Kerrey, Webb top Inouye’s VP picks
Hawaii's senator cites the two men's military experience
Hawaii's U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye says he thinks Sen. Barack Obama should look to a man with military experience as his vice presidential pick.
Inouye, in an interview with the Star-Bulletin at his Honolulu office, said it would be a political mistake for Obama to pick a female candidate other than Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Instead, Inouye said, Obama should consider either former Nebraska governor and senator Bob Kerrey or Virginia Sen. James Webb. Both are Vietnam veterans, and Kerrey, like Inouye, is a Medal of Honor winner.
Also like Inouye, Kerrey endorsed New York's Clinton.
Last December, while answering a question about Obama, Kerrey mentioned that he liked that his name was "Barack Hussein Obama and that both his father and paternal grandfather were Muslim." Kerrey said the compliment was sincere but misinterpreted and wrote a letter of apology to Obama, who is Christian.
For Inouye, however, Kerrey and Webb have military experience that would help the Democratic ticket. Webb, 62, a former Marine, was secretary of the Navy under President Reagan. Kerrey, 64, was a Navy SEAL.
"It would be wise for Senator Obama to pick someone who has military credentials, service in a war or something," Inouye said.
Noting that most voters base their decision on the presidential candidate, Inouye added that some might be swung over to Obama with a strong vice presidential nominee.
"He might make a difference of five points, and in this business five percentage points can make or break you," Inouye said. "I think he should consider someone like Kerrey. He is a Medal of Honor winner. He's still young."
Asked about others such as Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Inouye said he would be "fabulous, very knowledgeable in foreign affairs," adding, "They don't come any better."
But Inouye said Biden does not have military experience.
Speaking of Clinton, Inouye said he thought Obama would make a mistake if he were to pick any woman besides Clinton.
"It should not be a woman," he said. "If it were a woman other than Hillary, her supporters would be very unhappy. I don't think either Obama or Hillary want that to happen."
Since Obama became the presumptive presidential nominee, Inouye has thrown his support behind the Illinois Democrat and says he will make a good president.
"He has touched a group that up to now no other politician has reached -- that is young people," Inouye said.