Lt. Gov. Griffin, former Gov. Tucker discuss convention, VP expectations
by July 17, 2016 8:40 am 174 views
Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin and former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker contend that both upcoming major political party conventions will tap the unrest in the general electorate but in significantly different ways.
Griffin, a Republican, and Tucker, a Democrat, appeared on the latest edition of Talk Business & Politics, which airs Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on KATV Ch. 7 in central Arkansas and 10 a.m. on KAIT-NBC in Northeast Arkansas.
“I think they will both try to reflect what we’ve seen with the Brexit vote, what we’ve seen with Bernie Sanders, what we’ve seen with Donald Trump, which is the discontent. A lot of people feel like that they have been left out of the prosperity of the country,” Griffin said.
“I think they’ll try to focus on issues – convey a sense of concern for the middle class and how the middle class gets increased in size,” Tucker said.
Tucker and Griffin also shared thoughts on the importance of Vice-presidential picks for eventual nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
“First, when you pick that vice-president: do no harm,” Griffin said. “The history is to look for someone that fills in some of your gaps, that compliments you, that strengthens you where you are weak or are perceived to be weak.”
Tucker agreed with the “do no harm” principle and added that the Vice-president has to also be capable of serving as President effectively. Additionally, he said VP picks should “try and do something that helps you carry not just a constituency, but the electoral votes in a given state. That’s just practical politics.”
On Trump’s selection of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Griffin said he checks many of the necessary boxes that Trump needed to fill and could help Trump with his Rust Belt state strategy of flipping traditional Democratic states into the Republican column.
“He’s someone with real government experience in the Congress, real government government experience as a governor, as an executive. He has bonafides with the conservatives in our party. He is a serious sort of even-keeled guy. I think that a lot of that stuff compliments, will help, Donald Trump,” he said.
Tucker said to keep an eye on U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. Last week, Hillary Clinton campaigned with Kaine, who has also served as governor and Lt. Gov. of Virginia, and was the mayor of Richmond, Va.
“I think he would be a good vice president. … You want someone who not only can do no harm, but also take care of this country,” Tucker said.
Watch their full conversation in the video below.