Tracking the politik
It appears as if Obama has this nomination in the bag. Next step of course is securing a VP running mate. I'm going to discuss here both party's possible veeps as I see it. Bear with me because I'm definitively not privy to all the behind-the-scenes party people and most of the non-national politicians, and most of the national ones as well. I'll probably voice a hypothetical match more than a name.
John McCain has this whole "maverick" image in the bag, regardless of its reality. He may need to have a running mate who can help shore up his "conservative" credentials. McCain has enough independent appeal, but he's still trying to win over the "conservative base." His pro-life voting record is secure, even though he doesn't make a point of talking about it (and some say it's just pandering when he does because he's allegedly pro-choice in conscience[1]). Even though he really is a conservative, he needs someone who people actually associate with the term. To combat the "historicity" of Obama, it would do well to have a Hispanic man who is outspoken on the immigration issue (because conservatives love the Hispanics who oppose immigration and blacks who oppose affirmative action).
Obama has a problem matching up with anyone because he has his own mythology about him. He is a monolithic politician. When he gets associated with anyone, his mythology is damaged. If he is married to a Washington politician, he loses his outsider image. He also has to gain in the working class white independent segment. Although he's done well in the South, it's still unlikely he'll carry these heavily Republican states. The one he needs to win is Florida. One name going around has been Jib Webb, Governor of Virginia. This is a good choice (possibly) because he's a white southerner, and a governor with executive experience. Another name has been Bill Richardson who is a Hispanic Governor from New Mexico who can have a strong counter-argument to the conservatives on the immigration issue considering he's leading a border state. While McCain and Obama have a similar stance on the immigration issue, it will still be a big issue this year because of the economy. Richardson also have foreign relations work under his belt as he was an ambassador. So those two are my initial guesses because they both fit in area that Obama is weak, yet they're both Washington outsiders.
I'm sure more developments will come up int he following weeks to make more sense of this.
1 This brings up a question. A lot of politicians say "I believe ____, but I don't make it a point to vote that way because I want to represent ____." Does this mean these people do not trust their own conscience?
