# What is Obama gaining by not naming, or even hinting at a VP choice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 27, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503 "2008-06-27T21:45:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/1 "2008-06-27T21:45:01Z")
The title sums it up. Why in the world isn’t Obama campaigning with a VP choice yet? He’s shown us so far that he’s excellent at playing his political cards at the perfect time, but for the life of me I just can’t figure out what the stall is about here. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/2 "2008-06-27T21:57:12Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] The title sums it up. Why in the world isn’t Obama campaigning with a VP choice yet? He’s shown us so far that he’s excellent at playing his political cards at the perfect time, but for the life of me I just can’t figure out what the stall is about here. [/QUOTE] Well, what benefit would it give him? He’s riding high. There is no obvious benefit to naming any of the likely candidates right now. Naming a VP choice is a risky move; you never know what reaction people will have. Why not wait until you need to do it, when a specific person can deliver a specific benefit? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/3 "2008-06-27T22:00:12Z")
We still have nearly two months before the convention. Traditionally, the Veep was announced at, or just before the convention. Why rush it? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/4 "2008-06-27T23:19:44Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] …Why not wait until you need to do it, when a specific person can deliver a specific benefit? [/QUOTE] Or at least until your opponent has named his VP choice. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/5 "2008-06-28T00:15:15Z")
I think he legitimately needs more time to figure out who he wants. He was in 100% campaign mode until fairly recently, so I doubt he’s deliberately dragging out the process. I don’t understand why people are so impatient about this whole process. The election isn’t until November for Christ’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/6 "2008-06-28T00:28:38Z")
By not naming folks publicly, and keeping whatever discussions he’s having with the folks on his short list, they are able to make their decisions without any undue pressure. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/7 "2008-06-28T00:33:24Z")
Kerry’s [pick of Edwards](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30354-2004Jul6.html) made the news sometime in early July. Gore’s [pick of Lieberman](http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/aug2000/lieb-a08.pdf) (warning: PDF) made the news sometime in early August. **Mosier** ’s question is not all that off-the-wall although I think Obama will hint at/name a running closer to the convention in August rather than now – for the reasons **John Mace** gave. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/8 "2008-06-28T01:04:49Z")
Perhaps Obama remembers what happens to candidates who jump the gun. From Wikipedia > [@](#): > > In 1976, when the conservative Ronald Reagan challenged President Gerald Ford for the Republican Party nomination for President of the United States, he promised to name Schweiker—with a moderate-to-liberal voting record—as his candidate for Vice President to balance the ticket. > > This was regarded as a somewhat unusual move as Reagan had not yet won the nomination.[citation needed] In response, then-North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms encouraged a movement to draft conservative New York Senator James L. Buckley as the G.O.P. nominee.[1] Ford won the nomination on the first ballot by a razor-thin margin, and the Vice-Presidential nomination went to Bob Dole.[2] ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/9 "2008-06-28T01:55:11Z")
Let’s not overlook the obvious either. Obama is a politician. One of the biggest plums that a Presidential candidate has is the Vice-Presidential spot. Obama is certain to be receiving a lot of favors right now from people who’d like to be considered. Once he names a running mate, those favors will dry up. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/10 "2008-06-28T03:18:38Z")
Don’t forget, he’s got to look in all the closets for skeletons for the Veep spot. That takes time. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/11 "2008-06-28T05:08:14Z")
[QUOTE=China Guy] Don’t forget, he’s got to look in all the closets for skeletons for the Veep spot. That takes time. [/QUOTE] I think you’re on the right track. The longer there is no VEEP, the less time the opposition will have to investigate him and no Gaffes are possible. Any VP candidate that makes a gaffe simply takes shklerself out of the running. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/12 "2008-06-28T05:16:32Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] Well, what benefit would it give him? He’s riding high. [/QUOTE] That’s it. BO, er, BHO has all the good publicity right now; the rose-colored spotlights are aimed at HIM. A VP would be a distraction. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/13 "2008-06-29T15:42:04Z")
On the other hand, we have the case of George H. W. Bush, who made a big deal of taking a Very Long Time to seriously consider the Very Best Choice for the person who would be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Then he comes out with Dan Quayle, surely the most laughably unqualified candidate of the 20th century, unless you consider W himself. And at least W had been a governor! Obama takes a small risk in taking a long time to choose his running mate in that the longer the choice takes, the better it had better be. Fortunately, Obama is a very slick and savvy guy, and certainly doesn’t ever have to worry about being upstaged by his running mate, unlike Bush 41. Also, it’s more recognized than ever how meticulous the vetting process has to be, and how long that takes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/14 "2008-06-29T15:49:12Z")
He really hasn’t taken a long time, though. He wrapped up the nomination about four weeks ago. McCain locked it up around February and hasn’t made a choice either. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/15 "2008-06-29T15:55:57Z")
He has to wait for the Hillary love to die down before he picks someone else or the whole “im taking my vote and going to mccain” thing is going to pickup again. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/16 "2008-06-29T20:32:37Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] On the other hand, we have the case of George H. W. Bush, who made a big deal of taking a Very Long Time to seriously consider the Very Best Choice for the person who would be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Then he comes out with Dan Quayle, surely the most laughably unqualified candidate of the 20th century, unless you consider W himself. And at least W had been a governor!.. [/QUOTE] Impeachment insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/17 "2008-06-30T01:10:48Z")
[QUOTE=DigitalC] He has to wait for the Hillary love to die down before he picks someone else or the whole “im taking my vote and going to mccain” thing is going to pickup again. [/QUOTE] This is my guess. He needs the Clinton voters to settle down, get over their frustration and anger about not getting their choice of candidate, and realise that the only mature and sensible thing to do is get behind Obama so that they at least have a shot at electing a Dem president. What he doesn’t want to do is upset them all right now, while the wounds are still open, by appointing someone other than Clinton as running mate. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/18 "2008-06-30T14:37:27Z")
The latest polls already show Hillary voters moving to Obama bigtime (although there are still some hardcores who say they’ll vote for McCain instead). I agree, Obama has a long time yet before he has to announce his pick. We political junkies live in a 24-hour-news-cycle, Web-driven, instant-gratification culture, though, so without a primary or caucus to look forward to or back on, we get a little antsy and need our next fix. Patience, my friends, patience! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/19 "2008-06-30T14:51:30Z")
There’s no reason to name a veep yet. It’s a silly question. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503/20 "2008-07-01T12:25:20Z")
I like what Adlai Stevenson did in 1956. He waited until the Convention and then threw it open to the delegates! My, that was an exciting evening! The race came down to Estes Kefauver and a young Senator that my family had never heard of. Jack somebody. Kefauver won and ran with Stevenson. But Jack seemed to do just fine four years later when he won the Presidency. “Those were the days, my friend; we thought they’d never end…” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-obama-gaining-by-not-naming-or-even-hinting-at-a-vp-choice/454503.md?page=2)