Whether Barack Obama wins re-election next year or not, it's doubtful that any consideration whatsoever will be placed upon the fact that Joe Biden is his running mate.
But that's the theory that some Democratic analysts have been peddling for awhile, and it acquired new legs over the weekend after Fred Dicker in the New York Post reported that the president will dump Biden for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, on a roll after his successful leadership in getting the New York Legislature to approve a bill legalizing same-sex marriage.
A Prominent Republican is joining a prominent Democrat in predicting that Gov. Cuomo will become President Obama's running mate for vice president next year.
Former New York GOP boss William Powers, credited with playing a key role in electing Rudy Giuliani mayor and George Pataki governor, was effusive in his praise of Cuomo's successes in the just-ended legislative session, and in his prediction of the freshman governor's political future.
"Andrew had a fabulous session. It was fabulous. A property-tax cap, ethics reform and, for Democrats, gay marriage," said Powers.
"I don't think there's any doubt Obama is going to pick him as his running mate. The president is in trouble and [Vice President Joseph] Biden doesn't bring anything to his ticket.
"The president will call him up later this year and say, 'Andrew, you have to do this for the good of the country.' What's Andrew going to say, 'No?' "
How many ways can we write that this will not happen? Let us begin:
This article appears in Jun 30 – Jul 6, 2011.