Here's some absolutely rank and self-referential speculation about Barack Obama's VP choice, heralded with one of those handy-dandy, ready-for-sending text message headlines that have become pervasive since Obama announced he would tell supporters the name of his running mate by electronic device (no, not that kind of electronic device).
The translation of the headline of this post, for the overwhelming majority of you who didn't immediately recognize the alphabet soup, is "Barack Obama Text: Former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe for Vice President?"
As I blogged earlier this week, Obama's campaign and Democratic convention officials announced that the theme for the night of the VP candidate's speech is the same as the slogan for Gen. Wesley K. Clark's political action committee: "Securing America's Future."
"No one should read anything into the theme," Natalie Wyeth, a convention spokeswoman reiterated in an e-mail to VP Watch yesterday.
But there are other possible Clark clues out there.
Former President Bill Clinton, who appointed Clark to oversee U.S. involvement in the Balkans, is scheduled to speak before the vice presidential nominee on the third night of the convention, according to several news reports.
The Obama campaign has not confirmed that -- nor have convention officials. But they are not contesting it either.
Could Clinton be introducing Clark, a fellow Rhodes scholar who also grew up in Arkansas and has known Clinton for more than 40 years?
Clark endorsed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary, and he has been so closely identified with the Clintons that it would be hard for them to be anything less than fully supportive of the ticket if he were on it.
Read more about Clark after the jump.
BO TXT: EX-SACEUR-4-VP?
I'm not saying it will be Clark.
But here's how I view his possible upsides ... and of course the possible vulnerabilities.
But here's how I view his possible upsides ... and of course the possible vulnerabilities.
- Like all generals, Clark has an extensive military resume. It is deeper and arguably more impressive than John McCain's. Clark's background could give him the necessary standing to return McCain's fire on accusations that Obama is weak on national security and perhaps even one-up the presumptive Republican nominee on matters of war and peace.
- He grew up in Arkansas and would give the ticket the kind of Southern flavor Democrats have not won without in recent decades.
- His personal story -- he was once described as growing up with "more patriotism than money" -- could provide appeal to the working-class white voters who supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary.
- Clark has endeared himself to the Democratic netroots with his active support for Democratic congressional candidates in recent elections.
- As Obama courts Jewish voters, it probably wouldn't hurt that Clark's grandfather was Jewish.
- He has been vetted, to a large degree, by the national media during his brief presidential bid in 2004 and by government officials during his rise through the military ranks.
- He is a capable public speaker and television debater who could fulfill the role of campaign attack dog.
- It is the latter of Clark's skills that could be his greatest drawback. His contention that McCain is not qualified to be president just because his plane was shot down in Vietnam drew rebukes from the McCain campaign, some independent observers and even Obama.
- Clark's position on the Iraq war has been a moving target, with him expressing support for the resolution authorizing it, later saying he would have voted against the legislation and advocating for a continued U.S. presence there even after saying the war was a mistake. He was sharply critical of President Bush's "surge" strategy.
- And, as the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth taught the world in 2004, even decorated veterans can be attacked on their military records. Who knows what might get thrown at Clark from disgruntled former colleagues or underlings?
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