Attention, ticket-watchers: A potential vice presidential candidate with questionable party loyalties will be at the Senate Democratic Policy Committee lunch tomorrow.

No, we're not talking about Joe Lieberman (Conn.), though he may be there too. We're referring to retired Marine Gen. James Jones, who will be the guest speaker at the weekly gathering.

Since his retirement in 2007 from the military, where he most recently served as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Jones name has been fluttering in and out of the presidential race. There was talk Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) might have wanted him in her Cabinet, if she had won the Democratic primary and the November general election. Then the word was out that Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) VP vetters were eyeing Jones for the No. 2 slot.

Then Jones went and appeared at an energy event in Missouri last month with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a longtime friend, prompting the obvious conclusion that he was no longer on any Democratic short lists. But then in late June, Jones appeared on a panel at an Obama campaign forum in Pittsburgh.

"He's like [Gen. Dwight] Eisenhower, who belonged to no camp and everyone wanted him," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said of Jones to the Wall Street Journal last year.

Well, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee wanted him too, and they've got him tomorrow, when he'll be addressing national security and energy issues. No word yet on whether he will appear at a Senate GOP lunch next week.

By Ben Pershing  |  July 9, 2008; 3:45 PM ET
Categories:  2008 Campaign , Senate Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble Previous: Ventura Complicates Minn. Senate Race
Next: Kennedy Returns for Medicare Vote, McCain Doesn't

The comments to this entry are closed.