Bill Bradley as Vice-President: A Strong Choice for Obama, but Not for Clinton
Basketball Hall of Famer and former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley is an interesting choice for vice-president. As the man who nearly defeated Vice-President Al Gore in the 2000 Democratic Primary, voters may welcome Bill Bradley as an anti-establishment fresh face. As a vice-president, he would be a strong addition to the Barack Obama ticket, but a terrible choice for Hillary Clinton.
Barack Obama and Bill Bradley: Celebrity Status
Popular Appeal: As a potential Vice-President, Bill Bradley would have the same rock star appeal that Obama enjoys. Yet while Obama is popular with young voters, Bill Bradley still has popular appeal with older voters who remember his days in the New York Knicks.
Experience: As a potential Vice-President, Bill Bradley would bring a sense of experience and pragmatism to the Obama ticket. While Obama is more known for his inspiring speeches, Bill Bradley had a reputation as a “policy wonk.”1 During his twenty years in the Senate, he had a proven record on tax policy reform, child support legislation, and federal budget reform. While he enjoys popular appeal with basketball fans, he may also draw in policy-oriented voters who tend to vote on substance.
Platform: As a potential vice-president, Bill Bradley is a very liberal Democrat, more liberal than Hillary Clinton or Al Gore. Bill Bradley has been a strong proponent of universal health care, gun control, and campaign finance reform. Conventional wisdom suggests that Obama should choose a more moderate vice-president, but I don’t think it would be a problem in Obama’s case. Obama, in spite of his populist platform, already seems to have a stronghold on moderate voters. Bill Bradley has also shown himself capable of breaking ranks with his party when he needed to. In 1981, he supported Reagan’s cuts on spending, an indication that he may be able to work with people from other parties.1
Vice-President Bill Bradley would be the best of both worlds for Obama-celebrity status combined with a policy-oriented mindset.
Hillary Clinton and Bill Bradley: A Terrible Match
The Anti-Establishment Candidate: In 2000, Bill Bradley contended for the Democratic nomination against Vice-President Gore. He was the Democratic counterpart to McCain-the maverick outsider. As vice-president under Hillary Clinton, he would be a disaster. He was the anti-establishment candidate in 2000. He would not work well with Hillary Clinton, who in the eyes of many voters, is the establishment.
Bradley endorses Obama: Bradley has openly endorsed Obama, saying “there is a difference between a leader and a manager. He’s a leader. He has a vision.”2 Hillary Clinton would be ill-advised to choose a vice-president who has openly endorsed her opponent.
Demographics: As potential Vice-President, Bill Bradley is a 64 year-old liberal New Jersey senator and former New York Knicks player. Hillary Clinton is a 60 year-old liberal New York senator. From a demographic standpoint, Vice-president Bill Bradley would not add to the Clinton ticket.
Platform: If Hillary Clinton wants to win in November, she needs a moderate or conservative vice-president to attract the moderate and swing voters. Bill Bradley, who ran to the left of Vice-President Al Gore in 2000, is not her ideal choice for Vice-President.
The verdict
While potential Vice-President Bill Bradley would be a boon for the Obama ticket, he would be a disaster as Hillary Clinton’s vice-president.
