Angling for vice presidentPage 2 of 2 -- Of course there came this question: Does she want to be vice president?
“No, I'm having a great time being senator, talking to you about an issue that I care deeply about,'' Clinton replied. A historical note: Though often belittled, this may be the first time the vice presidency has actually been deemed less significant than a few minutes spent discussing outsourcing with Lou Dobbs. John Edwards long denied that his presidential candidacy was really a quest for the number two spot, but in quitting the race last week, the North Carolina senator offered fulsome praise for John Kerry, the same man who, Edwards had previously hinted, was a Washington insider lacking the common touch. Cagey old pols know the best play can be simply to sit tight, keep quiet, and let friends who are close to the nominee make your case. Now, given that Kerry consultant Bob Shrum has worked for seemingly every other Democrat in the Senate, that may prove a little unsettling for those hoping he'll argue their particular merits. But certainly with long-time Dick Gephardt operative Steve Elmendorf now ensconced at the Kerry campaign, the Missouri congressman can be sure that the case for his candidacy will be made. Here's an interesting question as we watch the flirtation commence: What did Kerry himself do when Al Gore was looking for a running mate back in 2000? Well, the senator staged something of a private audition. He threw a $5,000-a-head fund-raiser for the Democratic Party at his Georgetown home, with Al Gore as the special guest. There, he made a rip-snorting speech tearing into George W. Bush and his newly selected VP choice, Dick Cheney -- that sort of partisan broadside being, after all, the kind of duty a veep nominee draws. And, with Gore listening, he offered up a wince-inducing joke to the Democratic donors: “A number of you have come up to me tonight and asked me if I have any interest at all in serving as vice president with Al Gore. Actually, none of you have asked me that, and I'm a bit ticked off.'' (Roll the laugh track.) Gore, himself humor impaired, praised the speech and even noted the quip. But though Kerry made the VP short list, he eventually lost out to Senator Joseph Lieberman. Why? Well, Lieberman had raised his own profile -- and rendered himself an attractive prospect for a ticket-topper looking to separate himself from the Clinton controversies -- with his speech on the Senate floor scolding the president for his liaison with Monica Lewinsky. Memo to VP aspirants: That's one move that won't work this year.
Scot Lehigh's e-mail address is lehigh@globe.com. © Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
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