VP Pick Imminent?

According to the LA times, Obama's "presidential campaign has confirmed that announcement of Obama's running mate choice is very near."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washingt on/2008/08/obama-vp.html

The campaign just sent an e-mail stating that Obama is "about to choose a running mate."  The intriguing thing about this story is that Obama would break the news via text message or e-mail.  

What "news" he would break via text message and e-mail is unclear.  Would he really send the VP's name via e-mail and text message or would he just send the date and location of when he is going to formally announce his veep candidate?  The article also speculated about the possibility of his naming his veep while he's on vacation and thus, forgoing the grand ceremony of introducing the veep by his side.  I have a hard time seeing Obama going through with this approach as it would severely diminish the veep whoever he or she may be.

I'm expecting anybody at this point, even Big Dog as it would raise some interesting questions as to the intent behind the 22nd Amendment (though I suspect Obama and Big Dog could claim that such a question is unjusticiable under the "political question" doctrine)



Display:


Re: VP Pick Imminent? (2.00 / 1)

Yup, got the email. It promises that he wants his supporters to be the first to know who he has picked. I look at it like I do the way that Radiohead released In Rainbows. Nobody got it first, nobody ever even had it to leak. It came directly from the source and both fans and journalists alike got it at the same time.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 02:40:47 AM EST

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (2.00 / 1)

FYI, I'm getting texted with the VP pick now. It amuses me.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 02:41:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (2.00 / 1)

Wait, not getting the text message NOW. I'm now signed up to get the message later.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 02:41:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (2.00 / 1)

I have a hard time believing he would announce his pick while he's on vacation. Why pass up a big media opportunity? It just doesn't add up.


by LakersFan on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 03:07:32 AM EST

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (2.00 / 1)

Hi Laker I don't think he will do it until he comes back. They will do this a few days before to set up the convention.


by Politicalslave on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 03:29:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (none / 0)

Okay. That sounds more likely. But is that "imminent"? I think the media is grasping at straws again.


by LakersFan on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 04:15:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (2.00 / 1)

I agree Lakersfan and it may not be the media it may be the Obama campaign leading them on. I imagine they want to squeeze as much media attention out of this as possible. Obama gets back on the 17th I think. So from the 18th on will be EXCITING.


by Politicalslave on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 07:59:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (none / 0)

It's got us all talking about it, so I guess it's working.


by LakersFan on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 01:45:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (none / 0)

Thanks for posting this Blazer. I was reading the same thing in another paper. I also read the theme
for the convention is "Coming together for Change"
Text messaging the pick would be especially good for someone like Clinton who needs no introduction
and it would be shocking to most people Talk about creating BUZZ.
by Politicalslave on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 03:23:26 AM EST

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (none / 0)

Imagine all it once people get the Message my pick is Senator Clinton. The media and everyone else would be excited at the very same moment and of course they would want to tell everyone.
This is a great strategy.
by Politicalslave on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 03:27:27 AM EST

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (none / 0)

I don't have any objections to a Clinton pick but I still wouldn't get expectations up because of this.  All he's promising is parity with the news media.  The email/text message would hit Obama supporters & the media at the same time.  Surely it will carry a direct link to a web page with the full campaign story on the Veep.  It doesn't indicate to me that he's selected a name that he has selected Clinton or any other well-known Dem as his running-mate.  The message indicates that he hasn't yet made his choice - the wording is "Barack Obama is about to make one of the most important decisions of this campaign..."  

So, just as this would be an exciting way to announce Hillary, it would also be an excellent way to announce a surprise choice & communicate details about that choice directly to his base.  


A drink whenever Palin makes a Well-argued, Semantically Intact, Logical and Lucid Argument -- or WASILLA for short.
by January 20 on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 03:51:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (none / 0)

You are right January. If the pick is a surprise then I am sure it will get some Buzz. If it's Clinton I think it will be over the top. If it is Biden who I like or some of the others I think it will end any build up to the convention.


by Politicalslave on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 08:07:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (2.00 / 1)

I can't imagine him announcing until after the Olympics -- or at least until his vacation is over.


by Glaurung on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 03:56:27 AM EST

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (2.00 / 1)

A couple thoughts:

1.  My guess is that he would want to introduce the person himself, so I think it's unlikely that he would do so until after his vacation.

2.  Adding onto the first point, I think the idea here is to generate buzz for a few days and also to get contact information for later fundraising/volunteer drives.  This would again suggest that he would wait until returning from his vacation.


by rfahey22 on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 04:43:57 AM EST

It's Hillary... (1.00 / 3)

or we still bolt.


by handsomegent on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 08:16:06 AM EST

Re: It's Hillary... (2.00 / 3)

Can you do us all a favor and bolt now?

Your "one note" symphony about "it must be Hillary" is so repetitious.

I also am hoping for Hillary, but I actually do more here then hang around and jump in an announce my "threat"....


Our long national nightmare is over...in 17 days!
by WashStateBlue on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 08:58:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (1.00 / 3)

I'll be bolting pretty soon, so don't worry.  What is astounding to me is the idea that Saint Barack could pick anyone else but Hillary. He should have done the right thing two months ago and publically offered her the veep spot in a display of gracefulness and party unity. Ah but that swelled head of his keeps getting in the way.  It's so laughable to hear the chorus of Clinton haters on TV (like Maddow and Borger) sprewing this bogus argument about Hillary's not being a good choice (for the least qualified Dem I can remember) because she doesn't go along with Obama's "change' message. Oh really and who does-Bayh, Dodd, Biden?-or even a one term nobody like Kaine-who's mainy qualification is that he happens to be from a red state that's "turnable".  NOT putting someone who got more votes than you did is an astonishing and obvious display of ego.  But getting the Obama-loving press to admit that would be like getting sun to freeze up.


by handsomegent on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 09:22:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (2.00 / 1)

Bad strategy Handsomegent. If Obama had picked her two months ago. We would have listened to "He caved in" right up until now and beyond. Timing is important and he can get so much more media attention by being patient and teasing us each week. Cheers. (Of course he may not have chosen her)


by Politicalslave on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 09:58:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (none / 0)

I don't agree with that at all.  As I've stated many times Obama is not faring all that well in polls because if you look at the internals he is losing white women over the age of forty--who ELSE could have brought them over to him-and not allowed the wounds to fester.


by handsomegent on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 10:56:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (2.00 / 1)

Congratulations, handsomegent--you win this week's "most tedious McTroll" award! You must be so proud. Is the McCain website still giving away free prizes?

"Saint Barack." What do you think, Jerome? Is this an appropriate post on a blog devoted to electing Democrats?


by JoeW on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 10:39:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (1.50 / 2)

Come on Joe. You know Jerome is a PUMA anyway. Trolling his own site imho.


by turtlescrubber on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 10:43:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (2.00 / 1)

You assume that he isn't trolling the board under another name already? I could even see handsomegent being Jerome incognito.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 10:50:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (1.00 / 1)

Wrong again Dear.


by handsomegent on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 10:54:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (1.50 / 2)

No, probably just a young McCain staffer. By young I mean over 50. Young is a relative term.


by turtlescrubber on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 11:14:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (2.00 / 1)

Aw, don't call me dear. I simply meant that there was an elegance to your rudeness.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 08:18:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (1.00 / 3)

I'm not a troll for McCain--but if you go back a few months ago you will remember that Saint Barack of the Inspired was the darling of the right wing Republican press: Byron York, Peggy Noonan, Andrew Sullivan, Tucker Carlson--anything to get rid of those pesky Clintons and revenge Bill's two triumphs in the 90's. Obama was a convenient tool for the conservatives in their endless campaign against "Clintonism".  By the way Obama, (despite HRC being the good sport that he sure as Hell wouldn't have been) is only getting between 75-80% of the registered Dems while McCain is pulling around 86% of Repubs.  And just wait til Hillary is passed over for some new and exciting and differenet VP selection like Biden or Bayh.


by handsomegent on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 10:53:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (1.50 / 2)

You're a fucking troll. Go cash in your McCain bucks. Pathetic.


by turtlescrubber on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 11:16:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (none / 0)

Some people need to revisit the rules about using TR and hiding.
by zenful6219 on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 05:26:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's Hillary... (2.00 / 1)

"It's so laughable to hear the chorus of Clinton haters on TV (like Maddow"

Look, I know to you anyone that doesn't rant 24/7 about Michigan and how the media robbed Hillary is a Hillary hater, but Rachel Maddow is a Hillary hater?

You are so lost in your desperation, forests and trees is not even a good analogy.


Our long national nightmare is over...in 17 days!
by WashStateBlue on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 11:14:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VP Pick Imminent? (none / 0)

John Edwards?

.... Just kidding!


by RichardFlatts on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 09:05:23 AM EST

Awesome Fundraising Strategy! (none / 0)

I am a HUGE Hillary fan and am slowly warming up to Obama.  (Don't worry, i will never vote McCain and am certainly voting for Obama.)  What is yet to be found is how passionate I become toward Obama and how much I will volunteer/donate to him.
This announcing his VP pick via email/txt message is BRILLIANT.  I haven't signed up on Obama's site yet.  He doesn't have my email or phone number.  I am so excited about learning who his VP pick will be, that I just finished submitting my information to the Obama campaign.  Once I hit submit, I realized I just did EXACTLY what they wanted me to do.  They just got my email so they can keep me informed and ask for donations.  How many others are doing exactly what I just did?  A show of hands?

I have a strong marketing background and I have to say this strategy is amazing and a clear winner.  

I just warmed up a bit more to Obama. =)


by Scope441 on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 08:16:33 PM EST


You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.