Is Obama Hinting His VP Will Be a Man?

This is a rush transcript from "Your World With Neil Cavuto," August 20, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: In the meantime, to politics and the campaign trail. Is Barack Obama out dropping hints that his running mate will be a man?

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I won't hand over my energy policy to my vice president without knowing necessarily what he is doing. My vice president also — by the way, my vice president will be a member of the executive branch. He won't be one of these fourth branches of government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAVUTO: He, he, he, he, he. Is it a slip, a head-fake?

Reaction now from a she who was a vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro, back in 1984.

What do you make of that?

GERALDINE FERRARO, FORMER U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN: No, it's just — I don't — I don't — I don't think — he is not going to announce during the course of a speech that he is giving about something else that it's a he.

• Video: Watch Neil's interview with Geraldine Ferraro

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: Let me tell you something, Geraldine. We have built a segment on this. So, if you could just play along, it would help.

(CROSSTALK)

(LAUGHTER)

FERRARO: If you would like me to do that.

But, you know, the thing about it...

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: Men do that, right? We just say "he."

(CROSSTALK)

FERRARO: Yes, who knows. I mean, you're used to doing that.

But, actually, when you come right down to it, the only two "shes" who are being talked about are Hillary Clinton and Governor Sebelius. And I personally do not think either one of them is — is going to be the nominee.

CAVUTO: But, you know, I — I did my homework for you, because you are so good.

FERRARO: You did? Oh, thank you. I appreciate that.

CAVUTO: And I don't — because you can put me away very easily on facts.

FERRARO: Yes.

CAVUTO: And I remember Walter Mondale, in '84, the early going around, when he was talking about it, he was saying he a lot.

FERRARO: Well, but you know what? It was totally different thing. It was very much more open. As you may or may not recall, what he did was, he had about 10 of us go out to Minnesota about a month ahead of time.

CAVUTO: Right.

FERRARO: And there was Henry Cisneros. There was somebody who was — Jesse Jackson, and two women.

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: He was doing that. There were two women in that group.

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: And, now, he was still using "he."

FERRARO: Yes, well, you know what? It's, kind of, people are used to doing that. I mean, how many female candidates have you had running for national office?

CAVUTO: Well, you greased the skids.

(CROSSTALK)

(LAUGHTER)

FERRARO: Yes.

CAVUTO: Let me ask you this, because we have a presidential candidate coming up later in the show. I don't want to reveal his name, because it's so stunning. It's earth-shattering. CNN will try to copy us.

FERRARO: OK. OK.

(LAUGHTER)

CAVUTO: That he is going to say that Barack Obama is going to pick Hillary, because he is desperate.

FERRARO: Really?

Are you telling me that that is Ralph Nader?

(LAUGHTER)

CAVUTO: I'm not telling you anything.

(LAUGHTER)

FERRARO: If that's...

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: What do you make of that argument, that the polls are so tight, he's got to throw a Hail Mary pass?

FERRARO: No, I do not think so.

I think — for one thing, I think the things that have been done at the convention, the Obama campaign is looking very carefully at Hillary's support. And she is giving it 100 percent. Whether or not her people will move...

CAVUTO: Do you think it's 100 percent?

FERRARO: She is. She is. Whether or not her...

CAVUTO: Really?

FERRARO: Yes.

I do not know whether or not her people will be moving in the same direction as she — as quickly as she. They are going to take a little bit more. They still are not quite sure where Barack Obama is coming from.

His vice presidential candidate is going to...

(CROSSTALK)

FERRARO: ... make a little bit of difference.

CAVUTO: Geraldine, I see a lot of bitterness. You dealt with that directly with comments you say were misinterpreted.

FERRARO: Yes. Right.

CAVUTO: And that — you were hurt, slighted by that. I can see your point.

And that does not go down easy, right? I mean...

FERRARO: No, but you know what? It's larger — it's larger than how people feel about the candidacy of Hillary, which all of us feel very strongly still about. And we are delighted that she made the run. And she was historic.

But you have to take a look at those supporters that she brought along from Pennsylvania and Ohio. They have got to get to know him, which is why, for me, and for — for many people like me, it is important to see who he picks as vice president, because if they can trust him...

CAVUTO: Well, let's say he picks a woman and it's not Hillary. That's a bit of a slap, right?

(CROSSTALK)

FERRARO: I think what he has got to is, he's got to look very carefully at where he is criticized — where he is criticized during the campaign.

And that is for his experience. That is why I think somebody like Joe Biden is essential to this campaign, someone with that kind of experience. I do not think Governor Sebelius has it. She is a governor. She's new.

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: He can't go a woman route without Hillary. It's just...

(CROSSTALK)

FERRARO: Well, and it is not going to placate the Clinton people.

CAVUTO: Right. Right. It would insult them.

(CROSSTALK)

FERRARO: Well, for one thing, you know, she was an Obama supporter. Here's a woman who has, in many instances, raised money for other women throughout the country, because she is a woman.

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: But you like Barack now, and all the old adjectives are over with?

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: You're not like doing the Italian thing and...

FERRARO: No, I'm not.

(LAUGHTER)

CAVUTO: You and I are over that, right?

FERRARO: But you know what?

I am taking a look, as are many people, saying...

CAVUTO: OK.

FERRARO: ... tell us what you're — how you are going to lead this nation.

And this vice presidential choice is the first step in whether or not we can feel comfortable in seeing him do so.

CAVUTO: Very clearly put.

FERRARO: Thank you very much.

CAVUTO: All right, Geraldine Ferraro, always a pleasure.

(LAUGHTER)

CAVUTO: Thank you very much.

FERRARO: Good seeing you.

CAVUTO: The very first woman on a presidential ticket, Geraldine Ferraro. All right.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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