05.09.2008 5:03 pm
More advice to Obama on V.P. picks
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Bob Kerrey — the former Nebraska governor and U.S. Senator, now president of The New School — paid us a visit Friday morning.
He is in town to give the Webster University commencement address, set for Saturday (tomorrow) at the Edward Jones Dome.
He had many interesting things to say, some of which I will put together next week.
He talked about lots more than politics, but for now I will pass along his advice to Barack Obama on vice presidential running mates.
Convincing Hillary Clinton would be the best. After her, Sen. Obama should think about (in no particular order):
- U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia
- Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio
- U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado
- Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico
(Photo: Eddie Roth)
Eddie Roth writes about education, social justice, public safety, transportation, legal affairs and historic preservation. He joined the Post-Dispatch editorial page in 2008 after six years as an editorial writer with the Dayton Daily News. But he is not new to St. Louis. Eddie grew up in Webster Groves and south St. Louis County. He's a lawyer who for many years practiced with a downtown firm, and was active in civic affairs, including serving a term on the St. Louis Police Board. He and his wife, Jeanne, and their three daughters, Emily, Julia and Alice, live in the Shaw Neighborhood.
When it comes to community organizing, he endorses Quentin Crisp's advice: Rather than keeping up with the Joneses, it's better to pull them down to your level. 
Since both Obama and McCain are senators, I would hope that he picks someone who is not in the senate- probably a governor. Richardson or Strickland would be OK, but I would go for Rendell of PA or Easley of NC to overcome his lack of support among bubbas and blue collars