Clearly, our good friends at Western Democrat are trying to overload us with great analysis that demands comment. Their most recent post, A Southwestern Strategy, is especially good, because it refines an idea I’ve suggested to Andrea a number of times: ticket reinforcement would work very well for Bill Richardson.
Some background.
Usually, Presidential candidates are encouraged to pick their running mates for one of a few reasons: they need their subject-matter expertise (Cheney is a great example of this), or the ticket needs to win their home state (sup, LBJ). In the modern day, you hear a lot about “ticket balance.” A Northeastern liberal like John Kerry runs for President? Well, pick yourself a Southern moderate! Something for everyone!
By contrast, ticket reinforcement is premised on the theory “if one is good, two is better!” Clinton-Gore in 1992 is the archetype. Clinton, a young Southern moderate, chose Gore, another… young Southern moderate! The effect was to reinforce and amplify their message: we are the future of the party (young), we are going to win moderate votes, and we have charming accents. There is no confusion of the message, no disparate records to reconcile, no disagreements to paper over. You pick someone like yourself.
The post at Western Dems suggests a Richardson-Napolitano ticket. (Napolitano is the Democratic governor of Arizona.) My suggestion to Andrea, when I get worked up about this stuff, is usually Sen. Ken Salazar, from Colorado. (Sometimes when I get really crazy, I suggest Rep. John Salazar, of the Colorado 3rd–Ken’s brother.) In both cases, it’s a Southwestern Strategy: the idea being to take one of the most reliably Republican areas of the country and split it wide open, destroying any chance the GOP has to win a Presidential election for the next 12-16 years.
Of course, Richardson/Salazar puts two Latinos on the ticket, and Richardson/Napolitano puts a woman on the ticket. Either one would be a radical break from tradition, and I’m not sure the country is ready for either; then again, we’re never going to know if we’re ready until we go out there and do it. Plus, either one would be awesome, and you never win the big victories unless you go for the gold.
I also relish the thought of watching the GOP squirm as Gov. Richardson and Gov. Napolitano hammer them on immigration, an issue they wield with dominance and authority.
Richardson/Napolitano also has another interesting fact about it: John McCain is from Arizona and enjoys immense popularity there. Napolitano’s presence on the ticket, however, would force him to campaign in his home state, and probably to campaign a lot in his home state. She has nearly 60% approval in Arizona, and Republicans like her more than they like Bush. She simply could not be ignored. (Here’s the Google cache of that poll, which has since expired from AZCentral.)
I’m eager to hear everyone’s thoughts on this. It is completely clear to me that a Southwestern Strategy is the way to go; I just don’t know which one. There are so many great Western Democrats, it’s hard to choose! (Meanwhile, everyone else can bore themselves to tears with thoughts of Clinton/Clark, or something.)