Released on: March 19, 2008, 9:32 am

Press Release Author: Strategic Vision

Industry: Government

Press Release Summary: As we head towards spring the question we start to wonder is
who will be the presidential candidate's running mate. Former Florida Senator and
author Bob McKnight offers insight on this very important question.

Press Release Body: It is springtime in an election year and time for the
traditional discussion of presidential running mates. On the Democratic side, all
sides are involved in a Clinton-Obama or an Obama-Ticket. This writer has
previously opined on the national appeal of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for
president, who probably continues to watch from the sidelines with great interest.
When the Mayor recently announced that he would not be a candidate (without the
Shermanesque denial mind you), it was reported that Senator Obama called him
personally shortly thereafter. Wouldn\'t you like to have been a fly on either of
their blackberries?

If we begin connecting those dots, we gravitate toward the following possible
conclusions:

1. Senator Obama is the most exciting national candidate in recent memory, among
Democrats, Independents, and even many Republicans.

2. With his experience sometimes in question, thanks to the relentless attacks of
his opponent, Senator Clinton, Obama would be well served by selecting a strong
running mate, as well as an experienced and tested inner circle to respond to any
reservations about his alleged lack of experience, especially in foreign affairs.

3. In an earlier op ed, this writer outlined the many reasons why Mayor Bloomberg
was such an attractive national candidate for president, among them: the research
(including a reported personal discussion with his friend, Senator Joe Lieberman)
his seasoned staff had completed on a national candidacy, his enormous personal
wealth, his personal and professional attributes, his track record as the Mayor of
the largest city in the country, and his continuing access to the world\'s largest
media markets. None of those reasons are any less important today, regardless of
the position in question.

4. In my new book, The Golden Years (Sentry Press), I volunteer to the reader five
names of individuals that would have made great presidents, three of which have
impeccable foreign relations traditional, former Senator Sam Nunn (D., Georgia),
former Congressman Lee Hamilton (D., Indiana), and sitting Senator Richard Lugar
(D., Indiana). Reportedly, all have a relationship and mutual respect with Senator
Obama. Please note there is a bi-partisan appeal among the three as well. This
writer singled those three individuals out based upon their experience, respect,
integrity, and reputation as solid Americans, and oh yes, they each have
demonstrated the ability to generate political support in this country.

So, connecting the dots, a presidential candidacy of Senator Obama as president,
Mayor Bloomberg as his vice-president, and Senators Nunn, Lugar, and Congressman
Hamilton filling the critical senior foreign affairs positions of say, State,
Defense, National Security Advisor comes to mind. Now lets stand back and analyze
the connected dots: you have the excitement of a afro-American candidate with
superb academic credentials and extensive domestic policy experience, and a running
mate that could step into the presidency without missing a beat. If that
combination might be short on foreign policy experience, enter our three heavy
weights of Nunn, Lugar and Hamilton. I might add that since the markets are a bit
tense as of this writing, Mayor Bloomberg could add double duty with his calming
influence on wall street. Perhaps the rounding out of this \"Dream Team\" could occur
with the selection of a major Republican politico like Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson
(R., Texas) to a major domestic policy appointment. Obviously, there could be more
members of the Dream Team, but for this writer, the combination of the connected
dots of Obama, Bloomberg, Nunn, Lugar, Hamilton, and Hutchinson could go a long ways
to eliminate the memory of a less than perfect presidential campaign in 2008.
Oops, forgot the final tail, Bob McKnight is a former Florida Senator and member of
the Florida House of Representatives. He is the author of the Golden Years (Sentry
Press), and additional information can be found at www.bobmcknight.com.
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