Smart Choices for Vice President

John MCCAIN:

Gov. Tim Pawlenty... Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnestoa and chairman of the Governors Association, is definitely a top tier VP choice for John McCain. He's the co-chairman of McCain's Presidential campaign and has no plans to run for second term as Governor of MN in 2010. Two Democrats already announced plans to run.

Mitt Romney... Romney (former Gov. of Massachusetts) will help McCain with conservatives, and he is known nationally. If the McCain/Romney ticket loses, Romney will run again in 2012 anyway... If he really wants to be President one day, his best shot is to run with McCain now - should the offer present itself.

Michael Steele... As the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, Michael Steele was the highest ranking elected African American Republican in the country. He's a conservative who would be an interesting choice either way, but especially if Barack Obama is ultimately the Democratic nominee. Steele ran for the Maryland Senate but lost to Ben Cardin in 2006.

Why not Mike Huckabee?... Althought Huckabee did well among evangelical voters in many states, there wasn't much choice! There are much better options out there than Huckabee to attract the people John McCain needs most - social conservatives.

Barack OBAMA:

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius... My money is on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. Even as a liberal Democrat Governing a red state, she maintains one of the highest approval ratings of any Governor. Sebelius gave the Democratic Response to President Bush's SOTU Address this year. She's been active in Obama's campaign and has highlighted several Obama events. By all accounts she's on his short list of possible VPs. As a woman, she would continue to excite the Democratic base and breathe fresh air into what will end a contentious Democratic race.

Sen. Jim Webb... Elected to the US Senate in 2006, Jim Webb defeated popular incumbent George Allen for his Virginia seat. Webb was riding the Democratic wave, but Allen's "macaca" slur caught on tape was a contributor to his defeat. Webb has military experience to balance Obama's ticket (especially against McCain), and would place Virginia in the "leans Democrat" column.

Why not Sen. Hillary Clinton?... She won't take a back-seat to Obama, and instead run for Senate Majority Leader. She'll be be more powerful there anyway, and if Obama loses to McCain, don't be surprised to see her back in 2012.

Hillary CLINTON:

Sen. Evan Bayh...Evan Bayh is the low-profile, highly respected Democratic Senator from Indiana. He was Governor of Indiana from 1989-1997. In 1998, he won election to the US Senate. Many pundits believed he was on the short-list of John Kerry for Vice President in 2004... In 2006, Bayh confirmed he was setting up an exploratory committee for President. No more than two weeks later, he announced he would not seek the Presidency in 2008 and immediately endorsed Hillary Clinton instead. (It doesn't get any more obvious!)

Sen. Barack Obama... There may be no other choice! Hillary could surge in the end and win the nomination. No matter how she manages to do it, Obama supporters will think she wrestled it away from him... It's amazing how quickly differences can be put aside in politics (hence Mitt Romney now saying he would be "honored" to be McCain's VP)...We can only wait and see.

Why not Gov. Bill Richardson?... Hillary doesn't need any help with Hispanic voters who have been lining up behind her anyway. She needs someone that plays better in the Midwest rather than the Southwest (like Evan Bayh).