I think Finkelstein was probably expressing a personal opinion that it would be a good move for Obama as opposed to predicting it would actually happen, but all the same I was a bit surprised by this piece. As you rightly say, why Al Gore or anyone would want a third term as VP is beyond me. Then again, if Peter Hain can spend two hundred grand on a campaign for the most worthless job in British politics and still come fifth to Harriet Harman, anything is possible I suppose.

Then again, if Peter Hain can spend two hundred grand on a campaign for the most worthless job in British politics and still come fifth to Harriet Harman, anything is possible I suppose.

Haha, nice one.

I agree with your analysis Gracchi, though one is tempted to speculate. My feeling is that John Edwards is now almost overtly angling for the VP{ job, and so is John Kerry. I guess there are advantages to both. Though if the “experience” narrative does become strong, then I guess it will have to be Kerry. I’m not convinced by Bill Richardson.

If Hillary Clinton gets the nomination, I firmly believe the running mate will be Evan Bayh. However, Obama may choose to go for even more history making and choose either Bill Richardson (first Hispanic VP) or Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (if they win she would be the first female VP). If Edwards ended up with the nod - a longshot to be sure - I think he might go with Obama.

This said, should Edwards drop out before Super Dooper Tuesday and throw his support behind Obama, Edwards could well be Obama’s pick.

Much of this speculation is dependent on who ends up with the nomination.

Personally I’d go for Jim Webb especially if I were Obama- a former Navy Secretary under Reagen who opposed the Iraq war and who won a Southern state ie Virginia. Clinton is an interesting one. I’m not convinced by Richardson either- a mate of mine was in the US recently doing research and heard Richardson and told me he was the most unimpressive Presidential candidate to see debating.

John Kerry should be struck of the list right away — the man is poison. Richardson could be a good running mate for Edwards, I think the odds of someone so Hispanic being picked by either Obama or Clinton are pretty close to zero.

Webb or Bill Richardson would be good choices for Obama.

Few people have Richardson’s foreign policy experience, and that’s Obama’s weakness. One the few who could match Richardson is Webb.

This said, should Edwards drop out before Super Dooper Tuesday and throw his support behind Obama, Edwards could well be Obama’s pick

Robert - I’ll agree with that.

Incidentally, I love this pic on your blog. Can we link it above, with credits of course?

Gracchi - Edwards is from the South too - why not him instead of a Reagenite? I don’t think that would happen anyway. Clinton is stronger amongst Democrats while Obama needs the support of Independents to win. He’ll have to pick someone more to the left of him otherwise he’ll find Democrats even more annoyed with him.

I don’t like Kerry much either, but he has the Democrat establishment behind him… and he’s very hard working. He would def bring more Democrats into the Obama camp - which is what he needs.

Sunny, be my guest to use anything from my blog. We’re progressives. We tend to share more than the other side.

Why would Edwards want to drop out? If he keeps running he’ll get enough delegates to hold the balance at the Convention and could negotiate what he wanted with whoever comes top.

I think both Conventions have a chance of actually doing what they’re supposed to do this time around, and actually choose a coandidate and VP rather than just rubber stamp.

Wes Clarke would help either Obama or Clinton: a four star general; a Southerner; having both foreign policy experience and “outsider” status.

Sunny sorry I didn’t get back to you. Edwards is a possible but I don’t see what he would add to Obama in terms of experience. You’d run the risk of the Republicans arguing you had two powder puff candidates- especially against say McCain you’d look weak in terms of experience, and foreign policy know how. Arguably Edwards is a better pick for Hillary because his charisma would add to her experience and she has more of a record on foreign policy- Edwards could reassure people that she would have an economic list of priorities as well. I think Obama needs someone with a lot of gravitas behind him. The strength of Webb is that his reasons for changing party were all about Iraq. I suppose another Obama possibility is someone like Joe Biden or Chris Dodd who both have long records of senatorial experience.

Oh and Wes Clarke wouldn’t be a bad idea either!