June 23, 2004
Kerry / (Insert Name Here) '04
Kerry close to choosing his date for the big dance...
As the days wind toward July, John Kerry has apparently honed his choices for Vice President, with the campaign acknowledging they asked for tax information from two prospects - Dick Gephardt and John Edwards.
First, don't be surprised if it's neither of these candidates. The Kerry campaign could do well to play the media like a fiddle, dangling these names and getting speculation going, and coming up with a surprise that grabs headlines. There is far less interest in an "As expected, Kerry chose..." than there would be in "Surprising everyone, Kerry chose..."
If this is being played on the up-and-up in public, there couldn't be more difference in the candidates. Gephardt is the safer, smarter play while Edwards is the sexy play.
Gephardt brings a long-standing relationship with traditional Democrat constituencies, close to big labor, leader in the House, from middle America, well honed in political arts, well seasoned, pro-Iraq War and a heavy hitter in his homestate, the bellweather of Missouri. However, Gephardt never caught fire in the campaign this year, and as the Democrat party base moved from it's blue collar roots to the anti-war far left, Gephardt was simply on the outside looking in. In his favor, he won't overshadow Kerry. But to his detriment, folks might turn the lights off forgetting he's still in the room.
Edwards is a one term Senator, from the South, young and charismatic, with a good stump speech. Edwards did pick up votes in the very brief Democrat primary season, often running a strong second behind Kerry. He does overshadow Kerry with his charisma, but this also helps offset Kerry's Lurch-appeal.
No brainer? Hardly. Edwards is a lightweight. His debate performances were underanalysed - how did he get away with not knowing the Defense of Marriage Act, or what it says, in fact completely getting it backwards? His mid-debate excuse was "I wasn't around when it was passed". Well thanks Johnny, you weren't around when the Bill of Rights was passed either but I expect you to know what that is too. Edwards lacks gravitas, and other than a puckish grin, carries little else to the table. A debate between him and Dick Cheney would be like watching a Wild Kingdom episode where the predator rends a prairie deer.
And he's a trial lawyer. The untapped reservoir of political fuel on this topic is just waiting for him. That he worked with children's cases is no innoculation against a waiting tide of ads that demonstrate the link between trial lawyers, the single largest contributory to the Democrat party, and Edwards, and by extension, Kerry.
Edwards simply isn't seasoned enough. One term in the Senate isn't enough to be a heartbeat from the Presidency. Gephardt has the skins.
Which is why it's unlikely to be either of them...
Posted by MEC2 at June 23, 2004 08:16 PM