August 19, 2008
Netroots Lukewarm To Obama Veep Finalists
What's the attitude of liberal bloggers toward the VP candidates rumored to be on Barack Obama's short list? Distinctly cool. While opinions vary about the relative strengths and weaknesses of each candidate, it's clear that the netroots aren't thrilled about any of the alleged finalists, whom the New York Times identified last night as Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA).
But it's Bayh who has generated the most intense opposition from the netroots. Bayh's 2002 vote in favor of the Iraq War Resolution, coupled with his subsequent co-chairmanship of the hawkish Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, places him firmly at odds with the antiwar left. For online progressives drawn to Obama's consistent opposition to the Iraq War and to his promise to chart a new course in U.S. foreign policy, the prospect of Bayh as VP could dim Obama's appeal considerably. It is no surprise, then, that many leading liberal bloggers have joined a Facebook group expressing the view that "Bayh is not the right choice for Vice President."
While the other candidates on the Dem's tentative short list haven't generated the same degree of opposition as Bayh, they haven't generated much excitement either.
The netroots have been very critical of Kaine's views on social issues and his gubernatorial record. Still, they concede that Kaine's background could help reinforce Obama's outsider image, and they consider him a (slightly) more acceptable choice than Bayh.
Markos Moulitsas recently mused: "I'm starting to suspect that the Evan Bayh boomlet is designed to make Tim Kaine look better by comparison, because really, Evan Bayh is about the only Democrat who makes Tim Kaine look palatable by comparison as Obama's veep."
Rounding out the three leading contenders is Biden, whom many liberal bloggers prefer to Bayh and Kaine. While they acknowledge that Biden's Iraq vote and his 36 years in Congress may create image problems for Obama, the netroots admire the elder senator's debating skills and his willingness to engage the GOP on national security issues. That said, liberal bloggers aren't likely to greet an Obama-Biden ticket with an outpouring of enthusiasm. Atrios -- whose real name is Duncan Black -- recently gave Biden a less-than-ringing endorsement: "Of the people I don't really want to be Veep who keep showing up on those fake short lists people keep coming up with, he bothers me the least."
Others have been mentioned, of course, for the No. 2 job, including KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Hillary Clinton.
Sebelius' prospects of receiving the VP nod seem to have dimmed as of late, and the netroots have consequently given her less attention than they've given the other contenders. While most liberal bloggers view Sebelius favorably, some worry about her being "untested as a national campainger." Clinton, unsurprisingly, incites far more polarized reactions from the blogosphere. While some are convinced that Obama would be foolish not to pick the NY senator as his running mate, others worry about her "significant negatives."
Moulitsas writes: "Personally, I still think those 'significant negatives' would make her a terrible pick. Unfortunately, I'm resigned to Obama making a terrible pick with someone else anyway (Biden? Bayh? Kaine?), so if it's between one of those three terrible picks or Clinton, I throw my hands up in the air."
Unfortunately for the netroots, the two VP prospects who have arguably generated the most sustained excitement in the blogosphere -- Al Gore and Gen. Wesley Clark -- haven't appeared on any of the recent short lists. Several liberal bloggers recently launched a petition urging Obama to select Clark as his running mate, but the controversy following Clark's 6/29 comments about John McCain's war service on Face The Nation seems to have permanently sunk his chances. Meanwhile, Gore has ruled out the possibility of serving as Obama's VP, although some bloggers refuse to give up hope for an Obama-Gore ticket.
(Hotline's IAN FAERSTEIN)
Posted at 10:17 AM
Comments
Obama lost his first try for House seat, then with the help of Hillary he won the Senate seat. All the VP candidates bring only their state (hopefully). Hillary brings 18 million votes with her. Obama will let us know if he learned anything from his first lost to now. Even John Edwards couldn't bring the numbers Hillary brings.
Notice how a new poll shows McCain ahead of Obama. Republicans will show that fixed poll to get votes and Obama just might not win but with Hillary, McCain can do anything he wants it's to many votes.
Jackie | 08.20.08 11:41 AM
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