Five Potential Vice Presidential Running Mates for Barack Obama

Barack Obama has inspired many people in his campaign for the Democratic Party's nomination for President. While there is still plenty of campaigning to do in order to nail down the nomination, it's never too early to speculate on a Vice Presidential candidate to fill out the Obama ticket.

Some Presidential hopefuls pick a defeated challenger to be their running mate, but it seems unlikely that Obama would choose either Hillary Clinton or John Edwards to be his Vice President. The race with Clinton has been a bit too hotly contested to believe that Obama would want her as his Vice President. And it is unlikely that Clinton would want the job, anyway.

John Edwards fails as a prospective Vice President for Obama because he fell short in that role just four years ago. Edwards' biggest strength is his populism, and that is one category that Obama holds in spades. And while Edwards has roots in North and South Carolina, he did nothing to deliver those states to the Democratic Party in 2004. And there's nothing to suggest that he could in 2008, either.

Obama should be looking for two key strengths when picking his Vice President. One, how will the candidate help balance the ticket, one of the traditional roles of the second name on the ballot. And more importantly, a Vice President for Obama will have to provide experience, preferably foreign policy or military experience. Because that is an area that Obama is particularly susceptible to attacks from the far right in the Presidential campaign.

Right now, the beginning of April 2008, it appears that these five candidates have the most to offer Obama as a Vice President. In alphabetical order, they are:

Bill Bradley - It's hard to top Bradley for name recognition, as he is a three-time Senator from New Jersey, as well as a member of the Gold Medal-winning U.S. Olympic Basketball team in 1964 and an inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Bradley has impressive progressive qualifications, as he spearheaded legislation involving children's health, simplifying the tax code and embracing campaign finance reform, among many others. He also served on the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence. No one questions Bradley's intellect or his experience. But he is as exciting as watching paint dry and his appetite for politics after his failed 2000 Presidential bid is up for debate.

Wesley Clark - A retired four-star general, Clark was the Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO from 1997-2000. A white male with an impeccable military record, he seems the obvious choice for Obama to pick as his Vice President. He brings a wealth of military experience, which would help diffuse one of the biggest weaknesses for Obama in his campaign for the Presidency. But Clark has strong ties to Bill Clinton and has already endorsed Hillary Clinton for President and he might not be willing to embarrass either of the Clintons by running with Obama. A cabinet position might make the most sense for Clark, but he is ineligible for Secretary of Defense until he has been retired from the military for 10 years, which won't happen until 2010.

Jack Reed - A two-term senator from Rhode Island, Reed is a member of the both the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Appropriations Committee. He is also one of the most progressive members of the Senate. A former Army Ranger and a member of the 325th Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, Reed will back down to no one on military issues. But there is very little to gain by putting another person with New England ties on the Presidential ticket. That has not worked since 1960.

Bill Richardson - Current Governor of New Mexico and one of many failed candidates from the 2008 Presidential primary race, Richardson is a moderate Democrat who will help with Hispanics and moderate Republicans. A five-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, Richardson does not have the progressive credentials of Reed but he is still a champion of human rights, education and the environment. Also, as a governor he has experience leading constituents as well as balancing a budget, two things voters love to see on the Presidential ticket.

Kathleen Sebelius - A two-term Governor of Kansas with the advantages listed above with Richardson, Sebelius would make a great Vice President and perhaps future President. Sebelius has done wonders with public education and health care in Kansas. The only problem is that she has virtually no foreign policy experience. But she puts the Midwest, traditionally a Red-State area, firmly into play and her father was a former governor of Ohio, a key state in any Presidential election.

Obama has many intriguing candidates to choose from for his Vice President. And those that he passes over may well end up in the Administration somehow, whether as cabinet members or as senior advisors. Hopefully, his choices will help heal the rifts in the party caused by the primary and also create a formidable ticket to defeat the Republicans in November.

Sources:

Bill Bradley

Wesley Clark

Jack Reed

Bill Richardson

Kathleen Sebelius