It's not about out-hawking McCain. It's about making the undecided voter comfortable enough to vote Obama. I think there is a lot of voters who want to vote Obama but are nervous about his national security credibility, and I think Biden would go a long way in easing these fears.

As for the last time a Presidential candidate chooses a VP to fill in resume gaps - look to 2000 and George W. Bush choosing Cheney.

Obama is not going to make in roads against McCain on National Security issues because McCain is a brand name there and Obama doesn't have the stomach to attack him on his strength. If Obama chooses Kaine or Sebelius, McCain will double down on Security with his VP pick and run a campaign of scare tactics and win when voters vote afraid come November.

McCain is likely going to choose somebody that shores up his perceived or real weaknesses as well. He's choose somebody younger and with economic gravitas and/or executive experience.

Ronald Reagan picked GHWB to fill the experience gaps on foriegn policy after a fairly bitter primary, and that turned out fairly well for his campaign if not for the nation.

Biden is a good choice in terms of foreign policy gravitas. If we listened to him with the partitioning of Iraq, we'd be in a much better position to leave at this point. But Biden makes mistakes and doesn't bring lots of energy to the ticket (except for people who follow politics closely). Clark is a military man, but doesn't out-military McCain and doesn't bring a lot of credibility on domestic issues. I like both though even though they both fall short on the enthusiasm factor and I don't know how many vote sthey can bring onboard that weren't Obama's to begin with

If Obama doesn't pick Hillary, it will likely be a nailbiter and then the manufactured terrorist alert/national security drama the week before the election may be able scare enough voters into choosing McCain. If he picks Hillary, I think he'll win handilly without the risk of losing. I'm betting the Obama campaign has had it with the close polls and is going to go for the knockout punch :)

Obama doesn't need "shoring up" with foreign policy, he needs shoring up with the working and middle class. He needs someone who can speak to them without sounding condescending. You can't go to states like Ohio and Pennsylvania and Kentucky and say things like he did in the primaries such as "we need more coal mines" - the working class people hate the coal mines, that's no favour to them. He needs to tell these people he's going to protect them from the corporations, that he's on their side on jobs transfers to other nations and he has to tell them he's going to demand that workers rights be upheld. Joe Biden is a lightweight.

I know candidates pick running mates to shore up their electoral votes in states and regions, but to shore up their resumes? When was the last time that happened?

2000 when Bush picked Cheney, the idea being that we don't need to worry about Bush because he'll have adult supervision.

oh gosh are we still on the hrc tip? i know the chips seem to be down and we all want the dems to win by any means necessary (honestly, sometimes, i want hrc on the tix too), but let's allow the man to choose his running mate in a manner that suits him...he either wins or lose....

i am ok with whomever he chooses...i will even pop a bottle of advil if it is hrc, then promptly fall in line....

we cant keep fighting among ourselves....it is destructive...i can already picture a FISA type blowout over the VP choice...everyone has an opinion...the problem is opinions come a dime a dozen....cheap real cheap....

`Obama and his crew are brilliant strategists,`

Myth. They understood the delegate math, potential of the caucuses, and, as that recent Atlantic Monthly analysis showed, they were up against crap strategists in the primary.

And now, in a completely different election, up against consummately ruthless opponents who know how to play on the voter amygdala, the campaign strategists have first to beat their own candidate's innate style and preferences. I feel for them.

I'm just hoping I'll wake up to that text in the morning and all this veep rumination can be put to rest.

I'm hoping for Clark. Oops, I couldn't help myself....

I would like to see him pick Biden or Clark but as one of the reporters said this evening... there is no chemistry there. I just can tell that for some of the iffy undecideds having Biden or Clark shore him up on national security would be reassuring and give them comfort. These men have both run for president and so the notion that they are ready to be president is not really a question for them.
Hillary, please stop trying to shove her down my throat. Having Hillary on the ticket would be madness. It may sooth some angry voters but it could also make us lose the election. I can't stand the thought of Hillary in the white house and it would definitely rally the republican base and make this a much tougher battle.
We have heard nothing from Clark since he spoke up and criticized McCain's readiness to be commander and chief. I think Clark was right on but the Obama camp doesn't want to get into that battle so he chastized Clark which I was disappointed about. Since then I don't recall hearing from Clark at all. They say he will be out of town but I expect any contender to disuade us because the Obama wants to break this story. So with Biden and Bayh on the list as speakers... I just wonder... Kerry, Clark?

Last time it happened was George W. Bush.