# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 8
**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, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/141 "2004-07-06T14:18:41Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > 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. It’s all about the politics. Although it’d be wildly optimistic to hope that North Carolina (for example) would go Democratic this year, it’s no longer out of the question; that means that the Republican party can’t afford to ignore our state, as it traditionally does. They’ll have to expend resources fighting here that they otherwise could’ve been spending in Florida or Ohio. More than his regional appeal, however, Edwards brings a populist appeal. Near as I know, he’s the only person on either ticket with a legitimate claim to a working-class background; and he’s spent his life helping poor people out. He’s brilliant at bringing forth the economic concerns of poor people, something that both parties have sucked at doing lately; in recent elections, Republicans have spoken to the religious interests of poor people while ignoring their economic interests, and Democrats have shied away from the economic interests of poor people for fear of the L word. Edwards, I think, speaks straight to those economic interests. Daniel ---
**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, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/142 "2004-07-06T14:25:58Z")
Yeah, I guess what the press thinks of Edwards is not particularly relevant, but there’s a difference between sticking to message and using the same gestures, same jokes, same pauses, to different audiences. Nice article from March in the media-oriented [New York Observer](http://www.nyobserver.com/pages/story.asp?ID=8684): > [@](#): > > “His attitude is, it’s not really about feeding the beast,” Mr. Alter said later. “It’s about getting your message out. If your message is familiar to the point of boredom for the people in the bubble, tough, because that’s not who you’re trying to reach.” > > Mr. Alter noted that he had met Mr. Edwards on a number of occasions in more intimate settings, including dinner at the Upper East Side home of former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke and his wife Kati Marton. In every case, he said, Mr. Edwards seemed to remain a fixed quantity. “What’s very artful about him,” he continued, “is you could seem to be having a conversation with him–as I did for an hour on Saturday–and you seem to be having a very interesting conversation and interview, but then when you listen to the tape, it’s all message.” > > For weeks, Mr. Edwards’ stump speech had included a one-liner about how the press constantly badgered him to attack Mr. Kerry–a line that received eye-rolls and knowing smiles from the reporters who had to listen to it day after day. > [@](#): > > “At a certain point you hit a wall,” said [a Raleigh reporter]. “He doesn’t offer too many insights into what’s going on inside of his soul. Unlike some candidates, I think he has a discipline that he developed as a lawyer and he’s just very cautious about how much he allows, and it generally serves him well.” Snarky editorial from the [Observer](http://www.nyobserver.com/pages/story.asp?ID=8662) right before the primary; a bit harsh but basically how I felt at the time: > [@](#): > > But will New Yorkers fall for Mr. Charm School? Mr. Edwards may indeed be catnip to the rest of the country–good-looking, personable, a great performer who eschews the podium for the personal touch. But in the unforgiving light of a New York primary, Mr. Edwards comes off as the sort of fellow who pumps your hand, looks you in the eye and says, “No money down! and you’ll make a fortune in real estate!” Anyway, sure I’ll still vote for Kerry; just can’t join in the cheering about his choice. I just hope that Edwards grows into the role. It’ll be fun to watch, esp. the VP debate. Oilman vs. lawyer–who’ll be slicker? Who’ll be sharper? Probably be more fun than the Presidential debates. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/143 "2004-07-06T14:35:25Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > He’s brilliant at bringing forth the economic concerns of poor people, something that both parties have sucked at doing lately; in recent elections, Republicans have spoken to the religious interests of poor people while ignoring their economic interests, and Democrats have shied away from the economic interests of poor people for fear of the L word. Edwards, I think, speaks straight to those economic interests. > > Daniel Not just poor people, I think. There is a populist argument to be made to the middle class. The Republican tax cuts have the long-term effect of benefiting the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. And there are plenty of members of the middle class who are concerned about lack of health insurance and about the future of Social Security. I don’t think Edwards will flip any deep south states. I do think he’ll be particularly helpful in the swing states of Florida and West Virginia, though. And I agree with those who’ve said Edwards will be helpful in the Midwest, since he can effectively (more effectively than Kerry, I think) speak to the concerns of middle class voters there. Moreover, I think this pick is good for the party. Edwards has a future on the national stage, and whether the Kerry-Edwards ticket wins or loses, the added exposure of the VP run will give him a leg up in any future campaign. ---
**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, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/144 "2004-07-06T14:54:02Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > It’s all about the politics. Although it’d be wildly optimistic to hope that North Carolina (for example) would go Democratic this year, it’s no longer out of the question; that means that the Republican party can’t afford to ignore our state, as it traditionally does. They’ll have to expend resources fighting here that they otherwise could’ve been spending in Florida or Ohio. I’d call it optimistic, but not wildly so. I’d put Bush as somewhere between a 3-2 favorite and a 2-1 favorite to win NC. ‘Wildly optimistic’ would characterize hoping the Dems pick up SC, but I wouldn’t put even that completely out of reach: even now, Bush’s lead in SC has only been running at about 49-39, because SC’s really been hammered by jobs headed overseas. Having Edwards on the ticket will cut into that lead, and I expect he’ll be in the state periodically to campaign for Inez Tenenbaum. (He’ll be in NC campaigning for Erskine Bowles too, but he’d be there anyway.) And that’s one place where Edwards’ nomination is big: the Dems are defending five open seats in the South, and Edwards can boost the chances of the Dem nominees by campaigning with them. That wasn’t true for Kerry. > [@](#): > > More than his regional appeal, however, Edwards brings a populist appeal. Near as I know, he’s the only person on either ticket with a legitimate claim to a working-class background; and he’s spent his life helping poor people out. He’s brilliant at bringing forth the economic concerns of poor people, something that both parties have sucked at doing lately; in recent elections, Republicans have spoken to the religious interests of poor people while ignoring their economic interests, and Democrats have shied away from the economic interests of poor people for fear of the L word. Edwards, I think, speaks straight to those economic interests. You betcha. And this is big. Prediction: Kerry/Edwards over Bush/Cheney, 56%-44%. ---
**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, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/145 "2004-07-06T15:26:47Z")
RT, are you defining electoral percentage or popular vote percentage? Dude, if it’s the latter that’s crazed. That would be an ENORMOUS win. ---
**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, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/146 "2004-07-06T15:42:20Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Not just poor people, I think. There is a populist argument to be made to the middle class. Very good point! Daniel ---
**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, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/147 "2004-07-06T16:33:33Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > RT, are you defining electoral percentage or popular vote percentage? > > Dude, if it’s the latter that’s crazed. That would be an ENORMOUS win. Yep, I’m talking about the popular vote. Predicting 56% of the _electoral_ vote would be saying _nothing_. Kennedy in 1960, Nixon in 1968, and Carter in 1976 all got 55-56% of the electoral vote, despite very narrow popular vote wins. What’s rare is for the winner to have less than that - before 2000, you’ve got to go back to 1916 to find an election where the winner had less than 55% of the electoral vote. I think the bottom has been ready to fall out of the Bush campaign for awhile; the only requirement was a strong Dem ticket with a strong message. As the email that **Desmostylus** posted shows, Kerry’s bought into the “Two Americas” message. That’s the key. I think this is going to be a big win, a win with coattails, a win that neither Diebold nor the EC can undo. We’ll find out who’s right in four months. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/148 "2004-07-06T17:10:11Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Yeah. We’re grateful just to be housetrained. It’ll be easier for you when y’all get indoor plumbing. 😉 ---
**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, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/149 "2004-07-06T17:12:28Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I think this is going to be a big win, a win with coattails, a win that neither Diebold nor the EC can undo. Never misunderestimate the power of His Satanic Majesty - Karl Rove. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/150 "2004-07-06T18:54:45Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > I hadn’t gotten the impression the men had much in common or really liked each other. Neither did Bush Sr. and Ron Reagan, remember? ---
**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, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/151 "2004-07-06T21:24:08Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > It’ll be easier for you when y’all get indoor plumbing. 😉 Indoor what? What is this “plumbing”? ---
**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, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791/152 "2004-07-06T21:32:36Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Indoor what? What is this “plumbing”? It’s sorta like when you done plumb forgot where you put your gol’ durn tractor, and then you find it agin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-best-vp-choice-for-kerry/226791.md?page=7)