Obama seals nomination: 'This is our moment'
FACTBOX: Possible Democratic vice presidential candidates
1 hour, 52 minutes ago
(Reuters) - Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who will claim the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday, has taken the first small step toward choosing a running mate.
Obama has asked Jim Johnson, former head of mortgage giant Fannie Mae, to begin research on potential candidates for the No. 2 slot on the ticket, media reports said. Johnson performed a similar task for Democratic presidential nominees John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984.
Here is a list of some possible Democratic vice presidential candidates, in alphabetical order:
* Joseph Biden, 65 - The senator from Delaware, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is a respected foreign policy expert who would give Obama authority on the issue. But Obama might not want to add a second senator to the ticket, and could be looking for a fresher face to reinforce his message that this election is about change and the future.
* Wesley Clark, 63 - A retired Army general and former NATO commander who ran unsuccessfully for the presidential nomination in 2004, Clark is a supporter of Hillary Clinton who could help rally the party and provide a boost on national security issues. But he did not run a strong campaign in 2004 and he would be unlikely to generate much enthusiasm among party activists.
* Hillary Clinton, 60 - Polls have shown strong Democratic support for a "dream team" ticket of Obama and Clinton, his top rival for the nomination. Obama has not ruled out the option, which would help unify the party after a grueling nominating battle. But Clinton also would bring complications, including the return of former President Bill Clinton to the White House. A joint ticket could help attract some of Clinton's supporters -- including women and white working-class Democrats -- who have been reluctant to support Obama.
* Chris Dodd, 64 - The Connecticut senator, a fluent Spanish speaker and expert in Latin American issues, is the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and a former foe for the presidential nomination who quickly endorsed Obama after dropping out. He would help bolster Obama's foreign policy and economic credentials, but presents many of the same drawbacks as Biden.
* Chuck Hagel, 61 - The Republican senator from Nebraska, a conservative Vietnam veteran but outspoken critic of the Iraq war, would help Obama reach out to independents and Republicans and reinforce his promise to bridge partisan divides.
* Tim Kaine, 50 - The Virginia governor was one of Obama's earliest and strongest supporters and could help him in a state that traditionally has been Republican in presidential elections but has been turning Democratic in recent years.
* Sam Nunn, 69 - The former Armed Services Committee chairman from Georgia is a respected foreign and military policy voice, but his age and conservative view on some social issues might make him an awkward fit with Obama.
* Ed Rendell, 64 - The Pennsylvania governor has been one of Clinton's strongest campaigners and he could help woo her supporters and help deliver a key state. A former district attorney and the mayor of Philadelphia, Rendell has executive experience that could help Obama.
* Bill Richardson, 60 - New Mexico governor, a Hispanic, could help with Latino vote -- the fastest-growing segment of the electorate and a potentially vital voting bloc. A seasoned negotiator, the former energy secretary and U.N. ambassador would also bring foreign policy experience to the ticket as well as inside knowledge of how Washington works.
* Kathleen Sebelius, 60 - Two-term governor of Kansas could bring some vital elements to the ticket: she's a woman and as the leader of a mostly Republican state has shown she can work across party lines. But she is largely untested on the national stage.
* Ted Strickland, 66 - The governor of Ohio is another strong Clinton supporter who comes from a battleground state. A former U.S. congressman, the first-term governor is not well-known nationally.
* Jim Webb, 62 - The first-term Virginia senator, Vietnam veteran and former secretary of the Navy has written seven novels, including "Fields of Fire," considered one of the best novels about the Vietnam War. Webb could help Obama in a state that has turned more Democratic in recent years.
(Reporting by Deborah Charles and John Whitesides, editing by David Wiessler)
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSN0342815720080604
FACTBOX: Possible Republican vice presidential candidates
Following is a list of Republicans who have been mentioned as possible vice presidential candidates, in alphabetical order:
* Charlie Crist, 51 - The Florida governor helped McCain win the nomination with his endorsement and might help him in an important battleground state that could go either Republican or Democratic in the November election. The charismatic former Florida attorney general, who notched an easy first term gubernatorial victory in 2006, is a vibrant campaigner. But he could face trouble with the more conservative wing of the party because of questions about his views on abortion.
* Mike Huckabee, 52 - The former Arkansas governor battled McCain for the party's presidential nomination and was the last major candidate to withdraw. The Baptist preacher is a social conservative who has support from the party's evangelical Christian base and is strong in the South.
* Bobby Jindal, 36 - Louisiana's governor and the first Indian-American elected head of a U.S. state. The Oxford-educated conservative would add youth and diversity to the Republican ticket. His domestic health policy experience would be a plus, but he might be seen as being too young, especially in contrast to 71-year-old McCain.
* Tim Pawlenty, 47 - The two-term Minnesota governor and early and steadfast McCain supporter could help with a Midwestern battleground state. Pawlenty would appeal to social conservatives but he is not well-known on the national stage.
* Robert Portman, 52 - A former congressman from Ohio who was the U.S. Trade Representative and budget director under President George W. Bush. A fiscal conservative, Portman could give McCain needed economic policy strength and would help in Ohio -- an important battleground state.
* Mitt Romney, 61 - The former Massachusetts governor lost the nomination to McCain. But Romney might have problems because of questions about his Mormon faith and because he once supported abortion rights. The businessman, who pumped about $35 million of his own fortune into his presidential bid, could do the same for a vice presidential campaign or help McCain with fund-raising. The former head of a private equity firm who also ran the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Romney would bring management experience to the ticket.
* John Thune, 47 - The senator from South Dakota would appeal to conservatives but McCain may not want to choose another senator as his running mate. After narrowly defeating the leader of the U.S. Senate Democrats, Tom Daschle, in 2004, Thune was seen as a giant killer, which gained him clout in the party. However he is also not very well known nationally.
(Reporting by Deborah Charles and Peter Cooney, editing by Patricia Zengerle)
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0340850520080604
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