Idle Speculation

With each party having its presumptive Presidential candidate, people with idle hands and minds will speculate on each party's potential vice-presidential candidates. Since I have some time to waste today, I think I'll join the fun.

For the Democrats, I think they have some intriguing possibilities. Try these: Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia. Nelson is a moderate Democrat who can bring into play his connections to try to win those critical Florida electoral votes for the Dems. He nicely balances Barack Obama in the areas of geography and philosophy. Richardson was the Democratic candidate with the most high-level experience and is well qualified to be president. Webb can put Virginia in play, but he is a recent Democrat, having been a lifelong Republican and Ronald Reagan's Secretary of the Navy. A better choice might be Virginia Gov. Time Kaine, but he would take the VP slot only if he could maintain his current position should the Dems lose in November. Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania has been mentioned in an attempt to wrap up that state's electoral votes, but Rendall is Jewish and a ticket comprised of a black and a Jew... well, I don't think we have progressed that far.

On the Republican side, McCain can really steal some of Barack Obama's thunder if he convinces Alma Powell to allow her husband, Colin, to take the VP slot. Condeleeza Rice is possible but not probable, and Mitt Romney is also mentioned, but Romney can't deliver either the conservative Republican base or Massachusetts. My favorite is Powell. I think McCain might make a radical move and pick Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, who has been by his side almost constantly. Lieberman, the 2000 Democratic VP nominee is on the outs with his party ever since the leftists there got behind Ned Lamont to unseat him in a primary. Lieberman now considers himself an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats, but some Dems want to toss him out of the party even though his voting record is one that any Dem, except a leftist, would be comfortable with. If McCain want to emphasize his "maverick status", keep your eyes on Powell and Lieberman.