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DEL.ICIO.USA last pitch for Nunn as Obama’s running mate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With a week to go before the Democratic National Convention, speculation over Barack Obama’s choice for a running mate is about to reach a fever pitch.
On ABC’s “This Week,” the conventional wisdom on the Sunday program pointed to Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. But conservative columnist George Will remains Sam Nunn’s biggest fan, despite the former Georgia senator’s problems among gay Democrats:
George Will: Surely Obama can get him well on those issues. And I don’t know — I haven’t seen the polling — but I have a feeling that this would almost certainly put Georgia in play. It would certainly make McCain fight for Georgia.
Nunn is still my choice. There’s no bigger issue in the world than loose nuclear material. And no one knows more about it than Sam Nunn.
E.J. Dionne: But if you look at the ratings, Nunn is Lieberman in reverse. While he is a Democrat, he had a very conservative voting record. I think there would be resistance in certain parts of the party to Nunn.
Don’t look for Nunn to say much this week — and not necessarily because vice-presidential possibilities are expected to keep their mouths shut.
The Russian invasion of Georgia has placed U.S. relations with Russia in jeopardy. Among the threatened programs is the on-going effort by Nunn and U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) to defuse the nuclear arsenal of the old Soviet Union.
Comments
By kelly
August 18, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
It makes the most sense, so it’ll probably never happen
By funnyBone
August 18, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
NUNN is a DINO, democrat in name only. NUNN, when he was in the senate, shared the views of the Republican party. Nunn ran when there was no Republican party in Georgia.Zell Miller shared the view of Republicans, which is why he campaigned for W.By rural
August 18, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
I also think it makes the most senate. If he picks Bayh, the seat will most likely go republican, Kaine has very, very little experience, still in his first term as governor of Va, Biden is too tied to washington, is unpredictable, & doesn’t bring obama any new voters, so that’s why Nunn makes alot of sense in my book
By Democratic Debutante
August 18, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
Sam Nunn would be a great choice for most Georgians and this state may well be a key state in Obama’ strategy. Gay Georgians will have a problem with Nunn; but, they do not appear to have one with Obama.
Sam has an encyclopaedic knowledge of foreign policy and “loose nuclear material” is assuredly an explosive problem. But, remember, Pakistan has just lost a leader who was at least somewhat friendly and I wonder what the extremist Muslim contingent is up to there not to mention that we have the Russians running loose in that other Georgia and an expensive, tragic war in Iraq. Obama has to choose someone who can help him take the point on these problems.
My advice is quit pandering to the self-glorification of evangelical preachers and get back to the business of a platform, a campaign and a running mate.
DDebutante.
By keith
August 19, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Nunn opposed both Gulf Wars as strategic errors. He won four senate campaigns and worked with, and for, the armed services as well as anyone could. Nunn and Richard Lugar are AMerica’s two best experts on the threat of “loose” post-Soviet nukes, and are two of the wisest men Obama knows, by his own admission. His readiness to back off the no-gays-in-the-services position he espoused during the Clinton era is apparent, as Michael Crowley recently pointed out in The New Republic. As a “sage” of advanced years he offsets McCain’s “inexperience” charges with older voters, and he lends credibility to foreign policy and defense—areas Obama could use help. And finally he poses no threat at his age (71) to the Hillary wing which must now look forward to 2012 or 2016. Plus, while Lugar and Bayh are sure to remain active for Obama in Indiana, McCain’s electoral edge in Georgia polls is slipping and could conceivably turn for Obama with a Peach State Nunn on the ticket. I mean, what are the negatives?
By S. PORTER
August 20, 2008 6:19 AM | Link to this
NUNN IS THE ONE. I’VE ADMIRED HIM SINCE HIS LATTER YEARS AS A SENATOR FOR GEORGIA. I’VE EVEN WANTED HIM TO RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY. I CONSIDER MYSELF A MODERATE DEMOCRAT AND HE HAS FAIRLY MODERATE DEMOCRATIC VIEWS. YES YOU CAN CHOOSE NUNN OBAMA!
By S. PORTER
August 20, 2008 6:20 AM | Link to this
NUNN IS THE ONE. I’VE ADMIRED HIM SINCE HIS LATTER YEARS AS A SENATOR FOR GEORGIA. I’VE EVEN WANTED HIM TO RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY. I CONSIDER MYSELF A MODERATE DEMOCRAT AND HE HAS FAIRLY MODERATE DEMOCRATIC VIEWS. YES YOU CAN CHOOSE NUNN OBAMA!
By S. PORTER
August 20, 2008 6:20 AM | Link to this
NUNN IS THE ONE. I’VE ADMIRED HIM SINCE HIS LATTER YEARS AS A SENATOR FOR GEORGIA. I’VE EVEN WANTED HIM TO RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY. I CONSIDER MYSELF A MODERATE DEMOCRAT AND HE HAS FAIRLY MODERATE DEMOCRATIC VIEWS. YES YOU CAN CHOOSE NUNN OBAMA!
By R Flood
August 20, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
JFK, Carter and Clinton all had to win the South in order to win the White House. The electoral numbers simply don’t add up for Obama unless he can make some headway in the South with white, male voters. Add forfeiting the South to an already weak Democratic resume on defense, national security and foreign affairs, and you have a recipe for disaster. Nunn, however, gives Obama a fighting chance to blow McCain away. But don’t hold your breath waiting to see a winning, pragmatic Obama-Nunn ticket….
By None of the Above 08
August 21, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
McCain is 72 and apparently too old to be President.
Nunn is 70 this year and not too old to hold the spot in direct line to the Presidency?
Is age the real factor here?
By bernie m
August 21, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
Sam Nunn would be far and away the best choice for Obama. I agree with the comments above regarding Tim Kaine’s inexperience and Bayhs seat going Republican. Sam Nunn is one of the most knowledgeable people in foreign policy and endorsed Obama early. His selection would hint toward a centrist government for all the people rather than a far left government. While party liberals may not like that, its much more likely to win in November. It might win Georgia AND Virginia and North Carolina, thereby guaranteeing an Obama presidency.
By eric
August 21, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
So, as I write this, Obama is scheduled to campaign with his pick on Saturday morning, and Nunn’s spokeswoman says he’s “out of the country” until Monday.
Conveniently, that also makes him the only veepstakes player who doesn’t have a hundred political reporters watching his every move.
Has anybody actually seen Sam Nunn, lately?
By eric
August 21, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this
So, as I write this, Obama is scheduled to campaign with his pick on Saturday morning, and Nunn’s spokeswoman says he’s “out of the country” until Monday.
Conveniently, that also makes him the only veepstakes player who doesn’t have a hundred political reporters watching his every move.
Has anybody actually seen Sam Nunn, lately?
By cthilp magqj
September 10, 2008 6:28 AM | Link to this
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