# Who is the best VP choice for Kerry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 30, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791 "2004-01-30T18:42:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/121 "2004-07-06T01:08:50Z")
Still time to get on Kerry’s e-mailing list, if you want to be among the first to know. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/122 "2004-07-06T01:09:51Z")
CNN is reporting that the decision is made but Kerry hasn’t told **anyone**. They are, however, also reporting that Edwards cut short a family vacation (at Disneyworld, for God’s sake!) to fly to Washington for a private conference with Kerry. Head’s up. Me? I think Edwards would be a good pick. He’s a good campaigner, reportedly he connects with his audience a la Clinton and he’d look astonishingly good next to Cheney in the VP debate. If I were Kerry I’d make Edwards the pick now and let a leak occur that Clark would be SecState of SecDef to garner some military credibility. Clark spent some time yesterday (I think) talking positive about Kerry, for whatever that’s worth. Interesting time. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/123 "2004-07-06T01:17:30Z")
:shrug; Vilsack spent a lot of time with Kerry this weekend, too, and there may be others whose names didn’t get leaked at all - possibly including The One. The others can be assumed to be On The Team in some capacity, though - I’d expect some other early announcements, like Bush’s that Powell would be at State. ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/124 "2004-07-06T02:50:32Z")
John Kerry will make his choice public tomorrow morning. > **[THE 2004 CAMPAIGN: THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR; Kerry Aides Make Plans For No....](https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/06/us/2004-campaign-massachusetts-senator-kerry-aides-make-plans-for-no-2-whoever-it.html)** > > John Kerry's advisers say he is planning to announce his running mate on July 6 and is orchestrating elaborate rollout of Democratic ticket first on Internet, then at rally in Pittsburgh and finally in multistate tour beginning in Ohio and ending in... ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/125 "2004-07-06T07:16:16Z")
Is this [credible](http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11966)? ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/126 "2004-07-06T07:25:40Z")
> [@II Gyan II](#): > > Is this [credible](http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11966)? God, I hope so… ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/127 "2004-07-06T11:57:07Z")
It’s Edwards! Good choice. I might have preferred Gephardt, but the people want Edwards. Most importantly, Edwards would make a great president himself. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/128 "2004-07-06T12:20:53Z")
[CNN’s saying it’s Edwards!](http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/06/kerry.vp/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/129 "2004-07-06T12:34:05Z")
Bleah. Another slick young Southerner, but without Clinton’s brains. Man only has one speech, which the reporters used to recite on the sidelines, and is very very very programmed. Oh well, guess the Southerners absolutely must hear a drawl on the ticket or they don’t bother. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/130 "2004-07-06T12:39:29Z")
Got the email from the Kerry campaign: it’s Edwards! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/131 "2004-07-06T12:51:20Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > Bleah. Another slick young Southerner, but without Clinton’s brains. Man only has one speech, which the reporters used to recite on the sidelines, and is very very very programmed. > > Oh well, guess the Southerners absolutely must hear a drawl on the ticket or they don’t bother. > > ☹ Yeah. We’re grateful just to be housetrained. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/132 "2004-07-06T12:57:10Z")
Well, I stand corrected. I had the first name right, and the geography right. I thought John Breaux, and got John Edwards. Sounds OK with me…I’m voting Democratic come November. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/133 "2004-07-06T13:01:56Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > Oh well, guess the Southerners absolutely must hear a drawl on the ticket or they don’t bother. Law’s sake, but y’all got us pegged! :rolleyes: Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/134 "2004-07-06T13:24:28Z")
Snarkiness aside, Edwards is a great choice. He’s not as progressive as I’d like, but he’s a fabulous politician. One speech? Hey, it’s a doozy of a speech, and there’s no reason to write a different speech for each audience during the primary season. Watch him in the coming weeks, see him really go to work. You’ll be impressed. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/135 "2004-07-06T13:32:07Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > Man only has one speech, which the reporters used to recite on the sidelines Surely you are familiar with the concept of a “stump speech”? Every presidential candidate has one, including Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/136 "2004-07-06T13:32:55Z")
Yeah, 'cause you know those damyankees just look down on us. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/137 "2004-07-06T13:35:49Z")
Well, we’ll see. I was never particularly impressed by him, but what’s done is done. You have to understand, my earliest President was Johnson. I’ve lived all my life in New York and Boston, two of the largest, most historic, and most influential cities in America, under Presidents from–lessee–Texas, California, Michigan, Georgia, California again, Texas\*, Arkansas, and (yee-haw!) Texas! Aside from Nelson Rockefeller as Ford’s VP, I don’t think one politician from my part of the country has been elected to national office, and I get a little tired of it. Think I’ll start a mild Pit thread later today and stop bugging people in this one. Sorry to sound so snarky, but I was really hoping for Gephardt or Richardson and hope Kerry didn’t take the easy, cynical way out with a good demographic. I hadn’t gotten the impression the men had much in common or really liked each other. Oh well. I’ll vote for them anyway, and I’ll listen to Edwards and see if he learns another speech 😃 - Bush I moved to Texas after the War, but he was from Connecticut, now lives largely in Maine, and is pretty comfortable in both worlds. But don’t think we didn’t notice how his Yankee roots were downplayed during his Presidency. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/138 "2004-07-06T13:44:13Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Got the email from the Kerry campaign: it’s Edwards! The text of that e-mail: > [@](#): > > In just a few minutes, I will announce that Senator John Edwards will join me as my running-mate on the Democratic ticket as a candidate for vice president of the United States. Teresa and I could not be more excited that John and Elizabeth Edwards will be our partners in our journey to make America stronger at home and respected in the world. > You are the heart and soul of our campaign. You’ve shattered records and expectations every step of the way. Every time someone said you couldn’t do it, you proved them wrong. Because of your incredible grassroots energy and commitment, I wanted to make the first official announcement of my decision to you – more than one million online supporters at [johnkerry.com](http://johnkerry.com). > > I want you to know why I’m excited about running for president with John Edwards by my side. John understands and defends the values of America. He has shown courage and conviction as a champion for middle class Americans and those struggling to reach the middle class. In the Senate, he worked to reform our intelligence, to combat bioterrorism, and keep our military strong. John reaches across party lines and speaks to the heart of America – hope and optimism. Throughout his own campaign for President, John spoke about the great divide in this country – the “Two Americas” – that exist between those who are doing well today and those that are struggling to make it from day to day. And I am so proud that we’re going to build one America together. > > In the next 120 days and in the administration that follows, John Edwards and I will be fighting for the America we love. We’ll be fighting to give the middle class a voice by providing good paying jobs and affordable health care. We’ll be fighting to make America energy independent. We’ll be fighting to build a strong military and lead strong alliances, so young Americans are never put in harm’s way because we insisted on going it alone. > > I can’t tell you how proud I am to have John Edwards on my team, or how eager I am for the day this fall when he stands up for our vision and goes toe-to-toe with Dick Cheney. > > This is the most important election of our lifetime, and a defining moment in our history. With you by our side every day of this campaign, John and I will lead the most spirited presidential campaign America has ever seen and fight to lead our nation in a new and better direction. > Thank you, > > John Kerry ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/139 "2004-07-06T13:45:14Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > I hadn’t gotten the impression the men had much in common or really liked each other. You can read about that in any article about them right now. They’re stylistically different and they may or may not have liked each other months ago, but they were in agreement more often than not, I think. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/140 "2004-07-06T14:02:18Z")
That’s something that always annoys me about media insularity - the press assigned to follow a candidate wherever he goes complaining that he always uses the same speech. Screw 'em - they’re not the intended audience; the people who come to hear him are, and the speech is new to _them_, the actual voters. It is actually \*better \* for the candidate to have a good, practiced stump speech memorized so he can avoid the kind of slips that the media scavengers will jump on. They’d be doing a much better service by reporting how each new audience receives it than whining that they themselves are being subjected to it again. Here’s a hint, gang: Nobody but you cares, except perhaps for the people who infer that the candidate has nothing else to say. Kerry’s made a good choice, perhaps not the best (I thought he needed a Midwesterner and a governor, and that a Southerner wouldn’t tip any Southern states to Kerry), but Edwards is a solid choice anyway. I look forward to his debate with Cheney, if there is one. Old warhorses like Gephardt and Biden would have been a negative, and Vilsack may not have been a solid enough asset, so this will probably work out well. The NY Post (a Murdoch rag) reported this AM that it was Gephardt. Wonder who was pulling their chain? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791.md?page=8)