Ohio's Governor Strickland Won't Accept VP Slot

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: VP Sweepstakes

Appearing on NPR's "All Things Considered," Ohio Governor Ted Strickland unequivocally ruled out being Barack Obama's running mate, The Washington Post reports.

Hailing from one of the most important swing states, Strickland had been one of the most talked about VP possibilities for Obama, but asked if he is auditioning for the job, he was Shermanesque in ruling it out.

"Absolutely not. If drafted I will not run, nominated I will not accept and if elected I will not serve. So, I don't know how more crystal clear I can be," he said.

Strickland is expected to join Obama when the presumptive Democratic nominee stumps in Ohio on Friday.

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
Follow on Twitter »

10 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by rowdywicca June 11, 2008 3:33 PM EDT: Hmmm...seems nobody''s jumping up and down to be Obama''s VP...

Who''d want to be part of this Marxist whack job''s administration?; Reply to this comment


by toldyouso12 June 11, 2008 9:27 AM EDT: hey don%u2019t want a candidate that has a wife that has just now realized she liked our country

Posted by Alicerea1 at 07:52 PM : Jun 10, 2008

so don''t vote for him already--give it a rest--we''ve heard the diatribes and whining and excuses for the racism all this time--do what you like--vote how you like, we all know why--yep. We do. All of you HRC supporters act like you are trying to convince yourselves as well as the rest of us why you are doing what you are doihg--relax.

This is your fate--play it the way you want--If/when McCain comes to power with your help and he makes the SCOTUS far right wing, the war continues, gas rises to 7 or even 10.00/gallon, illegal immigrants are amnestied, and you lose your job to outsourcing---rest assured we all will be miserable with you ---but the rest of us will have clean hands and consciences--you can live with your hatred--hope it drives, feeds, and employs ya too. LMAO; Reply to this comment


by seah5 June 11, 2008 5:19 AM EDT: He has Good Reason, Ohio does not want Obama.

If Stickland likes his job or coming back to ohio. He would never get hired anywhere.

Wise decision; Reply to this comment


by pjcurlander June 11, 2008 12:34 AM EDT: What type of skeleton resides in Strickland''s closet - an illict relationship with a present or former female (or male) colleague? taking slush from poor old dead Venereal Riffe''s birthday party homage box? Or membership in some southern Ohia white supremecist group? This guy should hit the road back to Appalachia like his former skirt chasing Attorney General Mark Dann.; Reply to this comment


by reignforrest June 10, 2008 11:22 PM EDT: This is good stuff from Obama4Janitor: "coward", "racial hypocrite", "stupid", "chickenmanure", "boozefaced", "bozo", "idiot"!

One can understand why "janitoring" is high on his mind: his brain needs a good cleaning out. The hate will remain, of course, but perhaps it''ll take a while for new cusswords to re-enter. By which time Obama will be President.; Reply to this comment


by lizg6 June 10, 2008 11:13 PM EDT: I''m amazed at all these postings...a bunch of paranoid, racist, ignorant people who got their opinions out of a cracker box, and I mean "cracker" in the most deragatory sense. Seriously embarassing.; Reply to this comment


by alicerea1 June 10, 2008 10:52 PM EDT: The reason Clinton supporters will not vote for Obama is because they are embarrassed of him, his life, his unfair tactics and his beliefs. And they still don''t know all about him.

They don''t want a candidate that has been in a twenty year relationship with Reverend Wright and the Trinity United Church of Christ.

They don%u2019t%u2019 want a candidate that has a twenty year relationship with Father Plaeger as his compass in life

They don%u2019t want a candidate that went to a church that supports Louis Farrakhan, an anti Semitic racist.

They don''t want to defend Black Liberation theology.

They don%u2019t want a candidate that lies about his relationship with Tony Rezko, the Syrian Criminal that sold his property to Obama and supported his campaign.

They don''t want a candidate that could work with a domestic terrorist, William Ayers.

They dont'' want a candidate that didn''t stand up for the voters of Michigan and Florida.

They don%u2019t want a candidate that Hamas supports.

They don%u2019t want a candidate that Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam supports

They don%u2019t want a candidate that has a wife that has just now realized she liked our country; Reply to this comment


by reignforrest June 10, 2008 10:48 PM EDT: He''s supposed to have added, %u201CThat does not mean that I am any less committed to helping Barack Obama become the next president.%u201D

Well, if he is THAT allergic to Obama, Obama is better off not stumping with him in Ohio, either. Obama should put out a statement: "If Strickland offers to help, I''ll refuse. If he comes, I''ll tell him to go away. If he tries to stick around anyway, I''ll personally drive him away."; Reply to this comment


by obama4janito June 10, 2008 10:45 PM EDT: The coward and racial hypocrite will have to pick the self-described "Reagan Democrat" Webb to be his veep, even though Obama hates White Reagan Democrats.

Unfortunately, and unlike John McCain, Jimmy Webb is not only a moral coward, but he is too stupid not to say no to a real coward who deliberately avoided service. In short, Webb would diss a real hero who served in the same place he did and support a chickenmanure who hates what he stands for.

But then again, this is the same booze-faced bozo who turned down Nancy Reagan''s plea.

A real moral coward and total idiot.; Reply to this comment


by gemstone1955 June 10, 2008 10:43 PM EDT: And if you though we are alone in about believing Hillary Clinton should be the 44th President of the United States!

If you feel the primary was stolen and given to someone who is not ready to be president.

If you think you are the only Hillary Clinton supporter that won''t vote for Obama!

If you want a place to share and work with others to get the right person elected as President.

Here are just a few of the websites, blogs, groups and person who agree with you! If you want to join an active emailing group just email rryan@writeinpartyUSA.org and you will be in the know!

By no means a complete list!
http://www.writehillaryin.com
http://www.clintondems.com
http://www.swingcrats.org
http://www.hireheels.com
http://www.hillarysupporters.com
http://www.hillarygrassrootscampaign.com
http://www.riverdaughter.wordpress.com
http://www.hillaryclintonforum.net
http://www.womenforfairpolitics.com
http:///www.donedems.com
http://www.pumaparty.com
http://www.hillaryunited.com; Reply to this comment