Veep short-listers mix positives and negatives
By TOM RAUM
Associated Press
August 20, 2008
Page 2 of 3
Geographically, Biden would bring little. Delaware has voted Democratic in recent presidential contests and has just three electoral votes.
- Bayh, 52, a popular two-term former governor of Indiana and son of former Sen. Birch Bayh, could help put red-state Indiana and its 11 electoral votes in play. Indiana has not voted for a Democrat for president since 1964, but Democrats view it as competitive this year.
Bayh has a centrist record and executive experience as governor. He sits on the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees. He also supported Clinton in the primaries, and that could help Obama with her supporters.
On the down side, having two senators from neighboring Midwestern states wouldn't amount to much geographic diversity. Also, Bayh's early support for the Iraq war could be a liability.
- Sebelius, 60, as governor of a traditionally Republican state would bring executive experience to the ticket and could help reach out to both moderate Republicans and to those intent on seeing a woman on the ticket.
In Michigan on Tuesday, Sebelius wouldn't say if she expected to be chosen. "I think a week from tomorrow we will all know," she said, stating the obvious since the Democratic vice presidential nominee will address the convention next Wednesday evening.
Sebelius spoke to The Associated Press by telephone before speaking on behalf of Obama at a town hall meeting.
Sebelius is the least well-known contender among those Obama is believed to be considering. And her presence on the ticket still might not be enough to win over her solidly red state and its six electoral votes.
Also, die-hard Clinton supporters might react negatively to Obama's decision to put a woman on the ticket other than Clinton.
- Kaine, 50, is a charismatic speaker and popular Democratic governor in a traditionally Republican state. That could help reinforce Obama's outside-Washington theme and help to put a GOP state in play. Kaine, a Catholic, might also appeal to voters of that faith.
But Kaine is a lot like Obama in terms of age and relative lack of experience. Some view the fact that Obama has already given a convention speaking role to another Virginian, former Gov. Mark Warner -- who is also mentioned as a possible contender for the No. 2 spot -- as an indication that Kaine may not get the nod since it seems unlikely two prime speaking spots would go to Virginians.
Virginia has 13 electoral votes.
On the Republican side:
- Romney, 61, who was McCain's closest competitor in the GOP primaries, would bring to the ticket economic and executive experience that McCain himself doesn't have. The former Massachusetts governor was chief executive officer of the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics. He earned millions as a business consultant and venture capitalist. As head of Bain Capital, he helped launch the Staples office supply chain and buy Domino's Pizza.
Romney is popular in Utah and Colorado, states with large numbers of residents who, like Romney, are Mormons. And he grew up in Michigan, where his father, George Romney, was governor and a GOP presidential contender.
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