After his performance in '04, Edwards would be one heck of a gamble.

And we need Webb's Senate seat. Who'd replace him? Remember his victory was a surprise and only came about b/c of Allen's "macacca" implosion.

Kathleen Sebilius or Wes Clark -now that he's out of the fold.

Oh God! John Edwards? What does he bring to the ticket? The reason he didn't endorse in NC is because he knew his endorsement carries no weight. He will not make NC blue anymore than Obama can do it all by himself. And four months hearing about $4 hair cuts and bashing the easiest target in the world, i.e. trial lawyers? No thanks.

Webb or Richardson.

I don't buy that he picks Webb. The novels he wrote with fictional rape scenes and other sexual scenes were panned for being misogynistic. Talk about turning off women voters in a race where a woman was denied the 'inevitable' nomination. But, I believe that Webb's fellow Virginian, Gov. Tim Kaine, would make a great VP. Very religious background (former missionary:Community organizing) and bona fide progressive fiscal policies. He would carry VA for certain and maybe puts the blue wave within reach of NC/TX in the general election. That's to say nothing of MO/CO/IA/WI/OH/FL. To me, a Virginian (living now in NY), Kaine is a no brainer.

I happen to suspect that Obama is looking for a running mate that shares his frame of mind: pragmatic, progressive, and a record of working for consensus on progressive policies, which fits in Obama's message of unification and a common national purpose. He's not looking for branding types: hawkish, religious, fiscal conservative, religion or race. That would undermine the very premise of his candidacy, which is that a unified national purpose is not acheived by the same approach to politics. Of course, this is itself political, the new kind.

I also recall that prior to the VA primary, there were numerous articles on the observation that the two of them had never met prior, but soon connected strongly, sharing 'war stories' about their shared politics. I think their two backgrounds- Kaine doing missionary work and Obama doing community organizing- indicates they share a common outlook on creating consensus around progressive policies. I'm just connecting dots because there are dots to connect, but it won't be for loss of logic.

Amen.

Thank you. I have read about a thousand folks suggest the majority leader idea as if it's somehow a new idea. The idea was long ago rendered to cliche status.

Again I ask, why would any presidential candidate choose to run with someone of whom more than half the voters consider negatively?

Also again, I think all this talk of the need for a VP candidate who will attract the votes of the "Joe Six Pack" "Reagan democrats" is rubbish. It a mid-1980s DLC concept, which many of the media talking hairdos seem to love to dwell upon.

First, how are these folks democrats, when they have voted for Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II twice?

Secondly, Obama is realigning the democratic coalition. And, this year Hispanics are moving substantially toward the democratic party, thanks to republicans demagoguing the immigration issue.

Consequently, I think Obama should select Richardson as his running mate. The guy has unparalleled foreign affairs credentials, he would bolster the Hispanic vote, and his selection would not mean removing a democratic senator from office. A democratic president is going to need all of the democratic congresspersons she/he can have.

Exactly: How "rewarded" are her Senate supporters going to feel(some of them having been in the senate since before Bill Clinton was President) if the results of their efforts are that Clinton leap-frogs them in the Senate pecking-order?

Right Fabooj....exactly right, get more done for the Dems. Especially given that she has insinuated that the Democrats are being run by the Far left, while she hangs with Scaife and them.

**Well, then, I think Obama should announce that he's going to name a "Health Care Czar."

I feel the same way about the Supreme Court talk. Ugh.

Not persuasive? Arrogant, are we? Held onto a win in Indiana, blew him out in Pennsylvania & Ohio, California, etc. Isn't that persuasive enough?

Dudes, close only counts in horeshoes and hand grenades. Perhaps atom bombs and obliteration. Not in elections, or Al Gore would be President. Show us what you can do.