It wasn't that long ago since a vice president won the White House--George H.W. Bush in 1988. 1988 is the year everyone keeps comparing this race too, because that year there were record turnouts also for the Democratic primaries. Jesse Jackson is the candidate who was mobilizing the Democrats that year, when the party told the left wing of the party they will unelectable and picked guess who from Massachusetts?

I am, once again, extremely sceptical about the so-called "electability" of John Kerry. I am, however, certain that Kerry is the choice because he is the candidate the DLC feels most comfortable with, and therefore doesn't represent the grassroots of the Democratic party at all. And last time I checked, nobody was winning national elections by only winning the independent centrists.

The Democratic nominee needs the support of the Democratic grassroots in order to get elected. While the conventional pundits all keep walking around saying that there is great unity in the Democratic party, there isn't. The party has simply turned it's back on it's left wing and grassroots constituencies, just as it did in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000. We'll see whether Kerry is progressive enough to keep the Democratic party together in what is bound to be a very contentious race.

And just to cheer up all you Democratic types, I predict that Kerry will choose a Southerner from one of the battleground states for his vice president. Bob Graham stands a very good chance, and would be a strategically good move for capturing Florida for the Dems.

Although there are other choices I'm sure Kerry is capable of making that will alienate the left and grassroots even more, possibly resulting in many Democrats either staying home as so many have been doing for years, or voting for Nader again.