Cowgirl's Morning Line--Veepstakes Derby--Democrats

[bklyncowgirl]

The ideal running mate should offer a nice geographic contrast with the candidate. His/her experience should dovetail with the candidate's and above all he/she must

Here's a few of the early candidates--hope you enjoy it.

1. First Lady (Hillary Clinton) Fast closing mare almost caught Chicago Kid in the stretch now heads the field in run for number 2. Smart, ambitious and mean enough to rip an Republican candidate's heart out and eat it on live TV. Would make many women of a certain age very, very happy. On the downside, there's all that nastiness that went down during the primaries and of course there's Bill. Bottom line--could put Barack over the top but he'd have to hire a food taster. 8 - 1

2. Mr Nice Guy (Evan Bayh) Some might say the best thing for the first African American major party candidate would be a boring white guy. Well they don't get much whiter (with the possible exception of Dick Gephardt) or more boring than Even Bayh. Comes with heartland connections and was a big Hillary supporter. Has a real shot-maybe. 5 - 1

3. Talk Show Joe (Joe Biden) Another failed rival from the primaries, Talk Show Joe brings real foreign policy heft. On the downside he's been known to rattle on a bit in front of a microphone. Bottom Line--Could help Obama boost his foreign policy streed cred but Barack would have to keep him on one of those remote control dog collars. OUCH! 10 - 1

4. Southern Man (John, Edwards) Vice-Presidential candidate he's been there, done that. They'd be the hottest looking running mates in history. His wife is absolutely loved. On the downside he ads nothing to boost Obama's experience deficit and of course there are those nasty little rumors in the Inquirer but we won't go there. 20 - 1

5. Da General (Jack Reed): Ex Military Senator brings military street cred galore and is one the eyes too. On the downside the only way Obama is not going to win his state (Rhode Island) is if gets caught in bed with both a live boy AND a dead girl--at the same time--on national television. 5-1

6. Virginia Ham (Tim Kaine): Governor of Virginia is both Southern (oh be still my beating heart) and Catholic (oh the excitement) Unfortunately some of us remember Kaine's less than exciting Democratic response to the State of the Union Address a few years ago. BORING! 8-1

7. Queen of the Corn (Kathleen Seballius) Kansas Governor was an early Obama supporter and knows how to win in Red States. On the downside rabid Hillary supporters have made it clear--Hillary is the only woman who can be considered for the job. If Seballius gets it they'll hold their collective breath until they turn blue or vote for McCain, or Nader or..or.... 8 - 1

8. Cold Warrior (Sam Nunn) The old warhorse brings heavy military and foreign policy chops to the ticket. On the downside, Obama would look like he's campaigning with his grandpa--or like he has to have a baby sitter. Not good for the ol' gravitas thing. 10 - 1

9. Big Sky Cowboy (Brian Schweitzer) A bolo tie wearin', gun totin' western populist who's a pro on energy policy and has actually lived in the Middle East. He's a real live cowboy (as opposed the the faux variety now squatting in the oval office) and has the Appaloosa cow pony and border collie herd dog to prove it. Of course would Obama want to take a chance on being upstaged by Jaq, Schweitzer's border collie and the cutest little sidekick in politics? Probably not but his little girls would love the dog. 12 - 1.

10. Senor Ambassador (Bill Richardson) The man with the golden resume, and the knack for getting international bad guys to let hostages go free, suffered from a profound inability to project well on television during his presidential bid. Since his dramatic endorsement of Obama at height of the Reverend Wright scandal, Richardson has grown a beard and morphed into an effective Obama surrogate and attack dog. The two apparently enjoyed each others company during the debates which is a plus. On the downside, Hispanics are already swinging Obama's way and while middle America might be ready to vote for an African American with a strange last name, would a heavyset bearded hispanic running mate (albeit one with an Anglo last name) be just a little too much change for Joe Six Pack? On the plus side, it would be fun to see James Carville's head explode. Vice President Judas anyone? 8 - 1

11. Elephant Man: (Chuck Hagel) He's a Republican who opposed the war in Iraq and is was one of Barack's sidemen on the Barack Obama World Tour. Obama likes to talk about reaching across the aisle. Hagel's a serious foreign policy guy for sure. The problem is that foreign policy is about the only thing that Barack and Chuck agree on. Expect the collective heads of every liberal leaning blogger with a modem and a My Space account to explode if Hagel gets the nod. 10 - 1

I'm sure I forgt a few.