Political Insider

I do not disagree with your first 3 points, but I think point 4 is rather dubious given that he really doesn't have an NC or Southern base. I think point 5 is dubious because the Clinton campaign is so cynical and self-centered that it will probably insist on one of her loyalists being VP.

No way. Edwards has already been down this road and did nothing for the ticket. Edwards has no clout and last time couldn't even win his own state. He is a has been and should get a job and leave politics.

With all due respect, this is preposterous. There is a better chance of an Obama/Goddard ticket than an Obama/Edwards ticket.

To your points:

1.He's been tested and failed on the national stage. Two failed Presidential bids and a failed bid on the ticket in 2004. Many people believe he added next to nothing for Sen. Kerry and in fact refused to fully participate in events towards the end of the cycle.

2. He's lost two consecutive runs for President. It is clear that while he might appeal to working class voters...they don't actually vote for him.

3. Americans don't take well to politicians who need to reinvent themselves. While he may rhetorically agree with Senator Obama's "new brand" of politics- his campaigns and history does not reflect this at all. And, as a supporter of the Iraq War for many years, he loses even more credibility in this column.

4. He did not run for another Senate term because he thought he would likely lose and therefore be knocked off the national stage. Additionally, Edwards lost NC for the ticket in 2004. Bottom line...he has no political sway there anymore.

5. I agree.

With 1 and 5, I agree totally.

With 3, I say that while he identifies with and likes Obama's brand of politics, he is not really a practitioner of them. Obama's brand is post-partisan, and Edwards by virtue of having run for the Democratic nomination twice and as Vice-Presidential nominee once, is seen as honest and understanding of economic harship, but a partisan nonetheless.

As for 2, I believe he would be a draw to working class white voters, but he does not put an actual state in play, whereas a Webb has the same working class draw plus military gravitas plus a definite Virginia win.

Finally 5. I am seeing the most promising southern state pick up as Georgia. Laugh, laugh, but played correctly, I believe that Bob Barr will have a stronger pull in that state than anyone is anticipating. I think he could get 5%, maybe even upwards of 10%, and 4/5 of that support will be dran from McCain.

The stronger pick would be Sam Nunn. Old, yes. But that doesn't matter in a VP pick. He is well respected in Washington and could be a real help to an Obama administration. He is not flashy and would not take away the spotlight. He would not be a candidate for President in 8 years, which would molify a lot of the party elders (Warner, Bayh, even Clinton) who are eyeing 2016.
More importantly, his work on getting rid of nuclear weapons is well thought of across party lines. He left Washington well over a decade ago, thus he does not dent Obama's outsider/post-partisan brand.

I think much the same case can be made for Gary Hart - post-partisan, well respected on national security AND economics, puts the nail in the coffin in Colorado.

Edwards needs to be Attorney General - a job he can sink his teeth into and use his drive and hard work to really make the Justice Department a force for the average citizen for the first time since Robert Kennedy.

Imagine a Justice Department run by Edwards and Patrick Fitzgerald...

Bad, bad, bad idea.
The last two Democratic candidates made poor choices for running mates and it cost them.
Edwards would help make the b.s. label on Obama that he's an elitist stick and would drive away rural voters.
Make it Strickland from Ohio and lock up a key swing state.
Or Bill Richardson. Lock up New Mexico and Colorado. Put Nevada in play. Kill any hope McCain has of putting California in play, and this would be a wild long shot, but possibly even put Texas in play if Richardson draws the latino vote in huge numbers (I know, it's a long shot).

Another thing that has changed from 2004 is that as he proved in Iowa, Edwards is now perfectly capable and seems now enthusiastically willing to be an attack dog which is why was a VP candidate needs to be (and that he was reluctant to be then because his initial campaign has been so sunny).

Edwards is not the best choice. I agree that he's already proven he does not bring enough suport to the table. I think Obama's best choice is Kathleen Sebelius. First of all, she's got tons of experience, and is heralded as one of the countries top governors. She's got a Master degree in Public Admin and brings a lot of practical administrative savvy to the team. She has done wonders in Kansas. Obviously, she gives all the women who were voting for Hillary out of a desire to see a woman in office a reason to vote for Obama. But she's way more experienced than Hillary. She's Catholic, a demographic that Obama struggles with. Her father was the governor of Ohio, so her family name may help with gaining support there as well, another area where Obama struggled. She and her family and her husband's family all have long strong ties in Washington. And finally, even from a security standpoint, it's a wise choice. There's no doubt there is a certain portion of this country that has issue period with a black president, and might even consider doing him harm if they could then have the "white male Vice President" instead. But if their next choice is a woman...well, that just might change things. All in all, she's an excellent choice: well respected, experienced, intelligent, well connected, and a female catholic...what more could he want! KATHLEEN SEBELIUS FOR VICE PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!

Our country needs drastic change. When Senator Edwards dropped out of the campaign I immediately turned my attention to Barack Obama. I believe that both are capable of bringing about positive changes to benefit our country and citizens. I think it is a wonderful idea that Senator John Edwards run as VP with Barack Obama.

We need fresh caring politicians in Washington who do not give in to lobbyists and big corporations. We need our jobs back in the USA, and big corporations that outsource should be penalized or tarriffs set that will make them think twice about the outsourcing.

America is full of loving, compassionate and generous people, but we must first take care of our people, then help others.

The reason Edwards was ineffective as a VP candidate in 2004 is that the Kerry campaign didn't turn him loose to do his own thing. Edwards is a natural populist speaker, but they turned him into a cheerleader. If Obama just made friends with Edwards said "hey we're a team" and cut Edwards loose to campaign on the issues that he believes in (which are all things that Obama agrees with) then he'll have a fantastic asset in John Edwards.

Our country needs drastic change. When Senator Edwards dropped out of the campaign I immediately turned my attention to Barack Obama. I believe that both are capable of bringing about positive changes to benefit our country and citizens. I think it is a wonderful idea that Senator John Edwards run as VP with Barack Obama.

We need fresh caring politicians in Washington who do not give in to lobbyists and big corporations. We need our jobs back in the USA, and big corporations that outsource should be penalized or tarriffs set that will make them think twice about the outsourcing.

America is full of loving, compassionate and generous people, but we must first take care of our people, then help others.

If Obama must win the general election, he needs a white man who is a retired Army General. This is the solution to defeat John. I think Obama should be left to chose his VP. Edward should be given another post in Obama Administration.

If Obama must win the general election, he needs a white man who is a retired Army General. This is the solution to defeat John. I think Obama should be left to chose his VP. Edward should be given another post in Obama Administration.

If Obama must win the general election, he needs a white man who is a retired Army General. This is the solution to defeat John. I think Obama should be left to chose his VP. Edward should be given another post in Obama Administration.

If Obama must win the general election, he needs a white man who is a retired Army General. This is the solution to defeat John. I think Obama should be left to chose his VP. Edward should be given another post in Obama Administration.

i really don't see hillary as the running mate after all of the negative attacks on this young man....but if she is the nominee i promise i will not vote for her at all period. no matter how they try to unite the party there is a lot of people that feel this way and its all because of the negativity and the harshness she has shown this man as if a black man would not make a good president. the people want change and that sometimes causes for fear but this would be for our good...

New SUSA poll shows Edwards as strongest VP compared to variety of VPs for both McCain and Obama. Compared to McCain/Romney, Obama/Edwards wins by 15 points in PA. Compared to McCain/Huckabee, Obama/Edwards wins by 10 points in PA. Edwards could really help that Appalachia problem. Also, a lot of the VPs suggested are too old to stand a good chance as president in 8 years. Edwards is young enough to be well positioned. Also, he brings Elizabeth and that is a real plus. Everybody loves her and she is a very sympathetic character. She also is very prominent in healthcare fight and as such should appeal to Clinton who claims her as a friend. Here's the link:
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5909

I saw how Edwards handled himself in 2004 up close, from inside the campaign. I could not recommend his selection by Obama for the most fundamental of all reasons: he was not loyal to the person who selected him, and put his own interests before the Presidential nominee's interests. That is dangerous for the entire ticket. I have seen nothing since to indicate that he would handle himself any differently this year. Beware.

Edwards will not be the Veep- because David Axelrod,
Obama's strategist, ran Edwards' campaign in 2004
and doesn't think highly of him, saying that he doesn't have the ability to "close the deal". With Webb pulling himself out of consideration, the strongest options are
Joe Biden or Bill Richardson. I'm still baffled by the enthusiasm about Sibelius, and Sam Nunn has the charisma of AstroTurf, in addition to being a homophobe: Barney Frank has already said that if Obama chooses Nunn, the gay and lesbian community will have a hard time getting behind the ticket. Personally, I'm rooting for Richardson - he has the best resume of anyone, he'll draw Latino voters, and he has (gasp!) a SENSE OF HUMOR!! A real human being - imagine....

Edwards is terrific, but I think might be wasted as VP. I like the idea of Attorney General.

Richardson! His politicking is showing so much it's embarrassing. Endorsing Obama when he did made me suspect he was fishing for the VP slot early on, and then he had some sort of 'makeover'. Whether you like the Clintons or not, I think his treatment of them was badly done and does not speak well for him at all.

I like JIm Webb for VP.