KerryRichardson2004

Why Kerry May Choose a Latino VP and if not maybe Richardson for Secretary of State

By Pilar Marrero, Pacific News Service
March 24, 2004

He's the popular Democratic governor of a southwestern state, with the unlikely advantage of being an experienced international diplomat. He was born in California, but spent his childhood in Mexico City. He speaks real Spanish – not the spanglish kind – and has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. He's a political moderate with charisma and charm.


Those are some of the reasons why New Mexico governor, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, former congressman and former Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson Lopez is on everyone's short list as a potential vice presidential nominee to accompany Sen. John Kerry on his bid for the White House.


Though close to 60 people have been mentioned as possible running mates, Richardson is no doubt on Kerry's short list, too.


It's not the first time Richardson has been this close to the vice presidency. In 2000, he made no secret of his ambition to share the ticket with Al Gore, but was quickly dropped from contention after nuclear secrets were stolen from the Los Alamos National Laboratory and later found behind a copy machine. Richardson wasn't exactly to blame for the security lapses, which over decades had become legendary within the Department of Energy, but because he was at the helm he was deemed responsible.


Republicans in Congress, obviously nervous at the prospect of Richardson on the ticket, made a huge deal of the incident. This time, however, the issue has likely lost its ability to neutralize the governor.


Democrats have already given Richardson a prominent position in this election cycle, as chairman of the Democratic National Convention that will nominate Kerry in Boston at the end of July. He heads Moving America Forward, a political committee aimed at registering Latinos in Arizona, Florida, New Mexico and Nevada.


Those states are precisely why Richardson is such an attractive choice for the VP spot: As the South goes increasingly Republican, Democratic strategy could shift to courting the Latino vote in the battleground states of the Southwest and even in Florida, where the non-Cuban, Latino Democratic vote is growing fast.


There are other interesting potential VPs on Kerry's short list, such as Sen. John Edwards, the smart, attractive, populist campaigner who gave Kerry a run for his money in the presidential primary. But if the question is, "Can you carry your state and help carry other states outside of the nominee's reach?" then many experts say Richardson is the better choice. No one knows for sure if Edwards or anyone else can help Kerry win anywhere in the South.


Choosing Richardson over a Southerner would challenge the traditional wisdom that no Democrat can win the White House without being from the South or having significant support there. It would signal a strategy shift, a gamble on building more support in the Southwest, where Latinos are a growing presence.


In 2000, Gore carried New Mexico by only 366 votes and lost Arizona and Nevada to Bush. California and Texas are foregone conclusions – the first for the Democrat and the second for the president – but in a close race the smaller states could be the key to victory.


Richardson could help defeat the effort by Bush and his political point man Karl Rove to garner 40 percent or more of the Latino vote. The idea of voting for a half-Mexican who could be a heartbeat away from the presidency would be tempting for most Latinos across the nation.


Richardson has some potential downfalls: his enthusiastic support for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), for one. While in Congress, Richardson was a key vote-getter for NAFTA on behalf of the Clinton administration, back when Democrats were running as centrists and not populists. That puts him at odds with many Democrats from the heartland, who feel the pinch of jobs fleeing overseas and who espouse a more protectionist attitude.


Choosing Richardson for vice president could also alienate African Americans, who have expressed support for Edwards. Also, the black community has voted against Latino candidates in some local and state races, when they feel their political power is being undermined by the new largest minority. Few African Americans will vote for Bush, but they may abstain if they feel unrepresented in the Democratic ticket.


On the other hand, African Americans may cast their ballots for anyone if they dislike the incumbent enough. In California's gubernatorial recall election, blacks supported Latino candidate Cruz Bustamante at a higher rate than Latinos.


Richardson predicted in 2000 that, "if not this time, for sure next time" there will be a Latino on the Democratic ticket. He insisted then that America was ready for such a revolutionary proposition.


Perhaps 2004 will do the trick. Even if Richardson does not become Kerry's right-hand man, most people who know the governor know he would love another position in a potential Kerry administration: Secretary of State. PNS contributor Pilar Marrero is a political columnist and metropolitan news editor for La Opinion Newspaper in Los Angeles.

JONATHAN MENITOVE

Published Thursday, March 25, 2004
Richardson, Gephardt add to Kerry's ticket

Now that Senator John Forbes Kerry has wrapped up the Democratic nomination, the speculation on potential vice-presidential candidates has kicked into high gear. A myriad of names have been thrown out by politicos and pundits. While some mention names like Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano or New York Senator Hillary Clinton, most agree there are truly only six candidates in the running: Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, Senators Bob Graham and Bill Nelson of Florida, Congressman Richard Gephardt of Missouri, and Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico.

All of these candidates are incredibly well credentialed public servants. However, Governor Bill Richardson and Congressman Dick Gephardt are exceptional members of the pack as they contribute the most to the Democratic ticket in terms of electoral votes.

If I were Senator Kerry, Governor Bill Richardson would be my first choice for the number two spot on the ticket. His resume is most impressive as he served as a Congressman for the New Mexico Third District for fifteen years, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy, as well as governor. In addition, Richardson has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times in 1995, 1997, 2000, and 2001.

Many opposed to his nomination cite the fact that he is from a small state (New Mexico), which possesses only five electoral votes. Opponents to his selection, however, fail to realize the impact Richardson's selection would have on the sleeping giant of Hispanic voters. While shoring up Democratic support in New Mexico, which Gore only won by four hundred votes, Richardson's appeal to the Hispanic demographic could benefit in states like Ohio (a state with twenty electoral votes that Bush won by less than five percent), where the largely Democratic voting Hispanic population stayed home on Election Day in 2000. Richardson also represents a savvy political sense and expertise in fundraising that will benefit a Democratic ticket matched up against the unprecedented fundraising abilities of the Bush-Cheney campaign. I am, however, discouraged because Richardson proclaimed on "Meet the Press" on March 7 that he was not interested in the position.

If not Governor Richardson, Congressman Gephardt would be my selection for the ticket for two reasons only: Missouri and Ohio. Democrats' support among union households, while currently strong, would only be bolstered by the addition of Gephardt to the ticket. Gephardt's selection has the potential to raise Democratic support in union households over the 70 percent mark, which would almost certainly grant Democrats the state of Ohio. Missouri would have a better chance of going for the Democrats as it is Congressman Gephardt's home state.

If Democrats in 2004 win every state they won in 2000 -- a reasonable assumption -- Democrats, because of the reallocation of electoral votes following the census, would have 260 electoral votes. Missouri alone, with its eleven votes, could grant Kerry the White House as could Ohio with its twenty electoral votes -- both of which the Democrats lost by less than five percent in 2000. Additionally, Gephardt could appeal to the Reagan-Democrats of the Rust Belt and bring them back to the Democratic Party.

Regardless of whom Senator Kerry picks to be his vice president, the decision will only help his ticket. Any candidate contrasted with Vice President Cheney, whose polling numbers currently show his approval percentage at a mere 33 percent, will certainly come across as more credible, more likeable, and more capable to fulfill the duties of the office with integrity. However, as I anxiously await the comparison between the vice president and the Democratic alternative, I truly hope Senator Kerry takes his time. As the speculation continues, so does the Senator's press coverage. This kind of free advertising could be of great help to a candidate who trails his opponent by 100 million dollars in campaign funds.

While all the candidates in the running represent the best the Democratic Party has to offer, Governor Richardson and Congressman Gephardt have the most to contribute in terms of electoral votes. Many Democrats find Senator Edwards an attractive, inspired candidate, yet he contributes nothing in the Electoral College, as the South will indisputably side with the Republicans in November, with the possible exception of Louisiana. Democrats, in this situation, need pragmatism rather than passion and should therefore side with a vice presidential candidate, such as Richardson or Gephardt, who can help deliver the prize.



Jonathan Menitove is a freshman in Ezra Stiles College.

How to Choose a Vice President

Monday, March 22, 2004

By Peter Brownfeld

WASHINGTON — Inside John Kerry's (search) campaign brainroom, a vice presidential selection team is weighing many factors as it looks over the dozens of names swirling around as a potential running mate for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

The Kerry camp has been watertight as it secretively goes through its decision-making process, but as it deliberates, some obvious characteristics are under consideration. Among the qualities Kerry's selection team is seeking are personal chemistry with the candidate, ideological similarity or balance and regional balance. The campaign also wouldn't mind a running mate who can win a state or two. Foremost, the candidate must follow the adage of do-no-harm.

A cardinal rule is that the vice president should at least not be a drag, said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics (search). The candidate must be fully vetted and prepared to run a national campaign.

"You want somebody who knows what he or she is doing," Sabato said.

History shows that presidents have employed a range of strategies when choosing running mates. With Dick Cheney, George W. Bush added experience to the ticket. Bill Clinton and Al Gore came from the same moderate wing of the party and were both from the South, but Gore contributed national political experience to Clinton's executive background. Dan Quayle offered George H. W. Bush youth and ideological diversity, with Quayle's conservative views balancing Bush's more centrist ones.

"Gore strengthened [Bill] Clinton as a senator with a variety of experiences in which Clinton was weak. Cheney provided [experience] for Bush," Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Millersville University (search) in Pennsylvania, told Foxnews.com.

Historians say the most successful example of balancing the ticket is Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy's selection of Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texan. This selection helped the Northerner pick up Texas and other Southern states.

"If you go back through the sweep of American history, the only vice president who actually probably elected a president by virtue of his presence certainly back through the Civil War was Lyndon Johnson," Madonna said.

Earlier this month, Kerry named Washington businessman and civic leader Jim Johnson to lead his vice presidential search team. The Kerry campaign said over the next several weeks Johnson, who served as a staffer to former Vice President Walter Mondale, will build a team to identify and vet potential nominees. Kerry campaign chairwoman Jeanne Shaheen has promised that will be a very careful and through process.

Personal chemistry has sparked some pundits to talk about Kerry's buddy, Arizona Sen. John McCain, a Republican. That same quality casts doubt on the possibility of North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who ran against Kerry during the primaries and with whom Kerry is not particularly close.

"You have to have the element of personal compatibility. People expect the president and vice president to work hand-in-glove," Sabato said.

Kerry is frequently called a liberal, and to balance the ticket ideologically, choosing a moderate would make sense, say pundits.

But Madonna said the nomination of a moderate would not be enough for Kerry to escape the liberal tag. He also noted that this strategy could be risky. Although the Democratic Party is now united, "the danger is that a bad choice could smash the consensus."

He cited Sen. John Breaux, a Louisiana Democrat, as an example of how that could happen. "He's too conservative," Madonna said.

Sabato sounded a similar warning. "You may think it would help a liberal to put a moderate on the ticket, but you could easily spend a good part of the campaign with the presidential nominee debating the vice presidential nominee. What does this ticket stand for? It sounds good, and yet it could cause a lot of problems."

Choosing someone from a different region would balance the ticket in another way, but the bottom half is unlikely to make a great deal of difference except in the candidate's home state, Sabato said. However, in a close race, winning just one state could make the difference.

"Ideally, you want to find somebody who can carry his or her state. Ideally, you'd like that to be a state that would be a competitive state like Missouri or Florida," Sabato said.

Among the candidates cited as possibilities to carry a swing state are Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, Breaux and Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt.

Another characteristic to look for in a running mate is demographic appeal. A woman like New York Sen. Hillary Clinton or a Hispanic like New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson would fit this bill. But Madonna cast doubt on this strategy, noting Democrats already lead among Hispanics and single women, and Kerry would only "gain marginally by it."

Balance is not the only goal. If Kerry were to add another Vietnam veteran like former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland, as an all-veteran ticket it would be "a confirming effect," Madonna said.

The most practical issue at hand, however, may be selecting a candidate qualified to succeed the president. "You’ve got to pass the presidential muster. The press and the public have to be convinced that the person can succeed to the office if necessary," Madonna said

Richardson dodges question about vice presidential candidacy



Last Update: 03/14/2004 10:03:31 AM
By: Associated Press


(Denver-AP) -- Governor Richardson is again deflecting questions about whether he might be John Kerry’s running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.

Richardson, Florida Senator Bob Graham and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell are among the names often mentioned as a potential vice presidential candidate for Kerry.

Richardson was in Denver yesterday for a Democratic fund-raiser. When asked about it, he said, >“No, no, no, that’s too early.”

Richardson says he preferred to talk about Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

Salazar, a popular Democrat who has won two statewide elections, entered the race last week after Republican Ben Nighthorse Campbell withdrew.

Demos consider NM leader for ticket

Gary Scharrer
El Paso Times

Kerry


Richardson


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John Edwards would look good on John Kerry's presidential ticket, but some El Paso Democrats say that neighboring Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico could add as much value and, perhaps, even more.

Democrats expect Kerry to choose his running mate long before the traditional summer run-up to his party's national convention when a nominee usually fills in the ticket. That's because President Bush has already launched his re-election campaign and is sitting on more than $100 million to sustain it.

Richardson would be attractive because of his vast experience, national reputation and the accompanying buzz created by the first minority on a national ticket, El Paso Democrats say. The New Mexico governor is Hispanic and spent part of his youth in Mexico.
"We talk about cultural diversity. Now's the time to prove that" by putting Richardson on the ticket, said El Paso Tejano Democrats leader Luis Mata.

As a vice-presidential candidate, Richardson would boost Hispanic turnout in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado and Florida, El Paso Democrats said.
Jerome Green Jr., a recent New Mexico State University graduate, prefers Edwards and the prospects of the North Carolina senator denting the Republican's solid lock on the South. But Green said he also could get excited with Richardson on the ticket.

"He's really loved by Democrats," Green said.

Richardson spent 15 years in Congress before President Clinton appointed him U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He was also energy secretary. His globetrotting diplomatic missions have earned Richardson four nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Governor Richardson's impressive résumé commands vast knowledge of how our nation runs, and he is very savvy of world affairs," El Paso County Democratic Party Chairman Rick Melendrez said. "I feel it's time for a minority to be on the ticket. It would be more reflective of the face of our nation."
Former El Paso County Democratic Chairman Tom Diamond feels the same way. He had been an ardent supporter of Howard Dean.

"He would be a terrific choice, specifically in wooing Hispanics -- and Bush seems to be trying to do that," Diamond said.

Some critics see Richardson as overly ambitious and hungry for the media spotlight. But Diamond said his calm and smooth performance in front of TV cameras would be an advantage during a sizzling hot presidential campaign.

Blanche Darley, a member of the Democratic National Committee, said Kerry spoke fondly of Rep. Richard Gephardt during a meeting at Kerry's home last November.

Darley likes Gephardt because of his experience and ability to bring his home state, Missouri, into the Democrats' column. But she said Richardson would be equally attractive: "He's got the experience, he's young and he speaks fluent Spanish."

Gary Scharrer may be reached at gscharrer @elpasotimes.com; (512) 479-6606.