Jay Kersting's Blog

Let me explain a few things here.  I am not a fan of Hillary Clinton.  I am a fan of my Hillary Pen, but not of the New York Senator.

As of late, I am DEFINITELY NOT a fan of Barack Obama.  AS John McCain pointed out, he makes a good first impression.  But once I saw how he carries himself, the poor choices he makes in his personal life.....he has more friends in low places than either Bill Clinton or even Garth Brooks....and don't even get me started on the freakishly liberal voting record Obama has, nor his lack of working with Republicans in his three and a half years in the United States Senate.

The reasons that Hillary Clinton should not quit are numerous.  She finished the primary season STRONG.  Her base is still energized.  Obama's base is tired.  She did point out that she got more votes in the primary season than any candidate ever, something that could be argued on semantics.  BUT, look at the totals in PLEDGED delegates.

Barack Obama has 1762 to Hillary Clinton's count of 1637...a difference of only 125 delegates.

Superdelegates, and I've seen the names so trust me, they are NOT really super, are the most poll driven bunch of hacks that I have ever seen.  For a while, they stayed on the sidelines, then they saw the direction the winds were blowing and they jumped on the Barack Obama bandwagon, even with the air leaking out of the tires.

Again, I am NOT a fan of Hillary Clinton.  But seeing how she has kept on winning after being told that she was OUT of it.  She has momentum when she and her supporters were told it is over.

In all honesty, she will probably give up this week.

Watch for a complete Barack Obama meltdown by mid-July.  Not saying it will happen.  But based on trends, I will not be surprised when it does.  I mean, IF it does.

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Of the speeches given last night, I saw part of one, all of another and none of the third.

I saw all of Hillary's speech.  I can only tell you that she kept saying something about getting nearly 18 million votes.

I was distracted by the goober standing behind her wearing the orange, brown and yellow striped shirt.   It was like Guiliani's son back when he first became Mayor of New York.  I figure we will see that freak at the convention with an odd hat, vest and other gear.   

I did not watch Barack Obama.  One, it was on two late.  Two, I am over him.  He is the SAME as other politicians, just more liberal and he DOES not have any change in his platform.

I did catch the last fifteen or twenty minutes of John McCain's speech.  First, let me point this out.....John McCain is NOT a good speaker.  He is good in interviews, he is good in town hall type meetings, but he is just not a strong orator.  And that is something that could hurt him.

Which brings up a good point.  What is more important in a President, being a good speech maker, working off of prepared remarks, or being a good interviewee?

Keep in mind my perspective from a couple of angles.  First, know that I like John McCain and that I used to like Barack Obama, so I have a bias.  Call me on that, fine.  And remember that I interview people for a living. 

To me, working off of prepared remarks is easier to do with practice.  Just look at the Hollywood crowd.  But someone who has to react to questions that they may or may not expect exposes a lot about their intellect.  

I'd rather have someone who can think on their feet than someone who has to work off of a playbook. 

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Veepstakes, as the media is calling it, will heat up now.

My suggestion to BOTH parties.  WAIT!!!!

Democrats HAVE to go first as they have the first convention.  Of course, they COULD dump the candidate later on if the GOP picks someone really strong or their candidate has problems.  See 1972. 

Who should they take?  Great question.  My answer is simply sexist in nature.  Both need to pick women.

And I think that Barack Obama should NOT pick Hillary Clinton.  But, I do think he needs to consult her and find the right person for the role and you keep her happy by promising, God forbid, a nomination to the Surpreme Court.

Kathleen Sebelius comes to the top of my list.  She is the second term Democrat Governor of Kansas and she has TRULY reached across to work with Republicans in her state.  Something Barack Obama has NOT been doing, save working with Richard Lugar.

Some have said Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) should be considered.  Two problems with her.  First, she has less experience in the Senate than he does.  Second, do not risk giving up another seat in the Senate to the Republicans if you win.

So, what about John McCain?  Well, I know that it will not happen, but I still like Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska.  Why?  First, she is a young attractive mother with a son in the military.  Brings in several constituencies.  Second, because she IS the Governor of Alaska, she has an on ENERGY policy background.  And this will probably be the issue in this campaign.

Most say that Palin will not get the nomination due to the fact that she comes from a state with a small population and she is a first term governor.

Who else?  Carly Fiorina is a possiblity.  Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard has been of great assistance to the McCain campaign and she hits another issue that will be hot in this campaign, the economy.

Her departure from HP was not without concern and that could keep her off the list.

So, who do you like?  Comment or e-mail me.

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Have a great Wednesday.