The VP Roundup?

It’s time to make a totally speculative list of potential running mates now that Obama is the presumptive Democratic nominee for President. Here’s my roundup, along with pros and cons:

Former Senator John Edwards, North Carolina
The Case For Him:

• He could help secure the South.
• Edwards is popular with the working class.
• He has very strong policies, especially healthcare.
• Along with Obama, it would be the best looking ticket ever!

The Case Against Him:

• Edwards only served one term in the Senate: this wouldn’t help with questions about Obama’s experience.
• He already has a bad track record as a Vice Presidential candidate and certainly didn’t help win the South in 2004.
• All the questions about his rich/poor hypocrisy–hedge fund scandal, the infamous $400 haircut–might draw more attention to Obama’s own real estate faux pas.

Senator Jim Webb, Virginia
The Case for Him:

• The Wall Street Journal puts it pretty well here.
• A former member of the Republican party (he served as Secretary of the Navy under Reagan), he may attract Republicans disenchanted with McCain.
• Webb is one of the few members of the house with a child serving in the Armed Forces.

The Case Against Him

• Webb, like Obama, is a first term senator. However, his experience in the Reagan administration may just counteract this.
• With his history of impudence, Webb might not be the best choice for a #2.

Senator Joe Biden, Delaware
The Case for Him

• Biden is an extremely experienced Senator; a member of the senate since 1972, he is the sixth longest serving in the senate. But length of service is not impressive in itself. Biden is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is responsible for writing much of the important legislation that passes through the Senate.
• With his tragic personal past–his wife and daughter were killed in a car crash just months after Biden first took office–Biden is a family man. He has commuted from his home in Delaware to Washington for these thirty-six years, and raised his two sons alone, with the help of his sister. In a year when “family values” matter more than ever, this will surely help.

The Case Against Him

• Biden is a stodgy, old politician. He is wise politically but would maintain the image of the Democratic party as pretentious and aloof that was seen when Al Gore and John Kerry were running.
• He’s prone to put his foot in his mouth.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
The Case For Him

• His foreign policy experience makes up for Obama’s lack of it.
• Historically, governors have a much higher incidence of election to the highest office in the land than congressmen. Richardson’s credentials lend to the ticket.

The Case Against Him

• The race is getting ugly. Voters in some states have openly admitted that race is a factor in their choice of Clinton. Having an African-American/Hispanic ticket would probably not help the cause.
• As James Carville demonstrated, the Clintons were not happy with Richardson’s endorsement of Obama. He wouldn’t help win over Hillary supporters.

My choice for the second-in-line is Jim Webb, who seems to be the most well-rounded, appealing of the list I’ve put together here. Other thoughts or nominations are welcome.