Who From The Legislature Stands Ready To Run As VP?
As I sat watching the news this evening, jumping with glee at the report of a driver service that will ride a toy buggy out to your drunken ass and drive both you and your car home, I found myself pondering an interesting question. Who from the Texas Legislature would make for the best Vice President nominee for both Senator Obama and Senator McCain?
Now, to be straight, I’m not crazy enough to think that one of our dear lawmakers will soon be on the center stage, campaigning across the nation in hopes of presiding over the US Senate. But for grins and giggles, lets examine who in the lege would fit the mold if the universe of candidates was limited to just the Texas Legislature.
Senator Obama
Ok, I’m Senator Obama, I just nailed down the democrat nomination after a long and hard battle. I seem to do well on my own appealing to swing voters, but it wouldn’t hurt to pick someone that can help me in the race to the middle. It would also probably be in my best interests to pick a Caucasian VP to help all those old-school white southern democrats feel more comfortable with my candidacy. Experience wouldn’t hurt, but more important is someone laid back that can combat my habitual uptight appearance. A good-ole boy would be ideal too, that way I don’t fall into the ivy league image pitfall like others before me.
If I’m in the room with a seat at the table, one name comes to mind…Senator Kirk Watson. Now I know, he got tongue tied on national television when asked if he could name one legislative accomplishment of Senator Obama’s, but I don’t care, Mr. Watson is still my man.
He’s probably a little more liberal than Obama would like and there’s not that much experience in this pick, but there is no such thing as the perfect pick. What Watson may not have in moderate credentials he more than makes up for with his likeable sense of nature that even the most stubborn of conservatives can’t deny. And as the former Mayor of Austin who also had a successful first session in Austin, he can combat the experience card just as well as Mr. Obama does.
But the main way that Senator Watson would help Mr. Obama is that he is a hard worker. He will get out there and hit the campaign trail harder than imagined, and Senator Watson is one of those rare creations that wins a vote with virtually every hand he shakes. I know, I’ve been in a room with him before and couldn’t help but to be lured in by his easy going, good natured sense. Senator Watson has also demonstrated an accomplishment for working from the minority party, having passes several bills this last session despite being outnumbered nearly 2 - 1 in the Senate.
He is also a good fundraiser, and with a democrat Senator from Texas who banned against voter ID legislation, Mr. Obama will find himself all that better off in a more critical race…to the Hispanic vote.
Trust me, Obama/Watson can’t lose.
Senator McCain
Alright, this time I’m Senator John McCain. I could die in office any day now. Conservatives hate me. I need to go off the beaten path here else put forth yet another white old man/white old man ticket while Senator Obama diversifies his. If the Dallas Morning News is on track, I’m slated to only pull half of the Hispanic vote that President Bush did just four years ago. How do I turn this around?
Man, Nathan Macias would have been perfect here. But alas, since he is on his way out, we’ll pick another.
I say Geanie Morrison. That one probably comes as a bit of a shock, but stay with me here. First off, Rep. Morrison is well put together. She has a great face for the cameras, that sweet young grandma look to her. But don’t be fooled, because Rep. Morrison can hold her own on the political battlefield.
She may not be a high profile name like a Dan Patrick but conservatives love her, which McCain desperately needs right now. Plus, she helps to diversify his ticket and perhaps pulls enough female votes from Obama to win this thing. That and Rep. Morrison can be value add to Senator McCain’s Hispanic problem. Her district is down south and about 1/3 of her constituency is Hispanic, making her just about the closest thing that Republicans have to a lawmaker from their party who represents a Hispanic controlled district.
But more importantly, when it comes to reaching out to the Hispanic vote, Rep. Morrison can use her on the job credentials. As chair of the Higher Education Committee, she has made closing the gap of success between Caucasian and minority students one of her primary focuses, using an array of policy initiatives designed to not only attract more minority students to our universities, but to graduate them as well.
McCain/Morrison not only has a ring to it, but it’s a pick that Senator McCain will need to shore up some stiff problems he faces.
So, how did I do? Did I nail it, or miss it entirely? If you have a better candidate for either party, tell me about it in the comment section.