Sen. Obama is No Eric Cantor

August 3, 2008 by Jonathan Movroydis | Filed Under American Politics, Election 2008 

Youth, image, campaign skills, and Virginia’s 13 electoral votes are conventional reasons for Sen. McCain to take a strong look at Virginia Representative Eric Cantor for the VEEP stakes. But for all his youth, the Congressman is no Obamian empty suit. During his first two terms in Congress, he attained the high ranking position of Chief Deputy Whip, and has flouted foreign policy credentials as Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare.

Rep. Cantor also touts a more solid voting record than the Illinois Senator. During the current Congress Cantor has only missed 88 votes or 5.1 percent of all votes. Sen. Barack Obama, for his part, has missed 242 votes, tantamount to 44.8 percent, almost half of his role as a legislator.

Rep. Cantor has also displayed more independence than Sen. Obama during his time in Congress. Though Cantor has been solidly Republican, he has still managed to edge out the politically “transcendant” Sen. Obama in cross over votes, 7.5 percent to 4 percent of the time.

Whether Rep. Cantor will be picked is still an obvious matter of speculation, but it wouldn’t be a foolish decision, considering the Congressman polled the strongest among potential challengers to Mark Warner in the VA Senate race, has shown appeal among independents, and is well-admired in the conservative establishment.

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