VP Picks: Obama/?

As promised, here's a more complete run down of Obama's choices for VP, in no particular order:

Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) Why? Biden gives Obama some of that gravitas. He's a pillar of the senate and has loads of experience in foreign policy. Why Not? Biden is not exactly a vote-getter. Not only that, putting a guy on the ticket who's been in the senate for a dog's age kind of goes against the whole change in Washington thing.

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) Why? The Lieberman factor may put Connecticut in play for McCain. Dodd would help to counteract that. Like Biden he provides some experience. Why Not? Once again a bit contrary to the message. Also, Obama really should be able to take Connecticut under his own head of steam.

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) Why? Prominent Hillary surrogate would go a ways in unifying the party. Might be able to put Indiana in play for the Democrats. Why Not? Having a ballot with two people from neighbouring states does not exactly provide for regional balance. Also two fresh faced young senators (Bayh doesn't look his 53 years) doesn't exactly provide the necessary weight for the ticket.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) Why? A woman on the ticket would go a long way in winning over disenfranchised Hillary supporters. McCaskill might be able to deliver Missouri for Obama. Why Not? She has less experience than Obama (elected in 06) and while a woman has backed Obama for a long time so her unifying ability is questionable.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Why? Unify the party. She campaigns like nobody else. Why Not? No real extensive foreign policy credentials (not compared to McCain). Baggage, baggage and more baggage. Would be a sign of weakness which could sink him. Bill Clinton. Needs to move past primary fight. She gives him which state again? Better ways to win in the midwest. In a lot of ways doesn't give you much that Obama doesn't have by himself - strong liberal campaigner is a good way to describe both of them... no balance past gender.

Sen Jim Webb (D-VA) Why? Military experience. Can't hurt in Virginia which is a battle ground. Former Republican, thus, good with independents. Why Not? Not a party unifier. How well he'd play past Virginia is questionable. Maybe a little inside the beltway.

Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) Why? He gets you blue collar workers. Might have more success winning North Carolina this time around. Why Not? Edwards has never connected to more than a sliver of the American people. Less comparisons to the disastrous Kerry/Edwards campaign the better.

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) Why? Change you say? How about a bipartisan ticket. Hagel is a vocal critic of the Bush administration and is leaving Washington because he's disgusted by it. Sounds like a description of Obama's electorate. Also, military and foreign policy experience. Why Not? A Conservative Republican would be a tough sell for the base. Probably doesn't put Nebraska in play.

Gov. Kathleen Sibelius (D-KS) Why? Strong female governor would go a long way to unify the party. Governors do well in general elections because they have experience as an executive. Why Not? Kathleen who? Name recognition is a non-factor outside of Kansas. Probably couldn't carry her home state.

Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) Why? Strong female governor would go a long way to unify the party (didn't I just say that). Just won re-election in a landslide. Why Not? The only person who may be more popular than Napolitano in Arizona? John McCain. Any other year she'd be top of the list.

Gov. Ted Strickland (D-OH) Why? Big time Clinton surrogate. Unifies the party. Might be able to carry Ohio for Obama. Why Not? Two midwesterners again. Little national name recognition. No foreign policy experience.

Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) Why? Big time Clinton surrogate... oh fuck it... see Gov. Ted Strickland

Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) Why? Experience up the wazoo. Appeal to Hispanics. Probably gives you New Mexico. Why Not? Doesn't unify the party (Carville called him Judas for endorsing Obama.) Not particularly appealing to independents. Might do you well out West but past NM, CO and NV.... Zero charisma.