Barack Obama’s just formed VP Search Committee of Caroline Kennedy, Jim Johnson and Eric Holder is going to reach out to some fine candidates including a trio of Governors Ted Strickland (Ohio), Eddie Rendell (Pennsylvania) and Kathleen Sebelius (Kansas). Strickland and Rendell represent “must win” states that are loaded with Barack’s “bitter” blue-collar workers who pose a major challenge (to say the least) to his candidacy. Sebelius makes the cut because she is a savvy politico in a “red state” and a woman to boot. (The downside: Sebelius is not Hillary and her selection as VP candidate would be viewed as a very patronizing move to the women who voted in huge numbers for Clinton.)
Team Obama needs to think big. Hillary has been on a roll since winning the popular vote in the “do-or-die” Texas primary on March 4. She won nine of the last 16 primaries, amassing 6,973,751 votes to Obama’s 6,356,644. Those victories resulted in 510 delegates for Clinton compared to Obama’s 466.
‘Big Mo’ Joins Team Clinton
With all due respect to Strickland, Rendell and Sebelius, they are unknown beyond their state’s borders. Clinton, meanwhile, is a political rock star whose quest for the Presidency was only undermined by inept campaign advisors. She would not have to “introduce” herself to voters in places like Kentucky, where Clinton picked up 65 percent of the vote, or West Virginia, the Mountain State gave Hillary two-thirds of its primary tally.
An Obama/Clinton ticket is a game-changer. It would energize young, women and blue-collar voters and have long enough coattails to increase the Democratic control of the House and Senate.
The VP search committee needs to go through the motions, but it is Hillary Clinton who is the best candidate for the No. 2 spot.
Bill and Michelle will just have to make nice for the next eight years.
(Photo: CNN)
