Will former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack become Hillary’s VP?
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack has assumed a role in Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign unlike any of the New York Democrat’s other national advisers.
He campaigns for her in Iowa and other key states, spends hours each week on the phone with donors and elected officials and has helped forge policy ideas Clinton presents on the campaign trail.
In this way, Vilsack has made the quick and seemingly effortless transition from a one-time Clinton rival for the 2008 nomination to a go-to player in her campaign.
Aides acknowledge privately that Vilsack’s work for the campaign has the look of a rehearsal for the role of running mate, should Clinton win the nomination.
But while he embarks on a busy summer for Clinton, no prospective No. 2 on a hypothetical Clinton ticket has a higher bar than Vilsack, whose first task is to ensure the senator’s success in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses.
In Iowa, she currently trails John Edwards and Barack Obama. She will need all the help she can get. Vilsack as running mate: that might tip the balance in Hillary’s favor.
Personally, I consider Bill Richardson to be a great number two: he’ll make a fantastic running mate.
On the other hand, Vilsack isn’t exactly a bad choice either. Perhaps for strategical reasons a better choice than Richardson (especially after Richardson’s ‘soldier who died in Iraq’ fiasco).
What do you all say, Vilsack, a better VP than, say, Cheney?
UPDATE
Fellow TMV contributor Robert Stein points out in the comment section of this post that he nominated Vilsack for Hillary’s VP as soon as the latter dropped out. Robert adds: “He would bring experience in managing a government, good judgment and decency to her ticket.”
To read Robert’s posts about Vilsack (as Hillary’s VP), go here.
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