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.
