Obama's VP Shortlist Getting Shorter

Now that the Hillary noise machine is taking a nap, Obama is dealing with the mumbling rants of McCain. That is fine, since McCain is better at defeating McCain than anyone else. Let him keep talking. Thanks to this eye of the hurricane week, when the furious storm has passed, but a new one is on the horizon, Obama has had a chance to start his own version of "The Dating Game". VP-style!

Unfortunately, it started rocky--a blind date type of date, if you will. James Johnson, one of the three picked by Obama to vet any VP candidates (the other two are daughter of JFK, Caroline Kennedy, and former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder), had to step down. Fishiness when he was head of Fannie Mae made him step down, to avoid further messiness in the future.

No worries, because the VP shortlist the Obama campaign is working on seems to be taking care of itself. The list is becoming smaller, or at least, easier to work with, as people in it are taking themselves out of contention.

First was Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, who said, in no uncertain terms, "I will not accept if nominated, I will not serve if elected" if put on the Obama ticket...so, that's a no?

Next is Sen. Chris Dodd, an Obama little helper (he IS pretty little). In the same vein as James Johnson, Sen. Dodd received 'special mortgage rates', i.e. better, from Countrywide. Woap woap. Outie for you Doddy-o.

Next is a beloved son of the South, and one that is gathering steam among the Obamites (Obamans? Obamoians? Obamists?): Sen. Jim Webb from "We Aint A Bunch of Inbreds!" Virginia. He talks the talk, walks the walk, and gets along with Obama. He might, however, talk to much and walk to much, according to this Slate article. In all fairness, the article makes him sound like the feisty southerner McCain will probably add to his ticket. Sounds like a good cage match.

Who's next? Mayor Bloomberg is still in play, but for both parties. Tom Daschle, Joe Biden, and John Edwards, but they either are part of the furniture in Washington (Daschle, Biden) or have a losing record becoming said furniture (Edwards...Democrats dislike losers more than Republicans do). Chuck Hagel, the Republican who is more of a maverick by far than McCain ever has been, would be a valiant, and possibly good gamble to make. But you can't ever forget Hillary...mostly because she won't let you.

Sen. Obama, I do not envy your current situation. But it sure beats being crazy McCain.

lhp