New School Politics

Castro Likes Clinton-Obama ‘08

Ryan | 28 08 2007

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CNN reports:

In an editorial in Cuba’s communist party newspaper, Granma, the ailing dictator said the pairing of the two White House hopefuls seemed “invincible,” according to an English translation on the paper’s Web site.

Its not entirely clear whether that’s an endorsement, however he is seemingly impressed by their prowess to persuade people to vote for them (a trait that Castro never had/needed).

But Comrado Castro does raise a couple of interesting points, including,

1. Is that ticket unbeatable?

2. Assuming Clinton gets the nomination–which, she will–and Obama finishes second–which, he will–is Obama Clinton’s best option to round out the ticket?

My answers are no and probably not.

First, I do not think that the Democrat’s choice could be beaten by any Republican save Rudy Giuliani. I believe that because the GOP is in overall bad shape and because the Republicans running for president are, in all, not nearly the politicians that the Democrats candidates are. Rudy does not suffer from the same symptoms because (a) he is not in the mold of the “cultural conservative” who essentially runs the party and bore the brunt of voters’ wrath in ‘06. Additionally, he is an exceptional politician, who has acquired a very positive national reputation of his own. General election polls reinforce my view; Giuliani is the only GOP candidate who has polled even or better than either Clinton or Obama in the past two months (he has done so against both).

It may be difficult to answer the second question right now, but at face value I think the Clintons are smarter than to pick another Senator, from another blue state, with so little experience, who happens to be another “first” (first black VP). I think it would be more sensible to pick a veep who is well, “normal.” By that I mean someone from Middle America, with experience, without particularly liberal views, preferably a Governor, and probably a white man. I think smart choices include Evan Bayh (Governor and Senator, IN), Mark Warner (Gov, VA), and Richardson.