It’s the political murmur with legs — the idea of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as running mate for Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. In the latest whisper, Vilsack is among 21 vice-presidential “possibilities,” including two other members of the Obama cabinet, listed by the political website Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
“Given the quirks of running mate selection, it’s possible that Clinton’s eventual selection isn’t even mentioned,” says the Crystal Ball, which gives the edge to Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine. The website says Vilsack has the assets of being a popular two-term governor of a swing state and experience as a policy-maker at the state and federal level. “Not going to excite [the] base,” says the Crystal Ball in a thumbnail list of disadvantages. “Largely anonymous nationally.”
RealClearPolitics mentioned Vilsack in a roundup last weekend.
Vilsack endorsed Clinton for president in March 2007, a month after ending a short-lived run of his own for the 2008 nomination. His name began appearing as vice-presidential possibility two years ago.