He hasn't been a great governor, and doesn't have half the appeal that Webb or Warner would. Seems to me that meeting with him must have to do with his early endorsement, but I hope that the Obama campaign doesn't make the mistake of choosing him.

Webb would be the best choice of the three Virginians--though Warner is equally appealing, taking him out of the Senate race would be, in my opinion, a big mistake.  

Warner or Webb would be a great addition on the ticket if we want Virginia blue in the fall. I don't think Tim Kaine necessarily has as much pull at this point, even in his own state.

but I think it's hard to deny his popularity across Virginia, especially outside of NoVa. I don't think he's the best choice (WEBB!!!) but he is a strong choice as a moderate, faith-driven Dem who is a strong campaigner and very likeable.

I agree with you that he's not the best suited to deliver Virginia, it doesn't get any better than Mark Warner, but I think he's about equally as capable of pushing us into the blue column as Webb. The reason I support Webb is because I think he helps us much more in OTHER states, but here in VA I think their strengths are pretty equal.  

Not by a long shot.  Warner is the only one on the list who can reliably deliver Virginia.

Webb brings other strengths--most notably his resume, his "roots," and his relative success as a freshman Senator--that will be helpful outside Virginia.

Sadly, at least in his home state, these positive attributes have not as yet overcome his personality deficits (his unfortunate popularity rating has been the subject of more than a few posts on this site).  

He'd be a fine choice nationwide--but Warner would be better.  

You're correct that Kaine, while a fine fellow, brings very little that Obama doesn't already have.  Webb and Warner would both bring something new to the table.

51%-39% (+12)  

might be the way to look at a potential Virginia ballot with Obama, Webb and Warner in the top three slots ... in that order.

Not by a long shot.

Again, it's all about the winner-take-all electoral votes.  It's not the 'not by a long shot' major victory that's necessarily the goal in Virginia, but the eminently doable 51% of the vote we're after.  Coincidentally (or not), that's the exact number of Webb's latest approval rating.  51% of the VA vote for Obama Webb would be more than fine if it also guarantees the ticket 51% in some other states as well.

As an aside, though it's only got 3 electoral votes, if Webb does get picked for VP, a couple of days of Jim Webb campaigning in Montana would decisively turn that state of independent thinkers blue.  Though it's currently polling in the McSame column, Webb is exactly the kind of guy who would appeal to Montanans who, though somewhat leery of the urbane Obama, have elected New Democrats like Webb's friend and ally Senator Jon Tester and its most excellent Governor Brian Schweitzer.

And, though, again, it's only got 3 electoral votes, Montana would join Colorado and New Mexico in the blueing of the Rocky Mountain West.  And that would help in future election cycles.

Warner helps Obama the most in terms of carrying VA in the general. Webb fits his needs the best. And Kaine has the chemistry thing going for him.

It happens that my wife of 35 years is from South Dakota, one of several reasons I know a lot about him. As an aside, a lot of people who don't know much about South Dakota assume that it's predominantly Republican. They often forget that Daschle and George McGovern have been quite popular in the state. Daschle most likely would still be their senior U.S. Senator if Dick Wadhams hadn't started the blog attacks just like he did for George Allen in 2006. South dakota people are known for their independent thinking. And the Herseth family has been a well respected and popular Democratic family in South Dakota for a long time. Some of you are aware that Stephanie Herseth would most likley be the choice as replacement for Tim Johnson whenever Tim decides to retire.

Judging from what I've learned from my in-laws about So. Dak. politics, I think it's fair to say that those who are registered Republicans are generally quite moderate Republicans and don't pay much attention to the national GOP "leaders" when it's time to vote in general elections.

This is the state that sent both George McGovern and Tom Daschle to the U.S. Senate, and I've yet to meet one So. Dak. Republican who has anything good to say about George the Lesser of Crawford. All of those I know really want us out of Iraq ASAP and think McCain is too old and too much like Bush.

I have no doubt at all that Daschle would help Obama win South Dakota by a landslide. Which is why I think South Dakota this year is D-leaning, certainly not R-leaning. A state that likes Tim Johnson (D) enough to elect him to the Senate and likes Tom Daschle so much is not at all likely to vote for a Republican, especially McCain for reasons I've mentioned above.

Going back a few years, if the Democrats had not lost the Senate majority and Daschle had remained as Senate majority leader he most likely would have been a top Dem. Pres. candidate possibility.

In the Senate Tom was exceptionally good at working with the Republican Senators, in large part becuase he was (and still is) highly respected by many GOP Senators because of his bi-partisan approach. I think that relationship plus his extensive experience and broad knowledge of many critical areas would be a tremendous asset, both in the general election campaign and as VP. His calm personality, pragmatic approach and national/international respect would be a strong plus to the ticket and to post election contributions he could make.

I really hope Obama puts Daschle on his very short list (he may have already done that). That would be a very strong ticket, with Daschle bringing no negative baggage at all so far as I can determine.

Thanks for the Daschle reminder. I also hope the DNC will encourage Obama to give very serious consideration to Daschle as his VP choice.

                        T.C.

seems to focus on him as WH Chief of Staff. I've also read that he's interested in serving as HHS Secretary.

Understandably, a lot of people like Hillary Clinton to head HHS. I have a better idea though. Make her Chair of the Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Committee. There is precedent for this; the GOP made Fred Thompson Chairman of the Governmental Reform Committee after he'd been in the Senate for only 2 years(!).

If...the Democrats had held the Senate
If...Daschle hadn't lost
If...
If...

Fact of the matter is that Tom Daschle, as majority leader, front and center, the most important man in the Senate, couldn't win re-election.  In my mind, fair or not, that takes him out of the running for VP.  Yes, SD is the state that sent Tom Daschle to the Senate, but it is also the state that sent him back home.

On a more practical front, South Dakota is only 3 electoral votes.  Even if putting Daschle on the ticket would guarantee SD goes blue (and I don't think that's a given), it's just three electoral votes for the price of putting someone on the ticket the Republicans can portray as a loser who couldn't win re-election even though he held the top party position in the Senate.

Daschle could not even deliver SD to Obama and Clinton won the State. Kaine has been with Obama since like early 2007 and Virginia was delivered to the Obama camp with some 62% of the vote which in my view put Virginia in play in the Fall. Maybe if it was the same game as in a Primary but in the General it should not be Daschle as a VP and should not be on the short list.

I called it in January. I have always thought Biden would be the selection because of the foriegn policy experience but am not as confident now as then but would still think the pick the most appropraite save the change criticism I guess.

Webb has had a lot of of national media exposure and has tremendous credibility. People across the country know who he is. I think he would be a huge asset as a VP candidate. Virginia is going blue and I think we can still pull that off even if Webb is not that popular locally.

Bottom line, Webb is the only one among the Virginians who could be chosen.  It looks as tho he is going to be on the short short list.  I think it is in Obama's and, of course, the national interest to have someone with a strong foreign policy and/or  defense background.  Webb certainly fits that bill.

I'm loathe to get into this prediction game.  Some of the people mentioned here would not be good.  I hope he chooses someone with solid foreign policy credentials as that person has to be prepared to step into the presidency.  I also hope Sen. Obama chooses someone who shares his ideals and is able to communicate with the public effectively.

My prediction in no order:
-a foreign policy maven such as Joe Biden
-Jim Webb
-Bill Richardson

I see Webb as someone (running with Obama) who brings a compelling symbolism to the role.  As a Hispanic American, Richardson also brings some symbolic pull, but not quite as much as Webb.  Personally, I like Richardson a lot and think he'd be a great addition.  It depends on what Obama needs/wants in mid-late August.

While I supported Webb in 2006, I did so for the very reason I do not think he should be VP.
Webb tactics and positioning is that of a middle linebacker; he can direct the play but in the end relies on the heavy hit up the middle or for a military analogy Webb is like a Abrams Tank....no the most finese vehicle in our arsenal. Just what Congress needed then and still needs today.
Lee do you really think Obama will be afforded the opportunity to wait until mid August. Something tells me we may just learn on July 4, 2008....check the schedules of Obama ....wouldn't that truly be fitting.

We need Warner and Webb in the US Senate.  Who do we have in line to replace either one of them?  We need for Kaine to remain as our governor.  If Kaine were chosen as the VP and Obama won, we'd get a Republican governor for an entire year.  That just wouldn't do with the small state senate majority we have and the bunch of right-wing wackos in charge of the House of Delegates.

Perhaps this has already been discussed....  Someone mentioned on another blog the possibility of Warner running for the Senate, as well as Obama's VP, at the same time (ala Joe Lieberman in 2000).  Is that allowable in Virginia?  If Obama/Warner won, would we have a special election for the Senate seat?

Democrats may not know much of General Jones ... but if you rode the way back machine ... to say 1776 he would be most like General George Washington .... except that he is fluent in French.

The former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and Commandant of the Marine Corps is to some degree a product of Jim Webb's decisions back in the Reagan administration (SecNav Webb). Then Webb found and fought for a Warrior Commandant in Al Gray to be in charge ... and Col Jim Jones was his chief of staff.

The Marine Corps is not a static institution. It ebbs and flows like the tide with an ever present feeling it could just go away in the minds of Washington Politicians .... http://www.antiwar.com/lind/?a...

But in the final analysis I think that Jim Jones would be best as a Secretary of Defense ... even though that's never been done (having a former General run the Department of Defense).

That's the first time I've heard Reed mentioned, and he'd be an intriguing pick. Strong military and legislative credentials, and a progressive. Not as wacky as Joe Biden. Hmmm.

Mark Warner has Said Time and Time again, He is running for US Senate and that is what he wants to be.

He said he has heard his name being mentioned as a VP possibility but he wants to be the NEXT SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA.

Lets all let Mark Run his campaign for Senate and Focus on the Campaign so we can be a landslide winner in NOVEMBER with the name WARNER being in WASHINGTON... I know that is what I want.

Obama-Webb '08.