Barack Obama Taps Former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson to Help Choose Running Mate
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez, published May 22, 2008

As the news continues to focus on the Democratic primary after a big win for Hillary Clinton in Kentucky and a large victory in Oregon for Barack Obama, the announcement that Jim Johnson has been tapped by Obama to help choose a running mate for the Illinois senator is making waves.

Who is Jim Johnson?
Johnson served as Fannie Mae CEO from 1991 to 1998 and has a long history in both Washington politics and business. He served on the boards of numerous companies, including The Goldman Sachs Group, KB Home, and Target Corporation, and has been Vice Chairman of Perseus LLC. He also was a corporate finance managing director for Lehman Brothers. He was an executive assistant for Vice President Walter Mondale (1977-1981) and a U.S. Senate staff member. Johnson also helped screen running mates for Democratic presidential nominees Walter Mondale in 1984 and John Kerry in 2004.

Choosing a Running Mate
Johnson's job is not going to be easy. He must take on the arduous task of screening potentially dozens of possible candidates under a veil of secrecy. Helping Obama choose a running mate will require Johnson to create a potential ticket that will appeal to as many voters as possible, all the while having to remain true to Obama's political ideology and persona.

Potential issues Johnson must address when screening and recommending running mates to Obama will include matters such as looking at individuals who may represent experience, who can help Obama win in states with large blue-collar and middle-class populations, who can help Obama reach out to white and Hispanic voters, and Johnson must also consider this issue: who can unite the Democrats and mend the schism between Obama's followers and Hillary Clinton's supporters?

Also, Johnson will have to investigate each of these candidate's backgrounds. Who among these people have shady histories? Any possible criminal connections? What are their political ideologies? Are there any skeletons in the closet that could come back to haunt an Obama candidacy in the autumn? Are there any concerning corporate ties, conflicts of interest, or other dogging problems? As anyone can imagine, this process requires countless hours of scouring, digging, and using many fine-toothed combs.

Keeping the whole process a secret can be difficult, but not impossible. For Obama, choosing a running mate will be a special public challenge because he has not yet become the Democratic nominee. Johnson and Obama will stay tight-lipped on the matter of running mates over the coming weeks and months. They may refuse to talk even to the closest of aides, one or more of whom might be tempted to drop early hints to an eager public. There will likely be many instances of conversations occurring on anonymous grounds, and sensitive discussions will have to unfold under the radar and likely without the aid of any technology---which could be used to record or trace what has been said and who said what.

Whom May Johnson and Obama be Considering?
The list of potential running mates for Obama is long and diverse. Among those whom Johnson and Obama may be considering include New Mexico's Governor Bill Richardson (who earlier this year rivaled Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination), former South Dakota senator Tom Daschle, Nebraska Republican senator Chuck Hagel, Virginia governor Tim Kaine, Delaware senator Joe Biden (another of Obama's former rivals), former North Carolina senator and 2008 Democratic superstar John Edwards, and perhaps the biggest name in Democratic politics right now outside of Obama: New York senator Hillary Clinton. Other figures are presumably on Johnson's and Obama's radar screen, and a surprise is not unlikely.

Resources:
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/quietly_obama_begins_the_quest_1.php
http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/usps/pdf/johnson.pdf

Direct Link: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/781141/barack_obama_taps_former_fannie_mae.html

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