Obama’s number two

A brief look at the main contenders for the VP spot on this year’s Democratic ticket - including this writer’s prediction

With Barack Obama having (finally) sealed the Democratic nomination, media attention has turned to consideration of the policy positions he will fashion for the General Election, and speculation about who his running mate will be. Focus on the latter will give Obama time to retreat and give serious thought to the former.

After a long and exhausting campaign, Obama, who undoubtedly looked tired towards the end, needs to pause for a couple of weeks and decide how he is going to develop policy on the two main areas likely to dominate the election: foreign policy and the economy. And speculation about his running mate keeps his name in the media, without having to spend all important campaign dollars.

The Guardian ran a feature containing mini-portraits of the main contenders. Here I have trimmed it further.

My money is on Jim Webb. Why? I think Obama will go for a white man in a swing state. But the downside of choosing someone who has not run in a nationwide contest before, or has not held a federal position, is that they have not faced the intense glare of the national media and previous VP nominees who have not run in the primaries have caused problems. For this reason someone like John Edwards or Bill Richardson might be shrewder choices. But my record of predictions has been poor in recent years. I thought David Miliband would succeed Tony Blair, and that Hillary Clinton would win this year’s primaries.

‘As Barack Obama prepares for a gruelling general election fight against John McCain, he faces a tough search for the ideal running mate. He will be looking for someone to support his strengths and compensate for his weaknesses. Running mates are often chosen to counter the nominee’s demographic or ideological vulnerabilities, a political strategy known as “balancing the ticket”.

Here are eight contenders who have the best chance of clasping hands with Obama on stage at the August convention in Denver:

Hillary Clinton
Obama’s former opponent is mentioned so often as his potential running mate that the phrase “dream ticket” has already entered the US political vernacular. Although polling shows the American public would welcome an Obama-Clinton ticket, his supporters are cool to the concept.

James Webb
Virginia’s Democratic senator is still in his first term, which could exacerbate criticism of Obama’s inexperience. But before Webb came to Congress he was building a perfect running mate résumé: winning six combat medals during the Vietnam war, serving as US navy secretary under Ronald Reagan, and defending the right to gun ownership.

Ted Strickland
The Ohio governor offers a double benefit to Obama backers. As an early ally of Hillary Clinton, Strickland’s presence on the ticket would assuage bruised feelings among her supporters. He would also boost Democrats’ chances of winning Ohio, a crucial swing state.

Kathleen Sebelius
The Kansas governor became a political wunderkind after remaining popular with the state’s conservative electorate while simultaneously opposing a law to ban gay marriage and vetoing a later law to protect gun rights. Her reputation for working well with political enemies aligns well with Obama’s promise to turn the US away from vicious partisanship.

Ed Rendell
The governor of Pennsylvania. He would bring military service and a reputation for crime-fighting as a former district attorney to the Democratic ticket.

Bill Richardson
When New Mexico’s governor endorsed Obama in March, the tide truly began to turn against Hillary Clinton. One angry Clintonite could not resist labelling Richardson a “Judas”.

John Edwards
Would the 2004 vice-presidential nominee make a return appearance? “Won’t happen,” he said after coming out for Obama last month. But the offer may come anyway to the former North Carolina senator.

Wesley Clark
Like Strickland, Clark is a close ally of Clinton who would help her supporters feel more comfortable with the former first lady’s loss to Obama. Clark is also a military figure as formidable as McCain, spending four years as chief commander of Nato and commanding troops during the Balkans conflict.’