2008 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection

Last updated

2008 Democratic vice presidential nomination
Democratic Disc.svg
←  2004 August 21, 2008 (2008-08-21) 2016  →
  Joe Biden official portrait 2013 (cropped) 3.jpg
Nominee Joe Biden
Home state Delaware
Previous Vice Presidential nominee

John Edwards

Vice Presidential nominee

Joe Biden

This article lists potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 2008 presidential election. After Illinois Junior Senator Barack Obama became the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee on June 3, 2008, [1] Obama formed a small committee, made up of James A. Johnson (who stepped down after one week), [2] Eric Holder and Caroline Kennedy, to help him select a running mate. [3] [4] [5] Veteran Democratic lawyer and advisor James "Jim" Hamilton, of the firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, later replaced Johnson in vetting candidates. [6]

Contents

Obama strongly considered Senator Evan Bayh and governors Tim Kaine and Kathleen Sebelius, but Obama ultimately decided to select Delaware Senior Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. Obama would later name Sebelius as his Secretary of Health and Human Services, while Kaine would ultimately become Hillary Clinton's running mate in 2016. The Obama–Biden ticket would go on to defeat the Republican tickets of McCain–Palin in 2008 and Romney–Ryan in 2012. Coincidental to the presidential election, Biden was re-elected to a seventh term as senator from Delaware but later resigned after being elected Vice President.

In 2020, Biden would later be elected president in his own right, defeating incumbent Republican President Donald Trump.

Shortlist

Media near where Joe Biden was residing during speculation that he may be the Democratic nominee for vice president Media Outside Joe Biden's House Prior VP Announcement 2.jpg
Media near where Joe Biden was residing during speculation that he may be the Democratic nominee for vice president

According to contemporaneous news sources, the following people were thought to be on Senator Obama's short list for Vice President: [7] [8] [9]

Final days and announcement

In the final days leading up to the Democratic National Convention, four individuals were left on Obama's final list for Vice President: Joe Biden, Evan Bayh, Tim Kaine, and Kathleen Sebelius. [9]

On August 22, the eve of Obama's scheduled unveiling of his running mate, NBC News reported that Bayh and Kaine had been informed that they were not chosen. [10] Last minute controversy emerged as it was learned that Senator Hillary Clinton was never vetted for the position, when it was earlier thought that Sen. Barack Obama would consider her as he previously stated in various private and public reports. [11] This led to several questions as to whether Clinton supporters would feel betrayed and would defuse the intensity in "dream ticket" scenarios.

That night, ABC News reported that the U.S. Secret Service had assumed protection of Biden, which was seen as a sign that he had been chosen as Obama's running mate. [12] Just hours later, the Associated Press broke the news that Democratic Party officials had confided that Obama had in fact selected Biden as the vice-presidential nominee. [13]

Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe later wrote in his book The Audacity to Win, which was published in November 2009, that Bayh had been a "coin toss" away from becoming Obama's running mate. Plouffe and David Axelrod had interviewed the finalists and Plouffe said that Bayh's answers were "substantively close to perfect, if cautiously so." He recalled that at the time of the interview he thought to himself, "there's no way this guy will color outside the lines... Bayh's up side and down side are probably the closest spread of the three", compared to Biden, who could "reach higher heights but could cause us real pain." As Obama approached a decision, he told Plouffe "it's a coin toss now between Bayh and Biden, but Kaine is still a distinct possibility." On August 17, Obama told Axelrod simply, "I've decided. It's Biden." [14] [15] It was later reported that Obama told Kaine, in breaking the news to him, "You are the pick of my heart, but Joe [Biden] is the pick of my head". [16]

In 2020 Obama wrote in his memoir A Promised Land a slightly different account of the selection, not mentioning Bayh and stating that he had ultimately narrowed down the choice for his running mate to two individuals – Kaine and Biden. He stated "At the time, I was much closer to Tim". [17] However Obama recalled that he and his advisers Axelrod and Plouffe wondered if voters would accept a ticket of "two relatively young, inexperienced, and liberal civil rights attorneys" and ultimately Obama felt the contrast between him and Biden was a strength, and that Biden being older than Obama would reassure those voters who were concerned that Obama was too young to be president. [18] Kaine would later be selected by Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential campaign, losing to businessman Donald Trump and Indiana governor Mike Pence.

On August 23, 2008, via text message, the Obama campaign announced that the then-presumptive Democratic presidential nominee chose Senator Joe Biden as his vice-presidential running mate. [19]

The selection was well received by both the public and by political analysts, who largely agreed that Biden's lengthy Senate career and foreign policy experience complemented Obama's youth. [20]

Media speculation on possible candidates

Members of Congress

Governors

Other individuals

Denied interest

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection</span>

On March 2, 2004, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry became the presumptive Democratic nominee for president in the 2004 Presidential Election. Kerry selected North Carolina Senator John Edwards as his running mate on July 6, 2004. The Kerry–Edwards ticket was ultimately defeated by the Bush–Cheney ticket in the general election, and Edwards returned to the Senate following the campaign but left politics less than two months later.

Veepstakes is an informal term for the quadrennial process in which candidates for president of the United States select a running mate. If the ticket wins, the running mate becomes the vice president of the United States and first in line to the presidency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Democratic National Convention</span> U.S. political event held in Denver, Colorado

The 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for president and vice president. The convention was held in Denver, Colorado, from August 25 to 28, 2008, at the Pepsi Center. Senator Barack Obama from Illinois gave his acceptance speech on August 28 at Invesco Field in what the party called an "Open Convention". Denver last hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1908. Obama became the party's first nonwhite nominee, and nominee of African descent, for president. Senator Joe Biden from Delaware was nominated for vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Kaine</span> American lawyer and politician (born 1958)

Timothy Michael Kaine is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Virginia since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 70th governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and as the 38th lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006. Kaine was the Democratic nominee for vice president of the United States in the 2016 election as Hillary Clinton's running mate.

In United States politics, balancing the ticket is a practice where a political candidate chooses a running mate, usually from the same party, with the goal of bringing more widespread appeal to the campaign. The term is most prominently used to describe the selection of the U.S. vice presidential nominee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Democratic Party presidential candidates</span>

In the United States 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries, the total number of delegates was 4050. Delegates required for nomination were 2118.

The following is a timeline of major events leading up to and immediately following the United States presidential election of 2008. The election was the 56th quadrennial United States presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008, but its significant events and background date back to about 2002. The Democratic Party nominee, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, defeated the Republican Party's nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States presidential election in Massachusetts</span>

The 2008 United States presidential election in Massachusetts took place, as in all 50 states and D.C., as part of the 2008 United States presidential election of November 4, 2008. Voters chose 12 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who, in turn, voted for the office of president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign</span> Successful presidential campaign of then-U.S. Senator

Barack Obama, then junior United States senator from Illinois, announced his candidacy for president of the United States on February 10, 2007, in Springfield, Illinois. After winning a majority of delegates in the Democratic primaries of 2008, on August 23, leading up to the convention, the campaign announced that Senator Joe Biden of Delaware would be the vice presidential nominee. At the 2008 Democratic National Convention on August 27, Barack Obama was formally selected as the Democratic Party nominee for president of the United States in 2008. He was the first African American in history to be nominated on a major party ticket. On November 4, 2008, Obama defeated the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona, making him the president-elect and the first African American elected president.

The following is a schedule of the 2008 Democratic National Convention that was held from August 25 to August 27 at Pepsi Center and on August 28 at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Bayh 2008 presidential campaign</span> 2008 presidential campaign of Evan Bayh

The 2008 presidential campaign of Evan Bayh, Democratic Senator and 46th Governor of Indiana, began shortly after the 2004 presidential election.

This article contains lists of candidates associated with the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries for the 2016 United States presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection</span>

This article lists potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 2016 election. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee for President of the United States, chose Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running mate. The formal nomination took place at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The Clinton–Kaine ticket ultimately lost to the Trump–Pence ticket in the general election, and Kaine returned to the Senate following the campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States presidential election in Iowa</span>

The 2016 United States presidential election in Iowa was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Iowa voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and his running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against the Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and her running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. Iowa has six electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States presidential election in Virginia</span>

The 2016 United States presidential election in Virginia was held on November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 general election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Virginia voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting the Republican nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia</span>

The 2016 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 United States presidential election in which all fifty states and the District of Columbia participated. District of Columbia voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and her running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. The District of Columbia has three electoral votes in the Electoral College. Prior to the election, Clinton was considered to be virtually certain to win Washington DC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States presidential election in Kansas</span>

The 2016 United States presidential election in Kansas was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 United States presidential election in which all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated. Kansas voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and her running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. Kansas has six electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States presidential election in Hawaii</span>

The 2016 United States presidential election in Hawaii was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 United States presidential election in which all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated. Hawaii voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College by a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and her running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. Hawaii has four electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection</span>

This article lists the candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 2020 presidential election. Former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware, the 2020 Democratic nominee for President of the United States, considered several prominent Democrats and other individuals before selecting Senator Kamala Harris of California as his running mate on August 11, 2020. Harris formally won the vice presidential nomination on August 19, 2020, at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The Biden–Harris ticket would go on to defeat the Trump–Pence ticket in the general election.

References

  1. ↑ "RealClearPolitics – 2008 Elections – Democratic Delegate Count". Realclearpolitics.com. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  2. ↑ John Broder (June 12, 2008). "Obama Aide Quits Under Fire for His Business Ties". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2008.
  3. ↑ "vice president - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com". Thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Obama Picks Caroline Kennedy, 2 Others for VP Search (Update2)". Bloomberg. June 4, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Obama VP Vetter Tied to Controversial Mortgage Crisis". USA Today. June 9, 2008. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008.
  6. ↑ Freed, Benjamin (June 20, 2016). "Meet the DC Lawyer Helping Hillary Clinton Pick a Running Mate". Washingtonian. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Barrett, Ted (June 10, 2008). "Obama VP team discusses 20 possible picks". CNN . Retrieved June 10, 2008.
  8. 1 2 Kane, Murray, Paul, Shailagh (June 10, 2008). "The '08 Veep Tour Begins". The Washington Post . Retrieved June 11, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. 1 2 Zeleny, Jeff; Rutenberg, Jim (August 23, 2008). "In Obama's Choice, a 'Very Personal Decision'". The New York Times . Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Sources: Bayh, Kaine out of Obama VP race – Barack Obama News – NBC News". NBC News. August 22, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  11. ↑ Mike Allen. "Hillary gets stiffed – Politico.com Print View". Dyn.politico.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  12. ↑ Jake Tapper; Ann Compton; Matt Jaffe; Jay Shaylor (August 22, 2008). "U.S. Secret Service on Way to Biden's House; Kaine and Bayh Told Nope on Veep". Political Punch. Blogs.abcnews.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  13. ↑ "McCain taps Alaska governor for VP – Yahoo! News". News.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Bayh was about a 'coin toss' away from being veep, book says". IndyStar.com. November 1, 2009. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Sen. Bayh lost 'coin toss' for VP slot – Legislative notebook". Evansville Courier & Press. November 1, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  16. ↑ Thrush, Glenn (August 16, 2019). "Obama and Biden's Relationship Looks Rosy. It Wasn't Always That Simple". The New York Times.
  17. ↑ Obama, Barack (2020). A Promised Land. Great Britain: Viking. p. 162. ISBN   978-0-241-49151-5.
  18. ↑ Obama, Barack (2020). A Promised Land. Great Britain: Viking. pp. 164–165. ISBN   978-0-241-49151-5.
  19. ↑ "Barack Obama – Change We Can Believe In – Share your personal welcome note". My.barackobama.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  20. ↑ Cook, Charlie (August 24, 2008). "Biden Pick Means Obama Means Business". The Cook Political Report.
  21. ↑ Smith, Ben (June 24, 2008). "Pelosi floats Edwards". Politico . Retrieved August 20, 2008.
  22. ↑ McCaffrey, Shannon (June 3, 2008). "Sam Nunn: If asked, I'd consider being vice president". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
  23. ↑ "Obama's VP Short List". Zimbio. July 25, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
  24. ↑ Hemmer, Bill (March 28, 2008). "Is Gore-Obama Ticket a Possibility?". Fox News. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
  25. ↑ Rhee, Foon (May 17, 2008). "Edwards rules out possibility of vice-presidential run with Obama". The Boston Globe . Retrieved June 10, 2008.
  26. ↑ Montanaro, Domenico (June 11, 2008). "Veepstakes: Strick says no thanks". MSNBC. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
  27. ↑ Kumar, Anita, Craig, Tim (June 15, 2008). "Mark Warner Rejects VP Talk, Wants Senate Seat". The Washington Post . Retrieved June 26, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ↑ "The Page - by Mark Halperin - TIME". Time. July 7, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  29. ↑ Broder, John M. (July 7, 2008). "In Case You Ask: Webb Declines Veep Role". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.

Notes

    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.