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January 28, 2004
Cheney?
I disagree with Mark Schmitt when he says Cheney never helped Bush electorally. He might not be helping in '04, but Cheney's solid VP debate performance (alongside an equally solid Lieberman) helped convince wishy-washy Bush supporters that "the adults were in charge."
I also disagree with his assessment of Sen. Frist (R - TN) as a possible running mate. These days it seems like the best way to knock someone out of contention for a future Presidential bid is to make them Vice President. Just ask Presidents Mondale, Quayle, Gore and Lieberman.
Kerry and Edwards have to be secretly elated that they lost the VP sweepstakes to Lieberman. Same for Bill Richardson. On the other hand, Roy Barnes probably wishes he was on that ticket.
Posted by Chris at January 28, 2004 02:36 AM
Comments
Solid is the last thing I would have called Lieberman's performance in the 2000 debate with Cheney. If he'd had any balls at all, he would have asked Cheney how he could be so against federal spending when Halliburton raked in millions from its government contracts.
Posted by: Paul at January 28, 2004 08:04 AM
I've always been of the opinion if John Edwards had been on Gore's ticket, Gore wouldn't have lost Florida by 300 votes, and might actually have picked up another state or two as well.
Now, that could be wishful thinking, but I can't shake the feeling that Lieberman appealed only to constituencies that were likely to support Gore anyway, whereas a charismastic, handsome, Southern vice-president might well have turned a couple heads.
Posted by: Roger at January 28, 2004 08:38 AM
I respectfully disagree. Gores main weakness was his lack of charisma. Edwards would have looked to all the world like a 'better' version of Gore, which would have made Gore look worse by comparison.
I think Gore knew needed a guy with less charisma to make him look human by comparison. Think of Leiberman as Newman to Gore's George Castanza.
Posted by: Jon at January 28, 2004 10:49 AM
I think that while Lieberman did not excite rural Georgians and Alabamans to "return home" to the Democratic ticket, he did play a major role in securing a more monolithic Jewish vote than Democrats usually get in Florida.
Posted by: Chris at January 28, 2004 11:33 AM
Kerry actually has a chance to beat Bush if he can get anyone to care about the enviroment anymore. Bush thinks the jury is still out on global warming, and he should demand health insurance for everyone under 21.
Posted by: michael at January 28, 2004 04:14 PM
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