Here's something that I've been wondering for quite a while. It's become a fact that the announcement of a running mate delivers all kinds of PR to a presidential candidate. Could it also be advantageous to announce who the candidate would choose for key Cabinet positions?

For example, if Obama were to announce that he would choose Bill Richardson as his Secretary of State, that would probably put a plus in the column for him as far as I'm concerned. Or say Bush had announced before the election that he would place Colin Powell in the same position. Powell was very well-liked by most at the time--would Bush have won by more than the hair of his chinny chin chin in 2000 if the voters had known that? Or what if Obama was able to convince Al Gore to say he'd accept a position as Secretary of Energy? I'm sure a lot on this forum would like that.

Can anyone think of any risks with this tactic?

Yow.

I didn't say everyone on this forum.

I'll be extremely disappointed (and surprised) if Richardson isn't picked as Sec of State.

The more people you put on your ticket, the more you are opening yourself up to criticism of your choices. Wouldn't you rather deal with that after the election?

Their underage, unmarried daughter might get pregnant?

What if it was clear that any negatives would be overweighted by the positives? I think the Powell example I gave would probably be the best one.

I think it's throwing out more names than the average American can keep in their brains. I don't know that it would do a lot of good. Plus, it would be a lot more people you'd have to keep on a leash. I might not know the nobody that Obama nominated for Secretary of Blah-Blah-Blah, but when he says something stupid, it's going to say Obama's Secretary of Blah-Blah-Blah at the bottom of the screen.

You're right in that regard--I'm not saying that the entire cabinet should be revealed or anything, nor should this tactic be appropriate at every election. But depending on the issue that everyday Americans can get angry about due to the current environment, I wonder if it could work. If national security is the issue, someone regarded as tough but respectable on foreign policy could help as Sec. of State. Or someone to "rescue" the economy for the Treasury, or to clean up on corruption as Attorney General.

I'd say its opening yourself up to unnecessary risks. The risk/reward just isn't worth it. Reward: A small percentage of undecided voters are swayed by a cabinet pick to vote for you. Risk: That person finds himself caught in a scandal, or just says something dumb, you are now attached to him and have shown "poor judgement" by allying yourself with him/her.

I'd like to apply for the position of Secretary of Blah-Blah-Blah.

dont cabinet members have to be approved by congress or the house (i cant remember which, if either) before they can be official? I imagine if either party started trying to officially come out and say "___ Will be Secretary of Awesomeness" in an effort to draw votes, a lot of those appointments would be blocked instead of getting the rubber stamp of approval a lot of them get. Which would weaken the cabinet (the best person relatively speaking would not be able to get into the best post) and also that would start to hurt the credability of the nominating president/party.

The President could retort by saying Congress is simply being obstructionist, and depending on the popularity of the President or the Cabinet choice, it could instead put the Congress in a bad light.

I think they should rename them The Closet.

They say even the VP pick doesn't change the mind of too many voters, so I have to agree that it wouldn't be worth the risk, in this election at least.

Perhaps, but ultimately the end result- further politicizing the cabinet process- would remain the same. And the risk of making everyone in Washington look like further Jackasses would out weigh the benefits. I think the best way is just get to the point (kinda where we are now) where they leak the names being considered, everyone starts to assume they know who it is.

I saw a citation to this the other day, but technically it's illegal to promise anyone a position in the cabinet (or any other government job) in anticipation of an election.

Hm, that's odd. What law dictates that?

I can't find it right now. It was in a story about how someone on teh right was suggesting that one of teh candidates could make a point by promising to name so-and-so as Secretary of State, and the reponse was to point out that such promises may violate federal statute.