Community Corner

Should the President Consider Another Running Mate for the 2012 Election?

In the light of recent gaffes by current Vice President Joe Biden and sinking popularity numbers, would it be wise for the president to consider another running mate -- possibly Hillary Clinton?

Jay Carney, spokesman for the White House, categorically affirmed this week that Joe Biden would remain as President Barack Obama’s running mate in the 2012 election. Some don’t think that's such a good idea.

An article in The Washington Post makes the case for Obama to consider an alternative vice president. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s name is usually the name that comes up when alternatives are suggested. Besides Biden’s gaffes, the most recent being the "back in chains" comment to a black audience, there is also the fact that Biden's popularity rate has been slipping in the polls. According to The Washington Post, almost every recent poll has Biden’s numbers the lowest they’ve ever been with more people giving him unfavorable ratings than favorable. While his favorable ratings were well into the 50s when he and Obama were elected in 2008, recent polls, one NBC/Wall Street Journal and another by Fox News, are significantly down. The polls had his ratings at 35 percent favorable to 37 percent unfavorable and 41 percent favorable to 44 percent unfavorable respectively.

Although vice presidents are said to not have any real impact on the presidency, there are some calling for a change on the Democratic ticket.

Find out what's happening in South Cobbwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Do you think that the president should consider taking on another running mate before the Democratic Convention next month? And do you think that Hillary Clinton should take the job?


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here