Missing the obvious for 2020?

[Skill and Chance]

Yes, if he manages to topple both Northam and Gillespie, his career could zoom.  He will get a long, hard look in a 2020 primary, particularly if he manages to thread the needle and combine 2008 rural numbers with 2016 suburban numbers.  But those are a lot of ifs. 

[Skill and Chance]

While Virginia used to be a good state for a Democrat to come from, that changed in 2016. Virginia Democrats can't win statewide without support from NoVa, and NoVa is heavily connected with beltway identity, which is poison out in Ohio.

Perriello doesn't really give off a Washington operative vibe, though.  McAuliffe would be the textbook example of someone who can only win in a state adjacent to DC.

[Skill and Chance]

In seriousness, if the Dem. presidential nominee is *not* a white male, then I think Periello is as likely as anyone to end up on the VP short list next time....assuming he's elected governor this year.

Normally I'd agree, but I would be shocked if a Democrat chose a non-Senator as their VP.

With how many R governors are out there and the senate being ~51D/49R at best even in scenarios where Trump loses in 2020, that seems quite unwise.  Even if there is a Dem Gov as in VA last year, why risk a special when there's no margin for error for Senate Dems for the foreseeable future?  And with all the anti-establishment sentiment out there, adding someone from Congress to the ticket might be unwise?