First it was Democrat Joe Lieberman endorsing Republican John McCain for President. Then we found out that former GOP Secretary of State Colin Powell is considering voting for Obama in November. Finally, long time Republican Senator Chuck Hagel has even accompanied Obama on his week long campaign visit to the Middle East and Western Europe. Of course this sort of crossing the aisle is nothing new: everyone remembers Democratic Senator Zell Miller’s bizarre appearance as the keynote speaker at the 2004 Republican convention, for example. But what makes this year unique is the persistent speculation that Lieberman might join the McCain ticket or Hagel might join the Obama ticket. Does this make sense for either candidate?
Probably not for McCain. McCain does need a bold pick (Jindal or Palin would do), but picking Lieberman exposes one of his biggest weaknesses: the wavering support of the religious right. Aside from foreign policy, Lieberman’s relatively liberal. If McCain adds a pro-choice semi-Democrat to the ticket, the religious right might very well stay home. Plus Lieberman has alienated so many Democrats with his defeat of Ned Lamont in 2006 and his premature criticism of Obama that it remains to be seen just how many new votes he would carry as a vice-presidential candidate. McCain would probably do better to shore up his base with a more conservative pick, or broaden his appeal with a like-minded moderate Republican.
Hagel makes more sense for the Obama ticket than Lieberman does for the McCain ticket. If Obama picked the Nebraska Republican he might be able to reclaim some of his early bipartisan credentials that were overwhelmed by “most liberal senator in the Senate” accusations. Plus Hagel would add a strong military and foreign policy resume to a ticket mostly bereft of any international experience. And Hagel’s even more popular among Nebraska Democrats than Republicans, at least according to one poll.
- Obama with Senator Hagel and General Petraeus in Iraq.
Still, Hagel’s right of center (although in a libertarian sort of way) and would no doubt ruffle a few feathers amongst Obama’s far left coterie (that’s already angry about shifts to the center on Iraq, campaign finance, and trade). My guess is that Hagel lands a Cabinet level position in the Obama administration, most likely Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense. But he wouldn’t make a half-bad veep pick either. Obama clearly likes Hagel enough to invite him on his overseas trip and that’s critical in the selection process.
Will Democrats and Republicans share the White House next year? I doubt it, but an Obama-Hagel ticket might make sense. Thoughts?
jaf2106, are there any serious historical precidents to anything similar? my knowledge is less than limited on current american politics let alone the past.
A historical perspective would be helpful
As far as i can see though, india has had coalitions for ages and there’s always strife. if they work well, it’s on a few topics over a limited period of time. at some point conflicting political interests for personal careers tend to be a bit of a bottleneck.
this however is quite a distance from the multi party coalitions we have had.
Arjuna – there is historical precedent, but it’s very historical, as in during the John Adams presidency (Federalist) when rival Democrat-Republican Thomas Jefferson was elected as Vice President. However, not only did this happen over 200 years ago, but they were also not allied on the same electoral ticket (the Constitution has since changed).
In modern times there isn’t much American precedent for a shared ticket, but John Kerry supposedly asked John McCain to be his Vice Presidential candidate in 2004. Of course that didn’t work out.
So a shared ticket would be groundbreaking. But given the associated risk I doubt we’ll ever get to find out. Plus the word is that Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is the new favorite Democratic veep candidate.