Best Realistic VP Candidate for Barack Obama?

[TheresNoMoney]

Now that Obama looks like he could possibly win the Democratic nomination, who do you think would be his best realistic VP choice? (I left Al Gore off the list on purpose).

This is a tough one, but here are a few names I think he may consider:

Sen. Joe Biden
General Wesley Clark
Gov. Bill Richardson
Gov. Phil Bredesen (Tennessee)
Gov. Brian Schweitzer (Montana)
Former Gov. John Kitzhaber (Oregon)
 Gov. Tim Kaine (Virginia)
Sen. Jim Webb
Mayor Mike Bloomberg

In my opinion, the most likely running mates are Joe Biden, Phil Bredesen, or Tim Kaine. Opinions?

[TheresNoMoney]

Biden would be a nice fit, but I think Clark would really be great.

Clark used to be my #1 choice as Obama's VP, but I think he's a very unlikely choice since he's publicly endorsed and campaigned for Hillary.

[TheresNoMoney]

I don't know, to be honest. Conventional wisdom says someone who has a long resumé of experience and can win by himself eight years down the road. Maybe Richardson fits this description?

I see Richardson as a likely VP choice if Hillary wins. I don't see Barack Obama choosing a Latino as a running mate, but who knows?

[TheresNoMoney]

Gov. Janet Napolitano (AZ), I think.

I don't see Obama picking a woman, but who knows? Napolitano would bring endless rumors and jokes of her being a lesbian the whole campaign season I bet.

[TheresNoMoney]

[I do think he is likely to choose a woman, and there are no other woman governors who would make good VP candidates.

I really don't think he'd pick a woman, but if he did it would probably be Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. The knocks on Obama are that he is weak on foreign policy and not really seen as a strong leader. Picking a woman would not help him address those weaknesses.

[TheresNoMoney]

Gov. Tim Kaine (Virginia): Good pick: Kaine's term limited and has nowhere else to go on the political ladder.  The eyebrow twitching  may be a problem, though.
Sen. Jim Webb: Unlikely Webb would say yes.
Mayor Mike Bloomberg: VP? That's a demotion for Bloomberg.

Kaine would be the perfect pick if not for the fact that he's only been governor for 2 years now. Obama would ideally pick someone with a good amount of executive/legislative experience.

I do think Jim Webb would say yes, but I'm not sure he would be a good pick.

You really don't think Bloomberg would accept a VP slot?

[TheresNoMoney]

It would be nice to have a tough guy like Biden as your VP, but on the other hand I think it would be great to pick someone from outside the Beltway.

[TheresNoMoney]

I think Biden was the right pick for Obama. After Wesley Clark endorsed Hillary Clinton, Biden became my #1 choice and I was thrilled when he was announced as the VP.