Newsweek ran a poll asking about whether people had a favorable/unfavorable impression of
Barack Obama and John McCain. The results are Obama 56%/32%, McCain 55%/32%. It is amazing that they
are practically identical and so positive. With a Karl Rove pupil, Steve Schmidt, now de facto
running McCain's campaign, no doubt the mud will start flying fairly soon in order to reduce
Obama's favorables. And Obama has said
he isn't going to just take it like John Kerry did in 2004, so no doubt it will be flying both
ways come the Fall. The voters say they can't stand negative campaigns but they work.
Time also has something interesting: a
column by Michael Kinsley
about the differences between Democrats and Republicans. Many Republicans have hated and distrusted John McCain
for years and have major ideological differences with him, yet they are coming around to him with the attitude
Lyndon Johnson had about the Shah of Iran: "He's a bastard, but he's our bastard." In contrast, the
feud between the Obama and Clinton people goes on despite it only having lasted 6 months
and Obama being in favor of just about everything they have supported their whole lives.
But all is not hunky dory in McCainland either.
The LA Times has a
story
headlined: "Under New Management, Week One is a Weak One."
His economic advisor, former senator Phil Gramm, said that we have a "mental recession" and Americans should stop whining
about the economy. Then McCain himself said that it is a disgrace that young workers pay into the social security
pot and old workers take money out of it (which was the design from day 1--it was never intended as a personal savings
account). While McCain isn't responsible for what Gramm says, the Republicans hammered Obama for what Rev. Wright
said. Either you are judged by the company you keep or you're not, but the same rules are going to apply to both
sides this year.
Chris Cillizza, a well-respected blogger at the Washington Post listed his current top five
current picks
for Vice President. Here they are.
Rank
Democrats
Republicans
1.
Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)
2.
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)
3.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS)
former Gov. Tom Ridge (R-PA)
4.
Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE)
Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA)
5.
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
Cillizza has experience but no more information that anyone else. The people who know aren't talking.
Here is a brief rundown of each of these candidates' strengths and weaknesses, starting with the Democrats.
Tim Kaine is from a crucial swing state. If Obama wins Virginia, he needs only only more state to add to the Kerry
states. On the other hand, Kaine is not well known nationally and has no foreign policy or military expertise.
A Kaine pick is purely an attempt to win Virginia (and maybe North Carolina) and nothing else. Evan Bayh might
be able to make Indiana a swing state. He has lots of experience and few enemies. The downside is the loss of
a Senate seat as (current and likely future) Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) will replace him with a Republican. Kathleen Sebelius might attract
women voters and independents but she might also repel women who really want Hillary. She can't bring in Kansas.
Joe Biden brings in years of foreign policy experience. No one will question his credentials as he has been
in the Senate longer than McCain. On the other hand, he brings in no state or demographic group and he talks too much
so he'd probably be better as Secretary of State.
Hillary Clinton would certainly bring in the 18 million people who voted for her in the primaries, but
she is still very divisive and will hasten the unification of the Republican Party.
Also, the absence of a white man on the ticket will hurt the Democrats in
Appalachia, where men will feel everyone counts except them (ditto for Sebelius).
Now the Republicans. Mitt Romney is the first choice of many business leaders and some conservatives.
However, his stands on many issues this year are the opposite of what they were when he was running for
governor of Massachusetts so he will be labeled a flip flopper. His Mormon faith will also be a problem for
many evangelicals. Furthermore, McCain really dislikes him.
But John Kennedy's dislike of Lyndon Johnson didn't keep Johnson off the ticket in 1960.
Tim Pawlenty is probably conservative enough for the Base but moderate enough for the
independents, which is no mean feat. However, it is doubtful that he can even bring in Minnesota. Why Cillizza
puts Ridge in the list is a mystery. His pro-choice stance will make the Base apopletic. They distrust McCain
to start with and a Ridge pick would only confirm their worst fears. Bobby Jindal is even younger (37)
than Obama (46), thus destroying one of McCain's best lines of attack. Jindal also dabbles in
exorcism and the Democrats will make him out to be a kook. Thune is completely unknown and brings in nothing.
Of the Republicans listed, only Romney and Pawlenty make sense. Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) really should be on
the list, too.
It is important to realize that the candidates intentionally leak many names to please some group or other.
For example, by leaking Hillary Clinton's name, Obama may try to please her supporters by making it look
like she has a chance when she probably doesn't.
One one poll today, in Washington state, and Obama is comfortably ahead here as usual.
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