The same names keep popping up for Obama's VP choice: Dodd, Sebelius, Bayh, Biden, and Kaine seem to be the consensus favorites. But if we want to think strategically here, can't we throw out the Senators? We will need long standing Senators to shepherd legislation through Congress next year especially now that a 60 vote majority is looking unlikely.
That leaves Kaine and Sebelius. I don't really like Kaine. He just doesn't seem like he has what it takes to stand up to the Republicans without looking vindictive. I love Sebelius, but thanks to the efforts of the PUMAs (and the public image problems they are creating for women everywhere) its becoming less and less likely Obama will choose her or any other woman.
Which brings me around to my pick. Brian Schweitzer is the Governor of Montana. He helped turn that state from Ruby red to progressive blue. Blue dog you ask? No. Definitely not. He made sure there was funding for renewable energy like wind and ethanol research, development, and infrastructure development. He upped the tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack (I smoke) and used the money to help pay for a partial healthcare system. Then he ensured that all school children would learn about the original residents of Montana. yes. The ones that have been there for 12,000 years.
Not only does the guy do the right things. He does them in the right way. $0 from PACs in the last campaign. Sound familiar?
Schweitzer also knows how to communicate progressive ideals in a way that ranch owners, farmers, and small town folks can get behind. So Obama connects with everyone whos not white (check the polls, its true), urbans, and the youth and Schweitzer gets the rural folk.
Watch him discuss how to connect with rural America as Democrats:
At the very least Schweitzer would force McCain to work his ass off in states like Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Idaho, and Nebraska instead of being able to attack into Obama's blue territory. Thinking more optimistically he could tip the scale for states like Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.
If things went totally awesome Schweitzer is the kind of balance Obama and the Democrats need to grab that 60 vote Senate majority and make 2008 a Republican's nightmarish flashback of Reagan's Revolution. The two of them pairing has the potential to sweep the electoral board and redraw the political landscape.
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