The Veep Alternatives
Open Left had a VP poll, which forced me to actually follow through and evaluate candidates based on limited information. My ballot (with any candidates I gave any consideration to included depending on who gets eliminated in future ballots):
1st | Janet Napolitano (Gov-AZ) |
2nd | Kathleen Sebelius (Gov-KS) |
3rd | Brian Schweitzer (Gov-MT) |
4th | Ted Strickland (Gov-OH) |
5th | Bill Richardson (Gov-NM) |
6th | Tim Kaine (Gov-VA) |
7th | Wes Clark (Gen-AR) |
8th | Hillary Clinton (Sen-NY) |
I basically eliminated the entire class of swing state Senators because any progressive legislation can’t afford to sacrifice any Senate votes, and I don’t see any of them having advantages compelling enough to compensate. I would also say that my preference rankings–especially within the top 5–are pretty weak. I could live with anybody on this list and none of them seems like a no-brainer. (I might have Sebelius too high because I think it makes sense to go with someone who might carry a swing state all things being equal, but given her connections there I’m assuming she might help carry Ohio. I’m not especially worried about her State of the Union response.)
…Having looked a little more into Strickland’s record on reproductive freedom in response to a commenter, I retract my endorsement.