Posted by Jed Lewison on Thu Jun 5, 2008 at 2:50 PM Pacific

My longshot pick for VP: Gov. Christine Gregoire

Although my top preference for VP is still John Edwards, I think Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire ought to be thrown into the mix of names being discussed.

On a political level, Obama wouldn't pick Gregoire to deliver Washington state -- Washington will go blue in November no matter who he picks. Rather, the obvious political objective would be demographic, to cement Obama's strength with voters who want to see a woman on the ticket. (As a bonus, she's Catholic, and she's 61, which might put her on the old side for 2016, but is a perfect compliment to Obama in 2008.)

Gregoire was a popular three-term Attorney General before being elected Governor in 2004. Politically, the biggest knock against her is that her 2004 race was far closer than it should have been, though I think the problem had more to do with her campaign than her as a candidate. As a vice presidential candidate, she'd have the benefit of the Obama operation, which would be unlikely to make the same types of mistakes she made in her 2004 campaign.

Gregoire is running for re-election now (she's up by 11 points in the latest poll that I've looked at), so Democrats in the state would have to scramble to find another candidate to take her place -- perhaps Ron Sims (for whom I used to work) would give it another shot.

I should note as a disclaimer that although I now live in Las Vegas, I've worked in Washington state politics and have lived in Seattle for most of my life. My dad was an AAG while Gregoire was AG, though he didn't work in her office. I've only met her a couple of times, and she certainly wouldn't remember me, but both times I was very impressed with her intelligence, poise, and leadership qualities -- she wouldn't just satisfy demographic criteria -- she'd also be an excellent vice president

What are your thoughts about Gregoire? Other names? (And are you rooting for Romney as hard as I am?)

My longshot pick for VP: Gov. Christine Gregoire

Although my top preference for VP is still John Edwards, I think Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire ought to be thrown into the mix of names being discussed.

On a political level, Obama wouldn't pick Gregoire to deliver Washington state -- Washington will go blue in November no matter who he picks. Rather, the obvious political objective would be demographic, to cement Obama's strength with voters who want to see a woman on the ticket. (As a bonus, she's Catholic, and she's 61, which might put her on the old side for 2016, but is a perfect compliment to Obama in 2008.)

Gregoire was a popular three-term Attorney General before being elected Governor in 2004. Politically, the biggest knock against her is that her 2004 race was far closer than it should have been, though I think the problem had more to do with her campaign than her as a candidate. As a vice presidential candidate, she'd have the benefit of the Obama operation, which would be unlikely to make the same types of mistakes she made in her 2004 campaign.

Gregoire is running for re-election now (she's up by 11 points in the latest poll that I've looked at), so Democrats in the state would have to scramble to find another candidate to take her place -- perhaps Ron Sims (for whom I used to work) would give it another shot.

I should note as a disclaimer that although I now live in Las Vegas, I've worked in Washington state politics and have lived in Seattle for most of my life. My dad was an AAG while Gregoire was AG, though he didn't work in her office. I've only met her a couple of times, and she certainly wouldn't remember me, but both times I was very impressed with her intelligence, poise, and leadership qualities -- she wouldn't just satisfy demographic criteria -- she'd also be an excellent vice president

What are your thoughts about Gregoire? Other names? (And are you rooting for Romney as hard as I am?)

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