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MORE REASONS OBAMA MAY PICK SEBELIUS.
I'll echo Dana and Ann's comments about Kathleen Sebelius and add a few of my own. As this nice New York Times piece points out, Sebelius reinforces Obama's core message in a way none of the other potential VPs do. She has a record of working with Republicans to achieve progressive aims -- increasing school funding, blocking the construction of new coal plants -- in exactly the same way Obama promises to do.
That message of bipartisan change, which has been the center of Obama's brand since his convention speech in 2004, has gotten lost in the shuffle over the last month as Obama has dived into the general election. It's still his strongest argument and I can't think of a better way to reinforce it than picking Sebelius. Picking Biden, on the other hand, would signal a deliberate decision to abandon that approach and run a more traditional Democratic campaign, and if there's one thing Obama isn't, it's traditional.
What's more, Sebelius' relative absence from VP speculation over the last few weeks actually makes me think she might just be the pick. After all, Obama will almost certainly get a bigger bump if he picks someone surprising than if he chooses someone well-known.
--Sam Boyd
COMMENTS (7)
What about Schweitzer, who has a Republican Lt. Gov? Not sure if his accomplishments have been similar, but wouldn't that play about the same?
Posted by: Josh R. | August 20, 2008 2:52 PM
On the contrary, I think Biden would free Obama to continue on exactly the same path he's been on, while leaving Biden to attack the GOP ticket -- as attack they must.
The only real significance of Biden qua Biden is that he is reassuring, due to his age, experience, gravitas (of a sort), foreign policy grasp, etc. Obama needs reassuring. This doesn't run counter to his message. It simply makes it more palatable for those on the fence to "take the plunge" and vote for Obama.
Posted by: Gee | August 20, 2008 3:00 PM
Obama may be more right on the issues than McCain but that is immaterial to his failings as a candidate. Picking Sebelius will lose Obama votes of people who might have voted Democratic, but won't because "in a time of war, we need string leadership".
I won't vote for McCain, but I'm not going to bother voting for Obama. He's already lost the election and my state outcome isn't in doubt anyway. Since the outcome isn't in doubt, I hope Obama is punished with a humiliating defeat, so that maybe next time the Democratic party will choose a candidate with a spine.
Posted by: Rock | August 20, 2008 3:05 PM
Arrrgh
string leadership = strong leadership
Posted by: Rock | August 20, 2008 3:07 PM
All this Sebelius talk today makes me realize, after the Kaine, Bayh, and Biden waves, there's still time for a Sebelius bubble to form and pop before Obama makes his surprise pick. How much of a surprise is it really going to be if we beat all the possibilities to death beforehand?
Posted by: Brian D | August 20, 2008 3:24 PM
The Obamanator better go with Emergency Plan Hillary. Depserate diseases require desperate remedy.
Posted by: 57 State Whirlwind Tour | August 21, 2008 4:27 AM
I like Sebelius too, but vice president? Does an Obama/Sebelius ticket spell "gravitas" to anyone?
Posted by: John Petty | August 21, 2008 11:02 AM