Vice Presidential Material?

(Cartoon by Lee Judge/Kansas City Star (3/7/14) featured at McClatchy DC.   Click on image to enlarge.

We're still about eight months from 2014 elections, but campaigning for the 2016 election appears to be in full swing, especially among Republicans.  This past weekend, many of those who seek the GOP nomination appeared at the CPAC convention to present their credentials to the party's more conservative faithful.  In anticipation of that meet-and-greet Sean Sullivan of the Washington Post wrote a rather interesting column which speculates on just who might wind up being the GOP's Vice Presidential nominee. 

I know, I know, that kind of speculation is way premature.  I still found it interesting.  Of course, a lot depends on what happens in the 2014 elections (the Tea Party wing might cost the GOP its shot at winning the Senate), and a lot of the names in the two lists are people who are clearly interested in the Number One slot, not the second. But most of them might very well be considered by the nominee of their respective parties.

Here are the possibilities for each party:

Republicans

5. Brian Sandoval. On paper, the governor of Nevada is just what the GOP needs. He's a popular, moderate Hispanic executive from a swing state. ... But not so fast. He's pro-abortion rights and expanded Medicaid in his state, two things that won't sit well with the conservative base. ...

4. Bobby Jindal. It's no secret that Jindal is thinking about running for president. ... The question is whether someone so ambitious about his own rise could also be a loyal lieutenant. Still, Jindal occupies a space in which he can appeal to the base and the party establishment. ...

3. Scott Walker. Like Jindal, Walker appears to have his eye on the top job in 2016. His resume is tailor made for a run at either job: Midwestern swing state governor who became a conservative hero when he took on organized labor and survived the backlash. ... Walker wouldn't be a safe VP pick. Picking him would gin up both the liberal and conservative bases. He could be the Paul Ryan of 2016 -- which could be good or bad depending on the political climate.

2. Marco Rubio. ...  Rubio is also eyeing a run for president. Rubio's strengths: He gives one heck of a speech, has a great personal story, is young, telegenic and may be the Republican best equipped to occupy the sweet spot between the party's conservative wing and its establishment wing. ...

1. Susana Martinez. The top pick on this list is someone who has declared zero interest in running for president. Martinez, who is the first Hispanic female governor of New Mexico, is also the only GOP woman on this list. If Clinton runs and wins, Martinez could emerge as a powerful counterweight in the battle for women voters. ...

Democrats

5. Cory Booker. Young, energetic and never camera-shy, the new New Jersey Senator could provide a boost of energy (and youth) for a Democratic ticket led by Clinton or Vice President Joe Biden. The New Jersey senator is African American, which would help Democrats as they aim to keep up (or at least not lose too much of) the enthusiasm among African American voters that was there for President Obama's two historic campaigns. ...

4. Kirsten Gillibrand: Gillibrand has quickly gone from obscure swing district House member to popular liberal senator from New York with a growing national profile. She's been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, but if Clinton runs, kiss any chance of her also making a White House bid goodbye. ...

3. The Castro brothers. San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro was introduced to the country to rave reviews when he keynoted the 2012 Democratic National Convention. His brother Joaquin serves in Congress. Viewed as two of the brightest rising stars in the party, the Castros, who are Mexican American, would have to be considered top choices for Clinton. Like Booker, they would add some youth and newness to the ticket. ...

2. Elizabeth Warren. There is no Democrat right now with stronger appeal to the Democratic Party's liberal base than the Massachusetts senator. At a time when fatigue over Obama is on the increase, Warren has been just the shot in the arm the liberal movement has been looking for. ... Clinton has never been a favorite of the left and adding Warren to the ticket could give the ticket a much-needed boost of liberal energy.

1. Deval Patrick. The governor of Massachusetts seems open to the idea of a national bid. ... Keeping African American voters enthusiastic without Obama at the top of the ticket will be a challenge for Clinton, if she runs. Picking Patrick would give the ticket an experienced figure with a strong ability to reach out to black voters.


 Well, that's an interesting set of lists.  It'll give those of us who can't seem to get enough of electioneering plenty to think about for the next couple of years.