...In Boca Raton, he was asked about his criteria for choosing a vice president. "My goal is to have the best possible government," Obama responded. "I am very practical-minded." He noted that one of his heroes, Abraham Lincoln, named political rivals to his Cabinet. "How can we get this country through this time of crisis? That has to be the approach that one takes." He added: "By the way, that does not exclude Republicans, either. The best person for the job is the person I would want."...
...In Boca Raton, he was asked about his criteria for choosing a vice president. "My goal is to have the best possible government," Obama responded. "I am very practical-minded." He noted that one of his heroes, Abraham Lincoln, named political rivals to his Cabinet. "How can we get this country through this time of crisis? That has to be the approach that one takes."
He added: "By the way, that does not exclude Republicans, either. The best person for the job is the person I would want."...
From May 23, 2008 Washington Post article: 'Obama, McCain Begin Running-Mate Searches, News of a Vetting Pick and a Weekend Gathering'
The WashPost then speculates that Obama's list includes Joe Biden, Sam Nunn, Jim Webb, Kathleen Sibelius, Janet Napolitano, Claire McCaskill, Evan Bayh, Ed Rendell, Ted Strickland, Chuck Hagel, and Michael Bloomberg.
Birdalone notes that the WashPost isn't reading the New York Times about Bloomberg's authoritarian, top-down management style and temper, which has always been my reason for Bloomberg's incompatibility with Obama, in addition to Bloomberg being a very liberal Democrat who became a Republican in name only in order to get a spot on the New York ballot in 2001 - it's tough fighting the NYC Dem machine in a primary.
Read the whole article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/22/AR2008052204145.html?sid=ST2008052300071
or here:
Obama, McCain Begin Running-Mate SearchesNews of a Vetting Pick and a Weekend GatheringBy Shailagh Murray and Juliet EilperinWashington Post Staff Writers Friday, May 23, 2008; Page A06 BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Democratic presidential front-runner, Sen. Barack Obama, took his first step toward selecting a running mate, asking a prominent supporter to begin the search process, while his likely Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, prepared to spend the weekend with three potential vice presidential picks. Former Fannie Mae chief executive James A. Johnson will head up Obama's vetting team, Democratic sources said. Johnson played a similar role for Democratic nominees John F. Kerry and Walter F. Mondale and joined the Obama campaign last year as a vice chairman. But Obama (Ill.) and his aides played down the move, describing it as only a preliminary exercise and stressing that they remain focused on the continuing primary battle with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.). "I haven't hired him. He's not on retainer. I'm not paying him any money. He is a friend of mine," Obama told reporters outside the Senate, where he returned Thursday to vote for a war funding bill. "I am not commenting on vice presidential matters, because I have not won this nomination." Aides to McCain (Ariz.), meanwhile, are already working behind the scenes to vet potential running mates, and they were equally reluctant to talk about the process. "We just don't discuss the vice presidential selection process," said McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker. Republicans familiar with the McCain process said campaign aides are conducting extensive background checks on what one called "a long list" that stretches into double digits. Among those being considered are Govs. Charlie Crist of Florida, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana; former congressman Rob Portman (Ohio); and one of McCain's primary opponents, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. Crist, Jindal and Romney have been invited to McCain's ranch in Sedona, Ariz., this weekend, although the senator's top aides insisted that the visits are not part of a formal search process. Obama aides are guarding against any appearance of overconfidence as he and Clinton continue their campaign through the final primaries in Montana and South Dakota on June 3. "We've got a little more work to do," Obama told a group of Jewish voters at a Boca Raton synagogue. But he added: "Two weeks from now, we will know who the Democratic nominee is going to be." Clinton's campaign kept its focus on breaking the impasse over Florida and Michigan delegates on Tuesday, viewing the seating of those delegations as her best chance to remain viable in the nomination contest. The campaign also circulated new polls to bolster their argument that Clinton remains the stronger general-election candidate against McCain. The senator from New York has vowed to remain in the race until the unsanctioned Florida and Michigan primaries are recognized, and her supporters are pressuring Democratic Party officials for a verdict that would help Clinton narrow Obama's lead in pledged delegates. As the primaries wind down, Obama is trying to balance his contest with Clinton and his desire to take on McCain directly and frame the general-election debate. Early next week, he will visit New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado, three swing states he hopes to win in November, before taking a final lap through South Dakota and Montana. Obama's campaign announced Thursday that he will stand in for the ailing Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) as the commencement speaker at Wesleyan University in Connecticut on Sunday. This week, Obama has campaigned in Florida, another key swing state. Obama will speak to a Cuban American audience Friday morning about Latin American issues, and in Boca Raton on Thursday he urged Jewish voters to ignore false rumors that circulate via e-mail about his stance on Israel and his religious background. In Boca Raton, he was asked about his criteria for choosing a vice president. "My goal is to have the best possible government," Obama responded. "I am very practical-minded." He noted that one of his heroes, Abraham Lincoln, named political rivals to his Cabinet. "How can we get this country through this time of crisis? That has to be the approach that one takes." He added: "By the way, that does not exclude Republicans, either. The best person for the job is the person I would want." Among others, Obama is expected to look at seasoned Democratic statesmen such as Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.) and former senator Sam Nunn (Ga.). Biden, who has twice sought the presidency, including a 2008 bid, comes from a working-class Irish Catholic background -- a demographic Obama has struggled with in the primaries. Sen. James Webb (Va.) is another potential prospect, a decorated Marine and former Republican with strong working-class support in his GOP-leaning state. Some Obama insiders think he will consider a number of female candidates, including Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Sen. Claire McCaskill (Mo.). All three endorsed Obama early in his campaign. In the interest of party unity, Obama could turn to a Clinton supporter from a swing state, such as Sen. Evan Bayh (Ind.), Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell or Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. Republicans who could land on his radar screen include Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, now a political independent. McCain has said consistently that he wants a running mate who shares his beliefs and would be prepared to take over the presidency. But his team is also taking political calculations into consideration, including geography, age and expertise on domestic issues. One Republican pointed to Crist as a potential boost for McCain in Florida.
Obama, McCain Begin Running-Mate Searches
News of a Vetting Pick and a Weekend Gathering
By Shailagh Murray and Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, May 23, 2008; Page A06
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Democratic presidential front-runner, Sen. Barack Obama, took his first step toward selecting a running mate, asking a prominent supporter to begin the search process, while his likely Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, prepared to spend the weekend with three potential vice presidential picks.
Former Fannie Mae chief executive James A. Johnson will head up Obama's vetting team, Democratic sources said. Johnson played a similar role for Democratic nominees John F. Kerry and Walter F. Mondale and joined the Obama campaign last year as a vice chairman. But Obama (Ill.) and his aides played down the move, describing it as only a preliminary exercise and stressing that they remain focused on the continuing primary battle with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.).
"I haven't hired him. He's not on retainer. I'm not paying him any money. He is a friend of mine," Obama told reporters outside the Senate, where he returned Thursday to vote for a war funding bill. "I am not commenting on vice presidential matters, because I have not won this nomination."
Aides to McCain (Ariz.), meanwhile, are already working behind the scenes to vet potential running mates, and they were equally reluctant to talk about the process. "We just don't discuss the vice presidential selection process," said McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker.
Republicans familiar with the McCain process said campaign aides are conducting extensive background checks on what one called "a long list" that stretches into double digits. Among those being considered are Govs. Charlie Crist of Florida, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana; former congressman Rob Portman (Ohio); and one of McCain's primary opponents, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
Crist, Jindal and Romney have been invited to McCain's ranch in Sedona, Ariz., this weekend, although the senator's top aides insisted that the visits are not part of a formal search process.
Obama aides are guarding against any appearance of overconfidence as he and Clinton continue their campaign through the final primaries in Montana and South Dakota on June 3. "We've got a little more work to do," Obama told a group of Jewish voters at a Boca Raton synagogue. But he added: "Two weeks from now, we will know who the Democratic nominee is going to be."
Clinton's campaign kept its focus on breaking the impasse over Florida and Michigan delegates on Tuesday, viewing the seating of those delegations as her best chance to remain viable in the nomination contest. The campaign also circulated new polls to bolster their argument that Clinton remains the stronger general-election candidate against McCain.
The senator from New York has vowed to remain in the race until the unsanctioned Florida and Michigan primaries are recognized, and her supporters are pressuring Democratic Party officials for a verdict that would help Clinton narrow Obama's lead in pledged delegates.
As the primaries wind down, Obama is trying to balance his contest with Clinton and his desire to take on McCain directly and frame the general-election debate. Early next week, he will visit New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado, three swing states he hopes to win in November, before taking a final lap through South Dakota and Montana. Obama's campaign announced Thursday that he will stand in for the ailing Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) as the commencement speaker at Wesleyan University in Connecticut on Sunday.
This week, Obama has campaigned in Florida, another key swing state. Obama will speak to a Cuban American audience Friday morning about Latin American issues, and in Boca Raton on Thursday he urged Jewish voters to ignore false rumors that circulate via e-mail about his stance on Israel and his religious background.
In Boca Raton, he was asked about his criteria for choosing a vice president. "My goal is to have the best possible government," Obama responded. "I am very practical-minded." He noted that one of his heroes, Abraham Lincoln, named political rivals to his Cabinet. "How can we get this country through this time of crisis? That has to be the approach that one takes."
He added: "By the way, that does not exclude Republicans, either. The best person for the job is the person I would want."
Among others, Obama is expected to look at seasoned Democratic statesmen such as Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.) and former senator Sam Nunn (Ga.). Biden, who has twice sought the presidency, including a 2008 bid, comes from a working-class Irish Catholic background -- a demographic Obama has struggled with in the primaries. Sen. James Webb (Va.) is another potential prospect, a decorated Marine and former Republican with strong working-class support in his GOP-leaning state.
Some Obama insiders think he will consider a number of female candidates, including Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Sen. Claire McCaskill (Mo.). All three endorsed Obama early in his campaign.
In the interest of party unity, Obama could turn to a Clinton supporter from a swing state, such as Sen. Evan Bayh (Ind.), Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell or Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. Republicans who could land on his radar screen include Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, now a political independent.
McCain has said consistently that he wants a running mate who shares his beliefs and would be prepared to take over the presidency. But his team is also taking political calculations into consideration, including geography, age and expertise on domestic issues. One Republican pointed to Crist as a potential boost for McCain in Florida.
Eilperin was traveling with McCain in California. Staff writer Anne E. Kornblut in Washington contributed to this report.
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