2008 VP Power Rankings: June 19th
Posted on June 19th, 2008 at 9:25 pm by PD Administrator
Welcome to the first edition of PoliticalDerby.com’s 2008 VP Power
Rankings, the original tracking service in the current race for the White House. After ranking the horses seeking the top spot since 2005, we now turn our attention to the bottom of the ticket.
Take note that ranking VP Horses is a much more difficult, fluid, and So let the fun begin!
subjective task than ranking the presidential candidates. Without polls or primary results to gauge track position it comes down to rumors, tips, and flipping coins.
Rankings last updated: June 19, 2008 |
| Power Ranking |
The Horse |
Mug Shot | Momentum | The Tip Sheet |
 |
Evan Bayh |  |
 |
Bayh has had his eye on this spot since being the first to withdraw from the big race. He’s popular, he’s smart, and he’s moderate. Most importantly, he’s got the one trait Obama might want to balance his historic ticket: He’s whiter than Donny Osmond. |
 |
Bill Richardson |  |
|
Richardson has been running for #2 since his days as a professional baseball player. Bill might be viewed as a bold and risky pick, but a bazillion-and-one-times safer than Hillary. Still, wouldn’t Obama win the Hispanic vote without him? |
 |
Joe Biden |  |
|
Like Richardson, Biden would bring experience and gravitas to the ticket. But he’s also the consummate Senator: A long-winded, full-of-himself politico who needs 500 words to say what real people could say in 50. |
 |
Hillary Clinton |  |
 |
Hillary’s best chance at being named Veep was withdrawing with dignity from the race a long time ago. Also, you can’t dismiss the idea that picking Hillary would mean every parent with a daughter in a DC-based internship would have to file a preemptive restraining order against former President Crotch. |
 |
Jim Webb |  |
|
Oh come on, who hasn’t used the phrase “Nazification of the Confederacy”? The only reason Webb is even on this list is that he has a military background and hails from VA. The reason he’s falling fast as Obama’s potential Veep is his newly-discovered soft spot for the confederacy. |
Others receiving votes: Tim Kaine, Al Gore, Claire McCaskill, Michael Bloomberg |
Rankings last updated: June 19, 2008 |
| Power Ranking |
The Horse |
Momentum | The Tip Sheet |
|
 |
Mark Sanford |  |
|
South Carolina’s governor has enemies on the right and the left, but that’s only among stick-in-the-mud party leaders, the conservative grassroots troops love him. Would Sanford want to take a shot now or bank on being a top-tier front-runner for the top spot in 2012 or 2016? |
 |
Charlie Crist |  |
|
Crist is popular in Florida, the state that could once again determine who rents the big U-Hall and moves to 1600 Penn Ave. He has chemistry with McCain, something that’s not easy to do. Would conservatives embrace him? Or does McCain assume they’ll come home to the ticket regardless of who’s on the second line? |
 |
Mitt Romney |  |
|
Romney seems to have everything going for him, except the little bitty fact that McCain doesn’t like him and by all accounts Mitt isn’t J-Mac’s biggest fan either. But Romney has more econ street cred than any other horse on either side, and McCain seems dreadfully out of touch on economic issues. |
 |
Mike Huckabee |  |
|
Huckabee has done everything but get on both knees and beg for the #2 spot. Sure he’d make social conservatives giddy, but his tendency to wear his religion on his sleeve could be a negative. Still, only Obama is smoother on the trail or debate stage. |
 |
Bobby Jindal |  |
|
Jindal is a hot name at the betting window, but his age could be a major factor. He’s only 37-years old. For the mathematically challenged, that makes him 34-years younger than McCain. The campaign trail for president is no place to start a Big Brother outreach program. |
| Others receiving votes: Tim Pawlenty, Jim DeMint, John Thune, Tom Coburn |
| The rankings may not be reprinted or quoted in any form without attribution to PoliticalDerby.com. |
22 Comments
Leave a comment
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Nicely done, I’ll expect some changes next time around. But overall, nicely done.
like throwing darts, but no major disagreements, I predict a few of these will remove themselves from contention sooner than later
I think Crist is in the top spot over Sanford. He’s got a huge state in contention, McCain likes him, and more importantly, he likes McCain. Everybody else has baggage or serious limitations (like Sanford and Jindhal being too young).
I could see a Sanford/Jindhal type of ticket in 2012 if McCain loses.
It will be down to Bayh and Biden on the Dem side.
I can’t find the link, but there was a story about someone from I believe Michigan confirming that Sam Nunn and John Edwards are on Obama’s VP list.
Update - Found it!
Wow…that was quick.
McCain and Romney would be a killer ticket. Who says they have to get along?
It worked for Reagan and Pappa Bush.
Mccain/Romney Killer ticket. Yep. Makes me consider Baldwin or Barr.
That’s true, history is filled with tickets that didn’t love each other. Just four years ago Kerry picked a guy he didn’t love because he wanted his rock star appeal. But in their case it showed, they had less chemistry than Bill and Hillary.
Your Democrat list has one woman - Hillary, who Obama will not pick ( would you want the Clintons upstaging tyou for 4 years) - which ignores the fact that there are at least 3 women governors ( Alaska, Michigan, Arizona) plus several women Senators and Representatives who would cement Obama’s lead among women voters plus provide (in the case of the governors) executive experience.
There is a similar absence on the Republican side - except, who is there? Plus, McCain has the dual problem of wanting to enlist the evangelical / right wing component of the party and at the same time putting a lot of clear air between himself and Bush. Romney has “econ street cred” but he’s an opportunistic weasel on policy. Huckabee wants tio be the American Ayatollah - he’ll alienate more voters than he brings in. One more boring middle class white guy hands Obama huge majorities among all minorities. But Jindal…. mmmmmm?
rm -
Firstly Alaska’s governor, Sarah Palin, is a Republican, and I doubt she’s on Obama’s short list.
Janet Napolitano also got some discussion, but I have not seen Jennifer Granholm’s name on any lists anywhere, which is why she may not have gotten much of a look from us.
Claire McCaskill actually got mentioned in the Dem’s “honorable mention” section if you look at the bottom of the their rankings.
When we were compiling the GOP side, Sarah Palin’s name was discussed, and I also have suggested Elizabeth Dole in the past as a possibility.
Must agree here. Romney is a weasel, and has not resonated extremely well with Blue Collars. Huckabee would offend Econ Cred. Both not options this time. Mcacain if you are listening pick someone else, let your VP fight Huckabee and Romney in 2012 or 2016.
Palin and Jindal (Not yet, let them grow a little in their states before you transplant them to a ticket)
Crist might have a few issues that need to be adressed with Social Cons, but otherwise Nice guy. 2 guys with white hair thou, I dont know.
Personally, I would settle with Sanford.
jindal has the same problem as palin, not enough experience, mccain cannot stake his case on how wet behind the ears obama is and then pick someone in the same league, especially not at mccains age
MI governor Jennifer Granholm was born in Canada and is therefore constitutionally unqualified to be vice-president.
This is a good thing considering the job she has done these past 6 years or so.
Sam Nunn has shot like a cannon from dark horse to strong possibility for Obama. I’m hearing Edwards whispers too as he and Obama look so darn cozy together. But the LOUDEST whisper? Al Gore. Either VP to focus on environmental issues or Secretary of State perhaps? Hmm.
McCain is still looking at Pawlenty (snooze), Lieberman (double snooze) and Giuliani, even. Huckabee is too much of a maverick for McCain’s tastes and Crist — I know this seesm shallow - but Crist is as GRAY as McCain although he’s not as old. The sight of two graying white men alongside a Democratic Change ticket doesn’t work.
In other words, it’s Mitt Romney’s VP nomination to lose.
“too much of a maverick for McCain’s tastes…”
I love it!
Crist is not that popular in Florida. We here in NW Florida don’t like him that much. Close your eyes and listen to him, he sounds like a Dem. I miss Jeb.
good old jeb, just another conservative screwed by Dubya, everyone thought Jeb was the one likely to become pres, and he would gave made a great one
Can’t realistically imagine McCain selecting anyone other than Palin as his Veep!
mccain will not pick palin, he cannot make experience argument against obama and then pick someone equally inexperienced to be a heartbeat away, I’d bet good money she has no shot
Palin’s got more actual accomplishment, experience and qualifications than Obama times 2. If the Dems want to make an issue of Palin’s experience, I say, bring it on!
Mac Pick Palin Veep BEFORE Hil Campaigns w/Obama!
In addition to her overwhelming attraction on the oil/energy issue and the female/disaffected Hillary voters, her human interest story will generate millions and millions of dollars worth of publicity and media coverage — essentially free to the McCain campaign — more than offsetting Obama’s reported money advantage.
Wes Clark for Obama and I have no idea for McCain but Elizabeth Dole is pretty interesting David. I am of the school that you do not want two Senators on a ticket. But change does seem to be in the air and I could be mistaken.