April 30, 2008 - 2:57pm
Is Ed Rendell the perfect choice for VP?
By Wally Edge
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell with presidential candidate Hillary Clinton: Photo by Getty ImagesEd Rendell may be the perfect choice for vice president. And I am not talking about if Hillary Clinton wins the nomination. What if Barack Obama wins the Democratic nomination? I know, I'm crazy, Rendell was a Clinton supporter, not a Obama supporter. That's exactly why Rendell makes a great choice. Polls show as many as 20 percent of Clinton's primary supporters would support John McCain in the general election if Obama is the nominee.
Obama's best choice for winning over the Clinton supporters would be for him to put Hillary on the ticket, but that is assuming he would want her on the ticket and assuming she would want to actually help him win the election.
If Hillary was not the nominee, Rendell may be the second best choice. Rendell comes from a key state for Obama to win, and Rendell on the ticket would actually help Obama win Pennsylvania. The vice-presidential nominee doesn't always help assure the win of the vice presidential's nominee home state, but Rendell on the ticket would almost certainly ensure Pennsylvania was in the blue column in 2008.
Rendell would also help in other key Midwest states such as Ohio and Michigan. Rendell is a great retail politician who connects with the blue-collar, Midwest voters better than almost any politician you could name. Rendell would also help with those key Clinton voters who may not want to back Obama. They would feel much more comfortable voting for Obama if they knew a key Clinton supporter such as Rendell was on the ticket.
Rendell was very smart during the Pennsylvania primary. While he was Clinton's biggest vocal supporter, he never said anything that would damage a potential relationship with Obama. So while Rendell may be a great choice for Clinton as a running mate, he may be an even a better choice for Obama.
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Yes Great Idea
Even though I am a conservative, I would vote for whoever makes Rendell their VP. I would be glad to get rid of him.
rendell as vp
Obama needs someone with executive and/or foreign policy experience as a vp. Rendell has executive experience as governor but he wouldn't help much with foreign policy. Bill Richardson comes to mind as having both, and represents a different part of the county.
Rendell has said a number of times that he might be interested in a cabinet position after he finishes his term as gov. Finishing the term would preclude the vp spot.
Plus, he is rather outspoken and that is not usually a sought after characteristic in a second banana slot. Ed prefers to be his own boss where and take the lumps for his occasional faux pas himself.
Rendell
I think Rendell would be the best pick for VP. I am a moderate leaning toward the Democratic party because of the rampant vice in teh Republican party. I think Rendell is the best way the unify the Dem ticket. Right now I am very concerned about Obama's chances because of the company he keeps. I think Rendell will be able to smooth that over and deliver PA.
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