Obama and Bayh, Sitting in a Tree ... Sort Of

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Obama and Bayh, Sitting in a Tree ... Sort Of

August 06, 2008 11:04 AM

ABC News' John Berman, Sunlen Miller, and Andy Fies in Elkhart, Indiana report: It was almost a double man-hug. But just what does it mean?

After, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh gave a rousing 12-minute introduction to Barack Obama in Elkhart, Ind., this morning, Senator Barack Obama bounded on stage for an embrace.

The two men held each other for a moment, speaking words no one else could hear. And just when it looked like it was over, they went in for more.

So does this mean they are more than just friends? More than just a couple Midwesterners? More than just Senate colleagues? Could it be that sometime soon, very soon even, they could be running mates?

Bayh is on many of the so-called short-lists for prospective Democratic vice presidential candidates (by media types at least). He has artfully dodged and deflected questions about whether he is being considered; his coyness though, betraying an apparent, even obvious desire.

Today he put on display some of the traits that might make him attractive. First of all, he pointed out that Indiana is a state Democrats normally don’t compete in. In the past, “the Democratic nominee has written us off,” Bayh said.

But the Obama campaign sees it as an opportunity, running neck and neck with John McCain in the battleground state in most public polling. And what could help Obama more in Indiana that an enormously popular native son?

Evan Bayh was an enormously popular governor in Indiana before he was and enormously popular senator. And his father was an enormously popular senator before that (with national aspirations himself.)

The Bayh name might be able to tip the scales in a tight race. What’s more, Bayh supported Sen. Hillary Clinton during the primaries, so could serve as an olive branch to that part of the party.

The knock against Bayh is that he can come across as a little bland. But not today. His 12 minute introduction was loud, energetic, and enthusiastic. He delivered it almost flawlessly, barely looking at notes. And he even told a joke, saying that John McCain’s energy policy is to, “Drill drill drill … sounds like my dentist.” People actually laughed.

So was this a meeting of future team mates? Was it an audition? Is that why Obama was in Indiana today? Evan Bayh wouldn’t say: “Barack Obama is here with us today because he cared enough to come,” he said.

And for his part, Obama wouldn’t say either. After Bayh’s introduction and the hug was over, Obama said, “what a wonderful greeting and introduction ... Give a round of applause to one of the most wonderful United States senators we have.”

Just how wonderful? We are still left to wonder.

Bayh did, however, catch a ride on Obama's campaign bus giving the presumptive Democratic nominee and a possible VP candidate 74 miles -or an hour and 18 minutes - to talk.

The senators loaded on Obama's "myluxurybus.com" campaign bus separately. Bayh was accompanied by his deputy chief of staff Linda Moore Forbes, who flew out from Bayh's DC Senate office yesterday. Obama senior strategist Robert Gibbs and campaign aides were also aboard for the ride.

The two senators were driving to the second of Obama's campaign events of the day - to a retail stop at a local diner in Portage, Indiana where they will team up for the obligatory retail stop: shaking hands, kissing babies, and maybe even sampling some pie.

As VP speculation runs rampant -- and Bayh's name is rumored to be on the short list -- the face time between the two Senators is significant.

Just yesterday, Bayh told the Indianapolis Star that he knew of no planned meetings being scheduled between him and Obama.

But surely an hour bus ride is enough time to talk shop?

For more reporting on potential VP candidates, click on ABC's The Note.

ABC News' Teddy Davis contributed to this report.

August 6, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis, Romney, Mitt, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (145)

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Kathleen Sibelius is a better choice. I see a Sibelius/Bayh ticket in 2016!!!

Posted by: TRUEpatriot | Aug 6, 2008 11:22:46 AM

Please dont chooose BAYH! Bayh is BOOOOOOORING. Please choose Tim Kane. Obama/Kaine 08!

Posted by: Rob | Aug 6, 2008 11:27:06 AM

Does Bayh take thep iece of cake with the flower on it like Jake?

Posted by: geevill | Aug 6, 2008 11:32:15 AM

Bayh Bye Obama..... you're political tires are flat.

Posted by: Freedom | Aug 6, 2008 11:41:11 AM

Obama/Bayah = THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND. One knows nothing and the other knows even less.

Posted by: char19145 | Aug 6, 2008 11:43:34 AM

Obama/Bayh would be a great ticket for the future of America

Posted by: yes | Aug 6, 2008 11:46:52 AM

Obama fist bumbs his wife and hugs Even Byah. hmmmmm?

Posted by: geevill | Aug 6, 2008 11:46:59 AM

It's odd for a man to fist bump his wife but hug other men.

Posted by: geevill | Aug 6, 2008 11:47:31 AM

"Kathleen Sibelius is a better choice. I see a Sibelius/Bayh ticket in 2016!!!"

I think Sebelius has a good shot at being a future nominee. I don't think I would recommend Obama pick her this time, but she seems to have a bright future.

I do like the Bayh pick. He helps in Indiana and because he is boring (first rule in running mates is do no harm). Kaine neither hurts nor helps in Virginia, so I'd prefer Bayh.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 6, 2008 12:10:25 PM

Bayh-bye.

Posted by: fact check | Aug 6, 2008 12:15:17 PM

bayh IS boring...but I have to say

the comments on here show how smart the other side is

"It's odd for a man to fist bump his wife but hug other men."

well I guess we can see where the other side is... it's odd for someone to even take note of those two things...lol

sounds like some commenters on here have their own little issues going on. lol

Posted by: dl | Aug 6, 2008 12:16:02 PM

Hope Bayh straightened Obama out on the tire pressure thing. Obama`s projected oil savings assumes we are all nincompoops driving our cars with under-inflated tires.

Posted by: Luke | Aug 6, 2008 12:19:53 PM

Obama could name God as his running mate, and I still won't vote for him.

Posted by: NoBama, NoWay | Aug 6, 2008 12:35:38 PM

Anyone else think that this is a horrible picture of Obama? It looks like he is doing the Reverend Wright Crazy Chicken dance to me.

Posted by: chattyway | Aug 6, 2008 12:37:05 PM

Did ABC just remove the picture? Did the Obama people complain?

Posted by: geevill | Aug 6, 2008 12:46:51 PM

If Kathleen Sebelius is not picked, it is most likely due to pressure from the creepy Clinton caravan of oddities.

Strange, but I guess one can add sexist to the description creepy Bill Clinton gave of himself the other day. Of course this is a guy who exposed himself to one of his subordinates in the Arkansas government - among a host of awful things he did to women. Maybe not that surprising.

Posted by: disambiguates | Aug 6, 2008 12:55:18 PM

So McCain wants to build 45 new NUKE plants. This raises a few questions which I hope some of you conservatives (no pun intended) can answer. What will we do with all the nuclear waste, which btw, stays radioactive for hundreds of years? How many YUCCA mountains do we have? More importantly, what happens when one of two of them have a meltdown? Does anyone remember THREE MILE ISLAND or CHERNOBYL? Who will be in charge of these 45 new nuke plants? Will the head of the Nucleur Regulatory Commission be Homer Simpson or Smithers?

Posted by: Boston Guy | Aug 6, 2008 1:03:17 PM

I certainly hope that the VP candidate has more integrity, better judgment and more real experience than Obama--he was in Congress about a year before starting his presidential campaign. I do find Obama to be too far left on too many issues. He also distorts and flip-flops too much.

Posted by: Martin | Aug 6, 2008 1:09:09 PM

Well, I think a big hug is OK, as
long as it didn't go any further than that.

Posted by: BikernAz9 | Aug 6, 2008 1:11:15 PM

Oh and Debbie, Obama admitted to drug use. There is no if he did.

Posted by: chattyway | Aug 6, 2008 1:12:42 PM

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