Make Your Picks

Check out this NY Times Chart (you can add your own, of course) and share your picks with everyone.

Here are mine:

Obama: What Obama needs in a running-mate, I think, is someone who has a fairly good track record with foreign policy and defense and can help him out in some battleground states. No matter how much you like Obama, McCain clearly has the upperhand on experience in foreign policy (which is not to say that I agree with him, but rather that touting such a resume can win lots of votes no matter what decisions you may or may not have supported in the past). Biden seems to be the best pick in terms of offering experience in foreign policy, but what does he really offer in terms of state electoral votes? I would assume that his appearance on the ticket wouldn't give Obama much of a boost, or provide much sway in terms of battleground states. Bill Richardson's experience also makes him a top pick. He has served in a cabinet position, an ambassador to the UN, as a congressman, and now as a governer--a really well-rounded and respectable resume, even though it didn't get much play in the primaries. I also think that Richardson could help Obama court the Latino vote, which from some indications seems to be important this year. So Richardson is a top-pick, I think. Equally though, I would say that Chuck Hagel is also a top-pick. Choosing a Republican can really help Obama claim that he is there to "change Washington" and put partisan politics aside. He can say that he is reaching out to work with Republicans, and can find common ground. I think this balanced ticket could also help sway some swing-state moderates, who think that Obama is too far left, to vote for him in the Fall.

My picks: Richardson, or Hagel.

McCain: Really, all I want to say to begin this is, "ANYONE BUT ROMNEY!" I really can't stand anything about Romney, and really I think his presence could be detrimental to McCain's campaign. Sure, some people praise Romney for his conservatism, but in reality (and no amount of robotic double-talk can get around this) Romney has changed his position on "conservative issues," like abortion and same-sex marriage a number of times. And not the good change--like, oh, I found some good research and talked to a lot of people, and have now come to a different conclusion, but the bad change--like, ya, I need to make sure to get conservatives on my side during this election, so I better say that fetuses are human and gays shouldn't marry. But, seriously, I really think there is no other pick for McCain than Charlie Crist. There really seems to be nothing great about Crist, but he does happen to be in the right place at the right time. Those Floridians love him, and he could hand this key state to McCain. Besides Texas, Florida offers McCain the largest source of electoral votes--votes he will need to compete with CA, NY, and other big democratic-leaning states. Of course, Lieberman is mentioned on the list, but let's face it, he's a magoo. He didn't get people excited when he ran with Gore, and chances are when working with McCain he might even be able to drum up less excitement.

My pick: Crist

So there you all have it. Make your picks.