knew the rules, agreed to the rules and in the end; the rules were played out as they were written. Obama won his party’s nomination process by planning and strategizing within the rules. Clinton lost because her campaign failed to prepare and strategize correctly and selectively decided where they would focus their attention. Don’t be mad at Obama because his campaign planned and strategize correctly, blame Clinton’s campaign manager and her staff for not understanding the rules of the primary season; they cost her the primaries, not Obama.
Voting for McCain is similar to voting for George W. Bush. Do you really want to vote for the wasteful spending of the past 8 years, the failed invasion that has cost American its young fathers, mothers, son and daughters? Do you want to stay in Iraq for the next 100 years? Sure Obama may not be “qualified” but no one is really qualified for be President of the United States of America. The qualification for the Presidency is his/her ability to make good decision with the information the advisors present them. The experience of the Presidency lies with the Cabinet members of the President because he/she is not an expert in every field.
So decide wisely and vote with logic, not emotion. I voted for Senator Clinton, and I am proud of her accomplishments. I know she is not finished yet but that doesn’t mean that I will remain bitter and allow another Republican to screw up the economy, our homeland, and everything else just for the hope of getting Senator Clinton to run for the Presidency in 2012. In my opinion, I would nominate Senator Clinton to the Supreme Court where she can really change things, if I were President.
I am voting for Senator Obama and I believe New York will go in his column.
Posted by: MitchNY | July 29, 2008, 9:19 am 9:19 am
Looks like this will be the first time in my life that I’ll vote for a Republican for president. All it took was for Howard Dean and Barack Obama to take over the party. And, while I cling to my faith and my guns, I’m not bitter-
just disgusted.
Posted by: Dem4Mc | July 29, 2008, 9:19 am 9:19 am
I’ll say I can’t see Obama picking Kaine it would be putting his comfort above what is best for the country and that (as much as the other spins it) is not obama.
Kaine has no foreign policy experience and no substantive background to base what his view of oru place in the world is…
he has no experience on a national level with any issue…
been governor for 2.5 years with not an outstanding record or record of sunstance…or note…
if he was picked he would bring one (maybe two) state …but even that is questionable…
and most of all why on earth would anyone take the crap shoot of sticking this guy in the lions den for the VP debate…
can you imagine this guy against Romney…maybe Pawlenty…but I would guess that if Obama picked Kaine…McCain is going to pick Ridge…
and they will win just on name recognition and the VP debate…
especially as the VP debates are getting more important…
and listen change is what we need …but change to the general American public is much mroe accepted and popular if it is walking next to the familiar.
Posted by: dl | July 29, 2008, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Dont vote for Obama = 4 more years of a bush protoge. :)
Posted by: chris | July 29, 2008, 9:32 am 9:32 am
Hill-Bill and their supporters rely very heavily on that Kool-Aid they’ve been drinking. You see, whenever things go badly for them, they circle the wagons and blame everyone for their mistakes and failures. That is the fatal flaw that many people will forever see, while they themselves cannot. With that said, I have a great admiration for Hill-Bill. I even voted for Bill. But let’s face it, there will be no future for either one of them or their supporters until the fatal flaw of deception is cleaned up.
Posted by: seansatx | July 29, 2008, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Governor Tim Kaine commutes the death sentence on a convicted triple murderer from Danville —- Just what is needed, more Willie Horton fodder.
Posted by: tummytune | July 29, 2008, 9:42 am 9:42 am
To anyone who thinks Obama won the nomination fairly, then clearly you have not been paying attention.
Obama is an over-marketed, grossly under-qualified politician.
I hope the press is really starting to see Obama for who he really is…
You know how Hollywood puts together the boy bands. They over market them and change their voices digitally. Well that is just like what is happening with Obama. He has been mass marketed (by the press and the DNC). He reads speeches that were either plagiarized or written by a 26 year old speech writer. He doesn’t debate (because we saw what happened in the last debate). He has zero experience. He already has ties to some of the scummiest people on earth. Yet some of the American people are buying it. Well not me. I have been a Democrat my entire life and this time around, McCain will get my vote.
Posted by: Paul | July 29, 2008, 9:49 am 9:49 am
I agree, it is great to read all the Obama supporters posts because they are a true representation of all of the Obama supporters. They have no idea what they are talking about, it really shows their intelligence…or lack there of. I’m glad that you all are voting for Obama because I would not want to be affiliated with people like you.
I’m switching from being a life long Democrat to Independent and voting McCain.
Posted by: Sean | July 29, 2008, 9:56 am 9:56 am
I am a McCain supporter. But if I had a choice between Hillary and Hussein Obama, it is Hillary without a doubt. If the Hillary supporters want her to be president they have to vote for McCain. In four years I firmly believe McCain will not run for a second term and I believe Hillary would beat any VP or whomever runs.This is her supporters best shot to get her in the White House and also get back at the DNC and Obama for giving her and Bill the so called royal shaft. McCain isn’t that bad for her supporters as he is a maverick and not a puppet of the DNC like Hussein Obama. Go for it!!!!!!
Posted by: frank viola | July 29, 2008, 10:15 am 10:15 am
And the GOP vetting begins! The GOP has had it with the Democrats and their lies to America, including their “golden boy” Barack Obama:
They’ll also begin to use “Pelosi-Reid-Obama” in the all-in-the-same-breath way that Democrats now use “Bush-McCain” — to make the parties’ popular candidates indistinguishable from their less beloved incumbents.
Way to go, GOP! Keep it up, PUMA! Hillary supporters were rejected when Pelosi-Reid-Dean and the DNC “selected” not “elected” Obama as their nominee. I applaud Hillary supporters and PUMA, for taking a stand and not voting for Obama! I don’t blame you, and with you being 18 million strong, you can make sure Obama is defeated in November!
Posted by: Will | July 29, 2008, 10:38 am 10:38 am
Being that Obama will never — not ever — get a clear stretch of coverage as positive as last week’s . . . smart folks are beginning to ask, is this the high point? Does the race settle in now — excruciatingly close fore the foreseeable future?
“It is a question that has hovered over Senator Barack Obama even as he has passed milestone after milestone in his race for the White House: Why is he not doing better?” Adam Nagourney writes for The New York Times. “In this case, the question is why — given how sour Americans feel about President Bush and the Republican party, and the perception that Mr. Obama is running a better campaign than Senator John McCain — the senator from Illinois is not scoring even higher in national opinion polls.”
Posted by: Will | July 29, 2008, 10:41 am 10:41 am
Now Queen Nancy is going to save the planet. I am ashamed to be a Democrat.
Posted by: geevill | July 29, 2008, 10:42 am 10:42 am
As for the trip’s baggage . . . The New York Times’ Jeff Zeleny digs to the bottom of Obama’s decision (and it was his decision, ultimately) to cancel his visit with troops in Germany.
Yes, the Pentagon said the visit would have to be senatorial, not political, but: “If the story behind the story of the canceled troop visit has run its course, one question remains: Why didn’t Mr. Obama leave his aides behind, even the retired general, and make the visit by himself?” Zeleny writes.
Obama, himself, decided NOT to visit the troops in Germany. This will devastate his campaign as the GOP continues to pounce on this fact. Obama is in this election for himself, not the American people.
Posted by: Will | July 29, 2008, 10:43 am 10:43 am
Obama’s self-centered snub of our troops will turn out to be the STORY the American voters remember about his trip. Not the media’s narrative.
Posted by: geevill | July 29, 2008, 10:44 am 10:44 am
Now Queen Nancy is going to save the planet. I am ashamed to be a Democrat.
Posted by: geevill | Jul 29, 2008 10:42:20 AM
In 2006, Pelosi advocated and got a Democratic congress that was suppose to “change the America for the better”. Since then, oil has risen over $1.50 per gallon and over $78 per barrel. The President, whoever he is, is a sitting duck with this evil women and her coharts Reid/Obama/Dean surrounding her. Well, like queens of the past, Pelosi’s reign will come to an end in November!
Posted by: Will | July 29, 2008, 10:48 am 10:48 am
Obama’s self-centered snub of our troops will turn out to be the STORY the American voters remember about his trip. Not the media’s narrative.
Posted by: geevill | Jul 29, 2008 10:44:58 AM
I totally agree!
As for the trip’s baggage . . . The New York Times’ Jeff Zeleny digs to the bottom of Obama’s decision (and it was his decision, ultimately) to cancel his visit with troops in Germany.
Obama’s decision not to visit the troops but had time for a workout will be saturated in the minds of the American voter. This will do MUCH damage to the Obama campaign.
Posted by: Will | July 29, 2008, 10:53 am 10:53 am
Obama visited wounded soldiers in Baghdad earlier in his trip without reporters and fanfare. But Obama haters would rather focus on the troops in Germany.
Posted by: d | July 29, 2008, 10:54 am 10:54 am
“Republican John McCain gained ground in a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll that found Democrat Barack Obama’s highly publicized foreign trip has not broadened confidence in his ability to be commander of the U.S. military,” Jill Lawrence writes for USA Today. “The poll, taken Friday through Sunday, showed a surge since last month in likely Republican voters and suggested Obama’s trip may have helped energize voters who favor McCain.”
McCain 08!
Posted by: Will | July 29, 2008, 10:55 am 10:55 am
A lot of negative press coming out today about Barack Obama. I see a changing of the guards, so to speak. I knew it would only be a matter of time before the press took Obama to the cleaners. Looks like its downhill from now for Barack Obama.
Posted by: Jeff | July 29, 2008, 10:57 am 10:57 am
I agree Jeff. I think Obama’s world trip played right into McCains hands! No wonder McCain was so determined for Obama to take this trip. Like you, I think Obama will continue to lose ground from now until November.
McCain 08!
Posted by: Will | July 29, 2008, 10:58 am 10:58 am
“Over the course of this campaign, Obama’s inexperience has led to careless statements about Pakistani sovereignty. We need to take every step necessary to fight terrorism, but careless statements from an inexperienced would-be commander-in-chief have no place in that constructive dialogue.”
Obama=Inexperience=November Loss!
Posted by: Will | July 29, 2008, 11:06 am 11:06 am
I can’t believe people actually believe in polls especially when most people don’t think about the elections until much later. McCain’s up by 4, Obama’s up by 5, who cares.
Posted by: erin | July 29, 2008, 11:11 am 11:11 am
Jennifer, probably because we don’t have an anti-semitic Russian billionaire named George Soros funding our campaign like Obama does!
I see you getting nervous this morning with all the negative press about your “boy” Obama….its ok, Jennifer, we will let you in the PUMA club!
NOBama! NoBama! NoBama!
Posted by: Janice in Chicago | July 29, 2008, 11:19 am 11:19 am
Obama’s Trip Backfires; McCain Surges to 4-Point Lead in USA Today/Gallup Poll
Monday, July 28, 2008 9:35 PM
A surprising poll released Monday confirms Sen. Barack Obama’s worst nightmare: he actually lost ground to Sen. John McCain after a global trip meant to buck up his sagging credentials in foreign and military policy.
The USA Today/Gallup poll has McCain leading Obama by four points, 49 percent to Obama’s 45 percent, among likely voters.
Posted by: GOP on the Prowl | July 29, 2008, 11:23 am 11:23 am
In the latest poll, another Obama rival in the Democratic primaries, Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware, is viewed at least somewhat favorably by 35% and somewhat unfavorably by nearly as many (34%).
“Pssst….Obama, pick Biden, pick Biden.”
LOL !
Posted by: GOP on the Prowl | July 29, 2008, 11:33 am 11:33 am
It’s sad that people who don’t want Obama to be president, will desparately grasp onto any piece of information the media reports.
In the Daily Gallup poll, Obama is ahead
by 8 points. Obama is also ahead with “registered” voters. So people can desparately cherry-pick polls all they want, Obama’s still in the lead.
And as far as Janice in Chicago goes, McCain is still using Phil Gramm as his economic adviser. You know the guy who called Americans a nation of whiners. George Soros is not directly involved with Obama. Soros is an associate of Bob Johnson who is no longer on the VP committee.
Posted by: Jennifer | July 29, 2008, 11:34 am 11:34 am
For those that seem to love and rely heavily on the polls, have you seen the electoral map which shows Obama with 292 vs. McCain 195. Blue states will go blue no matter what. So where exactly does puma fit in.
Posted by: erin | July 29, 2008, 11:44 am 11:44 am
Senator Barack Obama is vulnerable to a vicious Republican attack on who he is and his inexperience — He is a first term Senator who burst on the scene four years ago. His image with the American People is vulnerable to a negative attack which the Republicans have perfected in their famous ‘Swift-boating’ technique, used to defeat John Kerry.
If Obama fails to consolidate the 18 million core voters who Clinton won along with his own 18 million followers, then he will likely give away enough voters to give McCain the election.
So the next important event to watch is whether he chooses Clinton as VP — on this day he will either guarantee his win, or possibly guarantee his own loss, since not choosing Clinton will undoubtedly send many of her supporters into the GOP camp or convince them to just stay home out of protest.
Obama’s advisors might act like they ‘don’t need Clinton’s people’ but privately they know this will be political suicide to dismiss Clinton’s HUGE wins.
Posted by: david from texas | July 29, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am
Jancice in Chicago,
This George Soros “scandal” is a year and a half old!! Soros made unfortunate comments about Hamas, and Obama denounced it.
You need to get more up-to-date info on people you’re trying to sling mud at!!
How about Phil Gramm and Charlie Black on McCain’s side?? Yeah the Kool-Aid analogies go both ways!!
Posted by: Jennifer | July 29, 2008, 11:59 am 11:59 am
david, it really doesn’t matter if Obama chooses Hillary unless all her supporters are in swing states. Like I said earlier, blue states will go blue no matter what. Also Obama will lose some of his supporters if he does choose her.
Posted by: erin | July 29, 2008, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
I can agree with that, however, we DON’T know the percentages of Hillary voters in the “swing states”. However, it is a concern and fact that Obama has to deal with. We can make all the projections in the world, red will be red, blue will be blue, but nothing matters until November 4th when we pull the levers. However, case in point, Obama is under pressure to choose Hillary as a VP…if he doesn’t, I feel he will set himself up for failure in November.
Posted by: david from texas | July 29, 2008, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
david, I have no problem with Hillary and would have voted her but I think putting her on the ticket would be a big mistake. There was too much negativity between the Clintons and Obama. I don’t think that can be overlooked. I think a fresh start is needed. Although I do think Hillary should be part of Obama’s team in some capacity either in the cabinet or Supreme Court if that’s what she wants. Maybe I’m wrong but I honestly don’t think not having her as his running mate will cause him the election.
Posted by: erin | July 29, 2008, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
0-bama’s closet list: Wright, Rezko, Ayers – 15-20 friendship, mentorship, inspiration, holy-washing relationship.
Posted by: Olbermn3 | July 29, 2008, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
There is, of course, absolutely no reason to stay home and not vote in the upcoming election. There is no reason to have been a Clinton supporter in the primaries and then not vote for Obama in the general election. Yes, there were moments throughout the democratic primary when the misogyny and the racism and the use of fear as a motivator was high–just like all of the moments that add up to the nightly news and sitcoms you get in between commercials for fish sticks and toilet paper, and all of the moments in the comments above.
While such fear and such hate are rampant in this country, it does not have to be accepted. As history repeatedly demonstrates, such fear lead to disaster. I believe it would be extremely difficult for anyone to defend a potential McCain presidency as one less fearful–misogynistic, racist, classist, xenophobic–than an Obama presidency. McCain’s comments in the past few weeks alone make this clear.
As an American, I realize that I often have a sense of entitlement, a sense of ultimate freedom: anything I want is possible. This is, of course, not true. One is never entirely free, never lives a life determined solely through his or her own agency. There is a reality that you work with and against. The current reality is that though I may have been a Clinton supporter, I can now vote for McCain or Obama, because this is not the right time to challenge a two-party system. Like Hilary Clinton, I will be voting for Barack Obama, and against the past 8 years of fearful and deceitful leadership. As someone who witnessed 9/11 first hand and has relatives in Iraq, the stakes, from my perspective, are much too high to cast my vote and support any other way.
Posted by: calladama | July 29, 2008, 5:59 pm 5:59 pm
If Barak really wants the “Team of Rivals” ala Lincoln and his cabinet, then Hillary is his best choice for VP. She will not come aboard for anything less, like a cabinet seat.
Obama should realize that a lot of us Hillary supporters could go with McCain. Hillary and McCain are friends for a good reason. They are a lot alike. Then too, McCain if elected, will not be a two term president. He is too old. Hillary would waltz to the nomination in 2012 and hopefully the Presidency too.
Posted by: Cuthbert Clabbermilque | July 30, 2008, 11:01 am 11:01 am