The Vice Presidential Candidates: A Simple View From the Cheap Seats

It’s been almost a month since presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama chose their vice presidential running mates. The dust has begun to settle over these decisions, and to say the least the effects on the presidential race are quickly taking shape. So, as the saying goes, it’s game on.

You could not get more polar opposites when it comes to these two presidential candidates, which made their choices even that much more interesting. It is obvious that both McCain and Obama focused on their weaknesses when researching and making their final decisions. They shared a goal to partner up with a running mate who could compliment them, round out there resume, build bridges where gaps existed, and quiet the critics by bringing in someone who could eliminate their most vulnerable weaknesses.

Barack Obama’s battle cry has been change. His campaign has honed in on the state of the economy and how the Republicans are the reason this country is in the economic condition that it is in. He is using his charisma and engaging public speaking skills to get the attention of the voters. As far as the Democratic Party is concerned, so far it is working.

Nevertheless, now that he is officially in the presidential race, his weaknesses are evident. He is considered to be young for a presidential candidate, which is not an easy obstacle to overcome. He has not been in politics all that long, and is by no means a seasoned veteran. He has very little experience with executive decision-making. His familiarity in dealing with foreign affairs is limited. And he has never dealt with the military. All of these areas are very critical to winning a presidential election, but some how, some way Obama is getting voter’s attention.

However, he realized in order to win the big prize he needs someone who makes up for these deficiencies in a big way. By choosing Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, Obama did just that. He grabbed one of the most famous senators in the country, who brings with him a very long, successful and decorated resume in all of the political areas that Barack Obama is weak.

Biden has represented the state of Delaware as a U.S. Senator since 1972, when he was elected at the age of twenty-nine. The good Senator is recognized as a leader in foreign policy, and is known as one the nation’s most influential voices on terrorism. Nationally, Senator Biden has earned a reputation for working with his Republican colleagues and bringing real results that matter to Americans. One of Biden’s foreign policy priorities is bringing home American troops without leaving chaos behind in Iraq.

Obama is clearly trying to make up for his youth and inexperience. This decision should not be a shock to anyone. Any expert will tell you that regardless of whether you are a Democrat or Republican, that Barack could not have made a better choice. The question is, will Biden’s experience be enough to bring swing voters their way.

John McCain comes into this election as the old General, with a battle cry of Love of Country and Country First. No one can ever doubt or question where his loyalties lie or his love for the USA. Not too many politicians can top his vast experience. There is certainly no comparison to Obama when it comes to foreign affairs, military experience and executive decision-making. McCain’s resume buries Obama’s.

However, his weaknesses are just as apparent as his opponent’s. John McCain is seventy-two, which is considered old for a presidential candidate. He represents the old guard, and the old ways of doing things including big government spending. He is a direct reflection of the Bush administration, which currently represents the horrible shape the economy is presently in. This reputation certainly does not portray the change that the American public is looking for. He also lacked the female vote that Hilary Clinton passed on to Obama.

McCain tells us in his speeches that change is definitely needed, but it is difficult for voters to buy into this message when he has been a prototypical Republican his entire career. So, he needed to find a way to show that change will be coming if he is elected president. He needed to inject his campaign with youth, charisma and someone who has recently represented change in politics and government.

When John McCain announced that his running mate would be Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, the consensus response was, who? But, as the media began to unveil her background and political career the message became very clear. John McCain chose someone to specifically counter all of the criticism regarding his faults. Sarah Palin epitomizes youth, charisma and change.

Before taking over as governor, Palin served two terms on the Wasilla City Council and two terms as the mayor/manager of Wasilla. During her tenure, she reduced property tax levels while increasing services and made Wasilla a business friendly environment, drawing in new industry.

Then on December 4, 2006, she made history, by taking office as the eleventh Governor of Alaska, being the first woman to hold that position. As governor, her top priorities have been resource development, education, workforce development, public health and safety, transportation, infrastructure development and cutting government spending.

To say the least these accomplishments scream the ability to make changes. She has been part of many key administrative decisions that went against big government, old school, unnecessary spending. She brings with her youth, attraction and an infectious magnetism that McCain’s camp truly needed.

At first glance, it looks like both presidential candidates chose the perfect running mates who compliment them and help strengthen areas they are weak in. However, they also opened themselves up to criticism.

For Barack Obama, it is difficult to believe in his sincerity for change when he has partnered up with Joe Biden, who has been a part of big government spending his entire career. Critics can say he brought in a politician who is the exact opposite of what he portrays.

For McCain, it is now difficult to understand how he can ride with a politician that has no foreign policy or military experience, which is exactly what he challenges Obama with? For sure he either made one of the most ingenious decisions in the history of American politics or he just committed presidential race suicide.

In order for Joe Biden to have an impact on the election, he needs to focus and dwell on his years of experience with foreign policy, military and executive decision-making. He needs to convince the voters that his skills in these areas will play a major role in an Obama presidency.

Sarah Palin needs to win over women voters who were in Hilary’s camp. She needs to turn up that attraction, charm and charisma to catch the eye and imagination of the young male voters. She needs to focus on her successful battles with big spending governments. She must convince voters that her ability to bring change to Alaska will roll over and greatly impact a McCain presidency, bringing change to the entire country.

This race could come down to one very simple question. Did either vice presidential candidate garner up enough votes to swing the election in their party’s favor?