INSIDE WASHINGTON

Congressional Insiders Poll

by Richard E. Cohen and Peter Bell

Sat. Jul 12, 2008


Q: Whom would you like to see as your party's vice presidential nominee?

Democrats (39 votes)

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton     35 percent
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland        10 percent
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine          8 percent
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson  8 percent
Sen. Joseph Biden                6 percent
Sen. Christopher Dodd            5 percent
Rep. Chet Edwards                5 percent
Former Vice President Al Gore    5 percent

Also receiving votes: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, former Sen. John Edwards, Rep. Jane Harman, former Sen. Bob Graham, retired Gen. Claudia Kennedy, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, and "no idea," 3 percent each.

Clinton

"That would be the most exciting team in history. Young people, African-Americans, women, and Latinos would set new voting-participation records. It would be great for our democracy."

"She's strong for him in each area where he's weak."

"If he picks Hillary, the visual of the two standing side by side will unite the party like no other possible vice presidential pick."

"Her strengths among women, working families, and Latino voters will be critical to a Democratic victory in November."

Strickland

"Safe, smart, minister."

Richardson

"Mountain state voters are up for grabs. We need to fight for them."

Edwards

"In addition to being a great political fit like JFK and Lyndon Johnson, there's a sense among Democrats that the two could develop a friendship that would help create a trusted partnership in a new administration."

Graham

"No other candidate matches national security credentials with an impact on the Electoral College map. Not only does he give Obama a decisive edge in Florida, he reassures conservative Democrats in North Carolina, Missouri, and Virginia."

Republicans (36 votes)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney   25 percent 
Rep. Eric Cantor                        14 percent
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal             11 percent
An outsider                              8 percent
Former OMB Director Rob Portman          6 percent
Former Homeland Security Secretary
  Tom Ridge                              6 percent

Also receiving votes: Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Vice President Dick Cheney, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, retired Gen. Jim Jones, former Rep. John Kasich, Rep. Sue Myrick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, 3 percent each.

Jindal

"Bobby Jindal, but he will likely head a ticket someday. [Former New York City Mayor] Rudy Giuliani would be a bold choice."

Outsider

"Senator McCain would be wise to select a nontraditional, unexpected nominee. A woman, minority, or someone from outside government like Tennessee's Fred Smith, chairman of FedEx. McCain will go outside the box for this one."

"Someone with fiscal experience who can relate to the average guy on the street."

"The last thing McCain needs is some inside-the-Beltway type or a has-been candidate. He needs to think outside the box."

Barbour

"Haley is a proven leader who has risen to the challenge in the face of adversity."

Pawlenty

"He's a conservative who's won in a liberal state, plus he's personable, dynamic, and can deliver a good speech--all things McCain needs."

Democratic Congressional Insiders Sens. Sherrod Brown, Ben Cardin, Thomas Carper, Christopher Dodd, Edward Kennedy, Frank Lautenberg, Barbara Mikulski, Mark Pryor, Ken Salazar, Jon Tester; Reps. Tom Allen, Robert Andrews, Michael Arcuri, Tammy Baldwin, Melissa Bean, Xavier Becerra, Howard Berman, Marion Berry, Rick Boucher, Michael Capuano, Dennis Cardoza, Chris Carney, James Clyburn, Jim Cooper, Joseph Crowley, Elijah Cummings, Artur Davis, Diana DeGette, Rosa DeLauro, Eliot Engel, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, Chaka Fattah, Bob Filner, Alcee Hastings, Mike Honda, Steve Israel, Jim Langevin, John Lewis, Zoe Lofgren, Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Ed Markey, Jim McDermott, Jim McGovern, Kendrick Meek, Jim Moran, David Price, Silvestre Reyes, Jan Schakowsky, Jose Serrano, Adam Smith, John Spratt, Pete Stark, John Tanner, Ellen Tauscher, Bennie Thompson, Chris Van Hollen, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Henry Waxman, and Peter Welch.

GOP Congressional Insiders Sens. Lamar Alexander, Jim Bunning, John Cornyn, Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Johnny Isakson, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, Lisa Murkowski, Olympia Snowe, John Sununu, John Thune, David Vitter; Reps. Michele Bachmann, Brian Bilbray, Marsha Blackburn, John Boehner, Kevin Brady, John Campbell, Chris Cannon, Eric Cantor, Michael Castle, Tom Cole, Mike Conaway, Tom Davis, John Doolittle, David Dreier, Phil English, Jeff Flake, Scott Garrett, Bob Goodlatte, Kay Granger, Doc Hastings, Pete Hoekstra, Bob Inglis, Peter King, Jack Kingston, Mark Kirk, John Kline, Ray LaHood, Dan Lungren, Kenny Marchant, Jim McCrery, Patrick McHenry, John Mica, Candice Miller, Marilyn Musgrave, Sue Myrick, Devin Nunes, Mike Pence, Tom Price, Deborah Pryce, Adam Putnam, Dave Reichert, Tom Reynolds, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Mike Rogers of Michigan, Paul Ryan, Pete Sessions, John Shadegg, Christopher Shays, Adrian Smith, Mark Souder, Pat Tiberi, Fred Upton, Zach Wamp, and Joe Wilson.

Q: Would it be politically smart for your party to act on only a limited legislative agenda before the November election?

Democrats (39 votes)

Yes                   67 percent
No                    31 percent
Depends (volunteered)  3 percent

Yes

"Once we took over, the president found his long-missing veto pen. Pushing some agenda items only to have them dragged through the mud and summarily vetoed isn't wise. We might as well wait until an Obama administration."

"We can't balance the budget, end the war, and solve climate change and high energy costs in the six weeks remaining. Will do it with President Obama next year."

"No one will know the difference unless bills get signed into law and the press makes a big deal of it."

"We may not have a choice. It looks as if the Republicans are only interested in making public statements, and are not willing to help pass the bills we need to pass before the end of session."

"It's time to get out of Dodge!"

No

"Democrats (and our nation) are better served if we send to the president less-controversial legislation that commands significant bipartisan support and which the president is likely to sign. Democrats need to be able to demonstrate to voters that we can get things done."

"We need a comprehensive agenda--and to make senators filibuster and the president veto--so the country sees who the obstructionists are!"

"We should take up message bills to force Republicans to defend President Bush and eight years of failed policies that have left millions of Americans behind."

"The more Democrats show the American people what they get with a Democratic Congress, the more the people will demand a Democratic White House and stronger Democratic majority in Congress to breach the dam and free solutions on energy, the economy, Iraq, Iran, and global warming."

"People want us to get things done."

Depends

"It depends on what is included in a limited legislative agenda."

Republicans (36 votes)

Yes                         53 percent 
No                          44 percent
No difference (volunteered)  3 percent

Yes

"Gas prices, every day and in every possible way. This is the only winning issue Republicans currently have available."

"House Republicans are playing mostly defense on bills that are generally bad for the future prosperity and freedom of our citizens, so the less we do, the better it is for our country. On the other side, a limited agenda will allow the Democrats more time to push [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid's 'K Street Intimidation Project.' "

"Since we are in the minority and the Democrats have decided to shut us out, we are out of the legislating business. They seem to have decided that they will wait until after the election to pass any appropriations bill. I think they are making a mistake on how they are handling--or, more appropriately, not handling--the energy issue."

"Republicans need to lead the way on energy independence and bringing down the price of gasoline."

"We need to address the major problem facing the country. Namely, we need to pass energy legislation. People are hurting now, and this winter we face a bigger problem with natural-gas prices and home-heating oil prices."

"If the Democrats really acted on issues like energy, it would look like they know how to lead."

"They need to focus. Their issue should be energy."

"The best thing for GOPers to do is keep focusing on gas prices."

"The only issue that resonates with voters is drilling. Nothing else is relevant."

No

"If anything, the Republican Party needs to act on as many things as possible to re-establish itself as the party of action and ideas. If the other party fails to define the debate, we should stand ready to present a realistic alternative that will address the key issues of the day. Voters understand action, and have heard enough rhetoric."

"Congress is already a 'Do-Nothing' institution."

"Action should be taken on drilling now and a tax credit to promote home sales."

"Energy, energy, energy!"

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