Wow. The lead item on the Drudgereport right now is Jon Keller’s item suggesting that John Kerry really might be a vice presidential pick for Barack Obama.
Given the fact that Kerry lost four years ago, Keller’s potential scoop seems unlikely. But here’s the case WBZ’s political analyst, citing political insiders, makes for it:
“Kerry brings more money and name recognition to the table than any other name on the Obama list so far. Americans do tend to love a comeback kid and this would be the most amazing political comeback since Richard Nixon came back from the dead forty years ago…Polls show many voters question Obama’s foreign policy credentials to be a wartime president. As a decorated veteran and longtime member of the senate foreign relations committee, Kerry could fill that gap. Obama suffers from being a new face on the political scene, but Kerry – warts and all – is well known to the voters, and in 2004, he did draw more votes than any Democrat ever has.”
Keller could have added that Obama owes Kerry, big time, as Dick Cheney would say. Kerry picked Obama to give the keynote address at the 2004 convention launching the rise of his political star. No John Kerry, no Barack Obama candidacy. Plus they also share an important fundraiser, Alan Solomont.
I still think it’s unlikely. Isn’t the country sortof, well done, with Kerry. And from Kerry’s perspective, why would he want the number two job, when he was a state away (Ohio) from having the top position?
Still it’s an interesting premise. I bet WBZ’s site gets the most hits it ever has. That’s the value of having a t.v. political reporter who actually reports.
BTW, I’m writing this from the important swing state of Pennsylvania, which Kerry won in 2004. I could envision a scenario where Kerry is an asset in this race. The main problem, however, is that he reinforces one of Obama’s negative qualities. While he brings great foreign policy and military experience — notwithstanding the shameful and spurious charges of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth — he is also elite and, a bit, effete. I’m not sure he plays in Peoria.
EDIT. I have to correct my item and give credit where it’s due. While Drudge linked to Keller, Keller himself gives the credit for the Kerry story to David Bernstein of The Boston Phoenix. Here’s Bernstein’s original item. BTW, Bernstein has become an invaluable resource on local and national politics.
Tags: Barack Obama, John Kerry, Jon Keller
Dispatches from Seth Gitell 
August 16, 2008 at 2:47 pm |
Though I have voted for Kerry in the past, I also believe that picking him for VP would be a mistake, for many of the same reasons you mention. Of course, it would be ironic if Obama picked Kerry and McCain picked Romney. Then the Charles River really would flow into the Potomac!
August 21, 2008 at 11:06 pm |
Since when does a story made up from whole cloth merit such attention? It’s not going to happen. No one in the Obama campaign is even remotely hinting that John Kerry will be the VP pick. They laugh at the idea. Bernstein knew that, but decided to feed the rumor mill anyway. (I suspect to win points with Kerry.) The item by your “invaluable resource on local and national politics was the ultimate mail-in job, and the height of intellectual laziness.
As for Jon Keller, he read a ridiculous Phoenix item and regurgitated it into his blog, adding punditry worthy of a sixth-grade civics class. But apparently that’s all that’s required for you to label him “a political reporter who actually reports”?
Dude, you gotta do better.