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Obama Veep Stakes: Now that Obama is the presumptive nominee for president I've been throwing around names who would be could picks for Barack's vice president. This list isn't in order of whom I prefer most but I would say that Bill Richardson in probably my first choice.

Mark Warner: Former Virginia governor, Warner is a very popular figure in Virginia especially in the rural, southwestern corner which is an important demographic to go toward winning the state. He is yet another moderate Democrat with a record of bipartisanship which could very much appeal to Independents and disaffected moderate Republicans. He is also quite charismatic which helps bolster Obama's own energy and charisma. In addition, he has great business/economic experience having been a successful entrepreneur.

However, there is a problem. Warner is favored heavily to win a seat that he is running for in the Senate and pulling him away from that would weaken the chances of adding to the slim Democratic majority in the Senate. An Obama presidency needs a strong Senate to work with.

Bill Richardson: He helps shore up the Latino base that had mostly favored Clinton, strong foreign policy, diplomatic experience and can help bring his swing state and the neighbor swing state to the north (my home state) of Colorado). He is very popular amongst varied demographics and even with some Republicans.

Ted Strickland: He is a very popular Gov. of Ohio who could help carry the state. Winning Ohio is critical to winning the White House and having Strickland (a Clinton supporter) could bring in Clinton voters from the Buckeye state. Strickland is a former steel worker and thus popular with union and the blue-collar working class. He is also an ordained Methodist minister which could help bring in some more conservative religious Democrats and moderate Republicans. He was also born and raised in conservative southeastern Appalachia and represented that region of Ohio in Congress. He could help bring in these rural voters that Obama struggled getting in the primary election. Strickland also has an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. This all being said, however, he isn't seen as V.P. material in his home state by a ratio of 2-1, that's not good news for an Obama win in the Buck-Eye state.

Jim Webb: My second choice. He has strong national security experience and a son in Iraq, he is also a moderate that worked in the Reagan administration that could appeal to moderate Republicans. He would be a great attack dog for Obama. However he does have some troubles with women from some comments made as well as being known for having a bit of a temper. But he could also help bring Virginia into play as the state has been trending Democratic.

Also having another senator on the ticket might not be the best choice to balance out the ticket. Americans tend to prefer governors to senators. Plus he hasn't been in the senate very long which could bolster criticism of Obama that says he is inexperienced. In addition he faces the same problem as Warner in regards to keeping and adding to the Dem majority in the Senate.

The Long Shots: Below are my long shots for V.P. and the ones I think are least helpful to Obama.

Hillary Clinton: She’s a double-edged sword and given the heated nature of the primary I can’t see her fitting into his message of change. Embracing the Clinton years by picking her isn’t exactly turning the page on the old guard. Then there is the issue that having her on the ticket would energize a fractured and disillusioned Republican party.

That all being said her positives are that she can nearly guarantee that a massive majority of women would vote for that ticket. As well as bringing in many blue-collar folks who have until now resisted Obama.

Joe Biden: He has major foreign policy experience and has the wittiness to really nail McCain with some good blows. He's an average man who still rides the train to work. His wife is a teacher and Biden has done a lot for woman's rights. The problem is that very same wit could also produce some embarrassing and troublesome gaffs for Obama.

Mike Bloomberg: Appeals to Independents and has great economic experience and can help with funds if need be being a billionaire. However, being from a solidly blue state might not help with swing states. That all being said he has great appeal within many circles of the voting population.

In other news: John McCain apparently wants to send a manned mission to Mars and I have a thought on who we could send--John McCain. And while we're at it let's toss in Bush and Cheney. However the problem is that we'd have to construct the space craft so that it could only go up there but not return to Earth.

On a more serious note I find it infuriating that McCain wants to waste buckets of money going to the red planet but wouldn't spend money to bring health care to all Americans. Nor will he stop the war in Iraq so I say we bring our soldiers home, send him and his other Republican big talkers about the war up there along with al-Qaeda and they can fight each other to their hearts content.

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