Agreed, to an extent. I’ve been saying from the very beginning that Obama would have trouble with the middle aged blue collar/union men, even if they’ve been Democrats for some time. You know, those hard-working white people. 
Seriously, though, I think those guys and a certain number of Hispanics are going to be ripe for McCain, if he plays his cards right.
I’m sold on Richardson as well. Those older blue collar types in Ohio/Michigan/PA are going to just have to say they’ll vote for a black man or not. I don’t think anyone as VP will influence their choice.
Obama does have a problem with Hispanics as well. Richardson can help with these voters. Plus, I think the national party would just love to making this fast growing group Democrats for the forseeable future. With the GOP beating the anti-immigrant drums, the Democratic party can be the party for Hispanics for the next 20 years.
Biden, Dodd, and the rest of the Meet The Press senators don’t fit Obama’s change theme. That would like…oh, Al Gore picking Joe Lieberman who brought him nothing in 2000.
Bill Clinton making the unconventional choice of Al Gore helped his campaign. Let’s hope Obama does the same thing.
One would think, but one would also think we wouldn’t re-elect Bush in 2004.
“Great shot, kid… now don’t get cocky.”
And Sebelius’s ties to both Ohio and Michigan will be extremely helpful (she was born and raised in Ohio and her father is former Governor John Gilligan, and she’s grown up (and continues) “summering” at a second home in Michigan. Not to mention putting Kansas & Missouri in play. Love Her!
For those who haven’t participated in previous threads and may not have seen these, here are several commercials she ran during her bid for Governor.
Richardson would be my second choice, but I like him a lot, too, so would be an enthusiastic supporter if he’s the choice.
Even Jimmy Carter agrees that choosing Hillary “. . .would be the worst mistake that could be made.”
Well she seems impressive enough, but somehow before seeing those I expected her to be a babe. Not that she’s hideous or anything, but I was thinking Cindy McCain or Elizabeth Kucinich hot. I feel so shallow right now…
Personally, I like Brian Schweitzer. Here is a blurb a friend of mine wrote up on him in a similar thread:
Governor of Montana. Energy independence is his subject, and he has a plan to make the US independent in twenty years. As a soil scientist, he spent several years in Saudi Arabia, helping to design their irrigation systems, and speaks Arabic fluently. A straight-talking western farmer and rancher who looks handsome in a bolo tie, he was the first Democrat elected Governor of Montana in 20 years. He’s pro-gun, which would be attractive to rural voters and independents. He’s extremely popular in Montana, which hasn’t voted yet, but Obama has been cleaning up in the west and is heavily favored to win there by a huge margin. At 52, he’s an obvious rising star and could help to transform the electoral map.
BZZZZZZZT! Wrong answer.
Next contestant? 
Alphabetical by last name. Interesting that Sam Nunn wasn’t on there.
Why BZZZT? I’ve been saying for a while that I think Schweitzer is a good choice. He doesn’t bring a key swing state into play, but I don’t think Obama will be thinking like that. Schweitzer’s background fits with Obama’s message in my opinion, and if memory serves Obama has already signalled his intention to try to put the Western states into play - and even if he didn’t say that, with the convention in Colorado it’s clearly part of the strategy.
What’s wrong with the way she looks? She’s very attractive for a woman her age. And you consider Cindy McCain to be a babe???
I think the best “get” would be Sam Nunn, but it sounds like Nunn is kind of talking himself down. To draw a crude parallel, Nunn would be to 2008 what Cheney was to 2000: experienced hand with real accomplishments in defense and foreign policy that would bring gravitas to the ticket that could be criticized for lack of real experience. But unlike Cheney, Nunn won’t be a shadowy emperor of pure evil.
Plus Nunn would stand a reasonable chance of delivering Georgia – or at least making it competitive. I think if Georgia were to go Blue, McCain’s campaign would really be totally and completely over. Fold up the tent, retire to a nice place in Arizona type of over.
Richardson.
In a perfect world, I would like it to be my governor, but I think any woman except Hillary is a bad, bad idea. Hillary supporters would see it as a huge slap in the face and might just make good on their promises to stay home.
Nunn is one of the major reasons we have Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. He’s about 1 step below Hillary on the “VP Picks That Would Make Me Have To Hold My Nose” list.
Count me as another one for Richardson.
Hillary? No freaking way. She just showed that she hasn’t the slightest grace in defeat. On the very night of BHO’s victory, she tries to hog the spotlight and STILL calls herself “the strongest candidate”. Someone send her a economy class ticket to Clueville.
Why would anyone choose the ingratious spotlight hogging ego-maniac as their running mate, and get her albatross of a husband (whether you like it or not) as part of the package? You’re running for President, the single most powerful job in the world, but you’d never be the boss with those two at your heels, dogging your every step.
I hope Obama offers the VP to Hillary, and I hope she accepts. There hasn’t been a primary race I can remember as deeply divisive as this one, and putting Hillary on the ticket will net Obama more votes than any other choice he could make.
I assume she would decline a VP spot, though. She has to know that Obama would attempt to marginalize her and keep her out of his policy decisions, right?
If you think a state that Republicans won by 17% in 2004 has any chance in hell of voting Democrat, especially when that state is in the deep south and the presidential candidate is black, you’re out of your cotton-picking mind. Obama needs to concentrate on the REAL swing states, not the “wouldn’t it be nice if…” states.
With good reason. Billary would be more trouble than either of them are worth to Obama. He’d be better off without her on the ticket in the long run.
Personally, I think putting 2 people of color on the ticket at once is a significant overestimate of racial tolerance in an anonymous popularity contest.
It matters little that Richardson doesn’t have a Hispanic sounding name. My grandparents may have finally swallowed the Obama nomination, but as soon as they (and I guarantee you all of their friends) see two brown faces on television they’re going to choke.
It’s not just a matter of losing votes from your Democratic base. It’s now also preventing the Republicans from finding something to mobilize on. All they need is a cause. Publicly stated or not.
I personally like Richardson. He can’t run for re-election so the Dems don’t lose a man in a powerful position. Obviously his foreign policy cred, lots of executive experience, as well as legislative. He’s the non-hispanic’s hispanic as people have said.
A guy I know on another forum says that he thinks Ken Salazar. http://salazar.senate.gov/ I know nothing abou Salazar, but I thought I’d throw him out there.