Veepstakes on Stage at Obama Stop
By John McCormick, Chicago Tribune
Jul. 17–WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — It was a cross between "The Dating Game" and "24" as Sen. Barack Obama was flanked by two possible running mates Wednesday while criticizing President George W. Bush’s efforts to confront emerging forms of potential terrorism.
As experts talked about dirty bombs, anthrax and attacks on the nation’s computer infrastructure, many eyes were trained on Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana and former Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia.
Both have been listed as potential Obama running mates, and both live in key red states that Obama’s campaign has targeted for the fall election.
Although Obama has expressed a strong desire to keep his vice presidential selection process closely guarded, Wednesday’s event at Purdue University provided a glimpse at what both men look like on stage with the presumptive Democratic nominee. The body language seemed to suggest that Bayh is more interested in the job.
"Sam, I haven’t let you answer any questions," Bayh said when he and Nunn were asked by reporters about their possible selection at a joint news conference.
"It’s always nice to have your name mentioned," Nunn responded. "I would talk to Sen. Obama, if he wanted to talk about it. But I think the chances of an offer are pretty slim. … I’m not pining to go back into public office."
Nunn, 69, is a former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and an expert on foreign policy and military affairs, areas where opinion polls suggest that voters believe Obama lags behind presumptive GOP nominee Sen. John McCain.
Bayh, 52, a two-term senator from Indiana and a former governor, aggressively supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in the primary campaign. He was more coy about his interest in the No. 2 spot.
"Any questions about the vice presidential thing are understandable, and it’s good for my ego," he said. "But I should probably let Sen. Obama and his campaign address those kinds of questions."
Later, in an interview, Bayh refused to express an opinion on what kind of message Obama should try to send with his running mate selection. "It would be presumptive to offer him advice," he said.
While he did not get any one-on-one time with Obama on Wednesday, Bayh said they routinely bump into each other at the Senate gym and had dinner together in Chicago when Obama was first running for the U.S. Senate. The two also traveled together in 2006 to Iraq and the Middle East.
Bayh repeatedly referred to Obama as "Barack" during the public event. Asked whether that said anything about their relationship, he said he also typically calls Clinton by her first name.
"I don’t think he’s one to stand on formalities," Bayh said. "But I hope to refer to him as Mr. President."
Obama worked to appear presidential as he discussed terrorism at Purdue, where he criticized the Bush administration for not being more forward-looking on possible threats.
"It’s time to update our national security strategy to stay one step ahead of the terrorists," he said. "America cannot afford another president who doesn’t understand the threats that confront us now and in the future."
The event was part of a ramp-up on terrorism and foreign policy before Obama’s upcoming trip to the Middle East and Europe. The invitation-only event was his first stop in Indiana since the state’s May 6 primary.
The stop was another sign that Obama plans to take the traditionally red state seriously as he spends campaign money in the state on TV ads, staff and offices.
President Lyndon Johnson in 1964 was the last Democrat to carry Indiana in a presidential election. That record has meant that general election candidates from both parties typically bypassed the state.
mccormickj@tribune.com
—–
To see more of the Chicago Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.chicagotribune.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, Chicago Tribune
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.