If the Netroots Nation was picking Barack Obama's running-mate, the Democratic ticket would steer left.

The 2,000-plus progressive bloggers and activists who attended this year's gathering in Texas were asked in a straw poll to choose between two statements with regard to Obama's vice presidential pick:

Obama should pick someone politically similar to himself, reinforcing the dynamic nature of his candidacy and the urgent need for change, and keeping true to his liberal roots. -- 72%

or

Obama should pick someone more toward the political center in order to help balance the ticket and make him more electable.

Of course we can, and should, question the premise that a "balanced" ticket is more electable. Historic evidence suggests that candidates often do best when they pick a running-mate who is a reasonably close ideological fit (George Bush with Dick Cheney in 2000, Bill Clinton with Al Gore in 1992, for instance) as opposed to a balancer (Massachusetts liberal Mike Dukakis in 1988 with Texas centrist Lloyd Bentsen; Gerald Ford, who had just beaten Ronald Reagan for the 1976 Republican nomination with Bob Dole, who had been the leading conservative defender of former President Richard Nixon; Nixon, who was trying to position himself in 1968 as a moderate, with Spiro Agnew, then a Rockefeller Republican who had been elected governor of Maryland two years earlier with crossover Democratic support).

We might even question whether Obama really has "liberal roots."

But, be that as it may, the Netroots Nation was clear in its choice.

Seventy-two percent of those surveyed went for a liberal veep, while only twenty-five suggested a centrist.

Comments (15)

1. Gee, Mr Nichols...do YOU have a suggestion?

   Perhaps somebody from...oh....Wisconsin???

   LOL

   BTW, "Gerald Ford and Bob Dole"? Both fairly moderate Repubs. And what of Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale...Southern moderate and Humphrey liberal? They won.

   Yet Mondale and Ferraro (Ferraro a NY liberal) lost.

   Or Nixon-Agnew (Agnew a social reactionary to Nixon's economic/social moderate Republicanism)? Or Reagan/Bush...Bush who had just called Reaganomics "voodoo economics", the effete New England Republican with the hard-core conservative? Won twice.

   Seems your theory doesn't hold up.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 07/22/2008 @ 09:13am

2. If the Netroots Nation was picking Barack Obama's running-mate, the Democratic ticket would steer left.

   well, there's a newsflash.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 07/22/2008 @ 09:37am

3. So what's Al Gore's current political pigeon hole- a moderate, conservative...?

   I know the far right sees Al Gore as their anti-christ, which is simply just their 'fear' of intelligence talking of course. But really, Al's getting more and more moderate repub's to swing over to his global climate change side-- and it's not because he's an uber-liberal.

   Think Netroots would see ol' Al as a plus or minus to the ticket?

   Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 09:43am

4. Nichols,

   Obama is going to pick the best VP that would (1) not hurt him politically, (2) shares HIS values and approach to politics, and (3) could INCREASE electoral college totals by bringing in a Red state or Red region.

   This is the formula for political success rather than simply appeasing a segment of the electorate that already has your vote.

   Remember, politics is a game of ADDITION, not subtraction, or breaking even.

   Posted by Metteyya at 07/22/2008 @ 10:54am

5. Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 09:43am

   Okay, HSUB, rather than debate normal human behavior and reality again...

   Who's your SECOND choice, if by some weird, unimaginable twist of fate, Obama fails to ask Gore or Gore fails to accept?

   Who's next on your list?

   Posted by Maskdelta at 07/22/2008 @ 10:55am

6. That does it for me.....IF the Netroots want a Lefty, then Magic will pick up a solidly Centrist to Conservative Demo VP!

   The Netroots are merely useful idiots, totally disposable once used!

   Posted by 2HAPPY at 07/22/2008 @ 11:22am

7. Posted by Maskdelta at 07/22/2008 @ 10:55am

   Answer my question 1st.

   Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 12:00pm

8. Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 12:00pm

   Sure....I think the Netroots (like everybody else) would wonder why Gore would take Veep again when he's got MORE influence and MORE control over his agenda as a private citizen.

   Now...care to answer mine?

   Posted by Maskdelta at 07/22/2008 @ 12:17pm

9. But would they take it as a plus or minus to the ticket?

   Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 2:14pm

10. Now this is intersting:

    http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/22/74230/4696

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 2:28pm

11. Now this is intersting: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/22/74230/4696

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 2:28pm

    haven't you heard?

    obama is picking mccain as his running mate and mccain is picking obama.

    MCBAMA '08!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 07/22/2008 @ 2:53pm

12. FrZo,

    Now that's complimentariness at its best.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 3:12pm

13. Red next to green is more red, orange next to blue orangier,...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 3:14pm

14. But would they take it as a plus or minus to the ticket?----Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 2:14pm

    The netroots? A plus. But it's like saying "Would the country vote for Obama if he could promise AND DELIVER on a promise to eliminate world poverty in 2 years?"

    It ain't happening. Gore WILL NOT become Obama's Veep...and if you don't know that, you're delusional.

    Gore would be embarassing himself by taking the #2 slot to 20 years his junior and building a "new politics"...and PERMANENTLY tagging the term "Gore, Eternal #2" to his historical resume...

    while if he stays OUT of electoral politics, he gets to act or even BECOME a leader on a scale of other non-elected figures like King, Gandhi, Dorothea Dix, etc. (insert lame Gore put down here, Righties)

    HSUB, again and again, if you're just having fun...a little mooney-eyed dreaming...fine.

    if you're serious...you need help.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 07/22/2008 @ 3:21pm

15. Who's next on your list?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 07/22/2008 @ 10:55am

    But would they take it as a plus or minus to the ticket?----

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 2:14pm

    The netroots? A plus. But it's like saying "Would the country vote for Obama if he could promise AND DELIVER on a promise to eliminate world poverty in 2 years?"

    Posted by Maskdelta at 07/22/2008 @ 3:21p

    So what you seem to be saying is if anyone I pick is 'promising' they're 'not' really a good pick? So why pick a second? Aren't you really asking for the 'least' best - most 'unpromising' and my worst pick?

    Now that would have to be McCave, as already stated above.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/22/2008 @ 3:50pm