Obama’s VP shortlist loses a few names

Barack Obama’s possible Vice Presidential candidates are dropping like flies. I think it’s safe to say that these names can be cut from the list.

Mark Warner of Virginia - The former Governor and now U.S. Senate candidate plans to focus solely on his current race:

“Let me be clear about this: I have been working very hard these last few months to ask the people of Virginia to give me the honor of being their United States senator,” Warner said. “I will not seek, and I will not accept, any other opportunity.” [WaPo]

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Ted Strickland of Ohio - The current governor of Ohio said in a Shermanesque fashion when asked about a VP slot, “Absolutely not. If drafted I will not run, nominated I will not accept and if elected I will not serve” [Political Radar] Strickland has promised to do everything he can to help elect Barack Obama president.

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Chris Dodd of Connecticut - The former presidential candidate and current United States Senator recently has found himself in some hot water. Dodd is being investigated for allegedly receiving VIP treatment from home mortgage lender, Countrywide. In all fairness to Dodd, he did say, “If anyone had ever suggested to me that somehow I was going to get preferential treatment because I was a United States senator, that would have ended the relationship immediately. Terminated. Immediately — never do business with that organization again.” [Political Ticker]

Regardless, this would be an unnecessary distraction after presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama has publicy criticized specifically Countrywide.

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Jim Webb of Virginia - Webb’s first controversy came up during his senate race in 2006, after it was uncovered in 1979 that Jim Webb wrote an article in The Washingtonian titled, “Women Can’t Fight.” I doubt Clinton’s women supporters would be happy about this.

On June 10, 2008, The Politico reported that Webb has, “An affinity for Confederacy.”

Most recently, Webb has sided with Bush and McCain in favor of offshore drilling for oil. Obama is opposed to drilling. [The Hill]

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Sam Nunn of Georgia - The former United States Senator has a gay problem. It’s been reported that in 1982, Nunn allegedly fired his staffer for being gay. [Washignton Blade] This was not Nunn’s only anti-gay issue. During the ’90’s Nunn actively campaigned and fought against gays serving in the military through his support of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. [WaPo]

In the past, according to Wikipedia, Nunn has taken more moderate voting stances while in the U.S. Senate from 1972-1997.

He voted in favor of school prayer, capping punitive damage awards, amending the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced budget, and limiting death penalty appeals. On certain issues like abortion, the environment, gun control, and affirmative action, Nunn took a more moderate line. [Wikipedia]

Why Chris Dodd should be Obama’s VP

It is generally agreed that a presidential candidate’s running mate is meant to balance out the ticket. They are they to fill in some of the skills that the presidential candidate lacks, and to appeal to voters who might otherwise be turned of by the presidential candidate. The most persistently raised and worrying weakness of Obama’s is his lack of experience on the national stage. No doubt, this will has some effect on his support when November rolls around. Luckily, there are two people who are exactly what Obama needs. Senators Chris Didd and Joe Biden. And unlike some people, Dodd doesn’t even say vaguely racist things on camera, which is why he is Obama’s perfect running mate. Read more

Chris Dodd to Endorse Obama

Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut ) isn’t done on the presidential campaign trail just yet, sources close to him say he will endorse Barack Obama this morning:

Obama and rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton had been vying for Dodd’s support since he exited the presidential race after a poor showing in the Iowa caucus last month. Dodd, who won his Senate seat in 1980 and chaired the Democratic National Committee from 1995-1996, has long-standing ties to the Clintons.

Dodd is a “superdelegate,” one of nearly 800 Democratic officeholders and party officials who automatically attend the national convention and can vote for whomever they choose. They have become an important force in the close race between Clinton and Obama, and both candidates are lobbying hard for their support.

Chris Dodd has long foreign policy experience, worked for families on a medical leave law, and has five terms of experience in the senate. Dodd is also expected to campaign for Obama in the New England states of Vermont and Rhode Island which hold primaries on March 4th.

Chris Dodd has previously said he wasn’t going to endorse anyone, but as Obama looks more and more likely to win the Democratic nomination maybe he decided to throw in his endorsement for a possible vice president nomination. Chris Dodd is also a superdelagate.

Expect the Unexpected

The 2008 Campaign season kicked off obscenely early, and from the very beginning everyone thought they knew how it would pan out. Rudy and McCain would duke it out for the Republican nomination, and Hillary would have a cakewalk to the Dem nod, right? Read more

Money Talks: Where do the candidates get it from, and does it matter?

Earlier this week it was reported that Hillary Clinton’s campaign received over $20,000 in donations from News Corp, the company owned by the same man who owns Fox News, Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch and his son personally donated to Clinton’s presidential campaign as well.

Is News Corp donating to Clinton’s campaign in hopes that she’ll get the nomination? Then that means Fox News would try to smear her during the general election. In their eyes, there is no easier target than Hillary Clinton. Well, Hillary has never lost an election, and I don’t think she plans to. Read more