Is Bayh the Guy? Short Answer, No!

The blogs are abuzz about a column written by Russ Pulliam in the Indianapolis Star this past weekend. In it, Mr. Pulliam makes the case that Senator Bayh is the logical, if not perfect, choice to round out Hillary’s eventual Democrat nomination for president. Then word gets out yesterday that Bayh is set to announce his endorsement for Hillary today sometime only adding more fuel to the fire that is speculation. But let’s take a look at Senator Bayh’s chances.

Mr. Pulliam put forth an argument that would endear Bayh to conservative Democrats (yes, they actually exist…somewhere) while at the same time proving that Hillary needs somebody to counteract her polarizing nature. But let’s be honest. While the argument is good for some people, most everybody should see right through the argument to Bayh’s do-nothing time as Governor to his do-nothing time as a Senator.

He is polite and charming. He’s been an articulate spokesman for fatherhood, even writing a book on the subject. As Indiana’s governor, he promoted the fatherhood movement and offered other culturally conservative initiatives. He didn’t serve liquor at the governor’s mansion and reinstated Gideons Bibles in state park inns after an overzealous official thought they violated the First Amendment.

As governor, Bayh was the opposite of Mitch Daniels, who never seems to shy from taking on controversial issues such as daylight-saving time or leasing the Toll Road. Bayh took a stab at education reform but never put a definitive stamp on a particular policy or issue. He did, however, win elections and returned Indiana to a competitive two-party state.

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As a voter, let me ask what’s the big flippin’ deal? All of those are good qualities, I guess, but it’s not what makes you a candidate to be Vice President. Well, maybe it does for Hillary, who makes Evan Bayh look like James Dobson. Let’s not also forget that Senator Bayh presidential candidacy faded faster than the Houston Texans hopes for a 2007 Super Bowl. The thing is, Evan Bayh isn’t flashy enough for Hillary Clinton. But then again, I would have said the same thing about Al “the world is coming to an end” Gore, whose personality during the entire Clinton administration was stiffer than Marcel Marceau’s remains.

I also question the teaming of two Senators on the same ticket. It didn’t work for John Kerry and John Edwards and I can’t even think of the last two Senators who teamed together on the Presidential ticket for a winning combination. (I will say that a Hillary/Obama ticket could work, but the ego’s might be too much.)

It seems too early to start talking about who is going to be Hillary’s running mate. She hasn’t even wrapped up the nomination (but enough with semantics). In the long run though, it could be wise to start throwing out more conservative/moderate choices who could balance out Hillary’s wildly liberal views. Even Democrats around here are worried about her getting the nod because of her liberalism.

Then again, Republicans are having the same conversation about Rudy Giuliani and his liberal social views. The difference though, is that even though Rudy is out of touch with social conservatives, they still like Rudy personally. I don’t think the same could be said of Hillary and conservative to moderate Democrats.