Who Obama Should Tap

With the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the Conventions coming quickly, it is time for the presumptive nominees of each party to pick their running mates. This is the most important pick the nominee will make. Presidents pick a vice president to get re-elected, but nominees pick a running mate to get elected. For Senators Barack Obama and John McCain, they should pick running mates who work well with them and can help them win.

For Sen. Obama, the three reported running mates on the short-list are: Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, and Senator Evan Bayh in Indiana. All have notable qualities. For Kaine, a Catholic, he could turn Virginia from a toss-up to leaning towards Obama, and he brings executive experience as a governor. Biden has loads of foreign policy credentials and has been in the Senate longer than McCain. Bayh was a former Clinton supporter and could quell some doubts the Clinton supports may have.

The three also have their downfalls. Kaine does little to help with the assertion that Obama is too inexperienced. Biden has spent a lot of time in Washington, which could undercut Obama's message. And Bayh is from a state that is next to Illinois, Obama's home state; not to mention the GOP could use the slogan "Obama Bye, Bye." There is no perfect choice. But if you ask me, the best choice is Evan Bayh.

Possibly the most important thing about Bayh is that he supported Senator Clinton during the primaries. Having Bayh as an olive tree could brings some disaffected Democrats to Obama's column in November. There are some who will never vote for Obama, even if Hillary is his running mate. It's unfortunate it was such a bitter campaign, but it's simply one of those "live and let die" moments.

Bayh was the governor of Indiana earlier in his career. As governor, Bayh issued a $1.6 billion tax cut -- the largest in state history. He did not raise taxes in his eight years in the governor's mansion. His welfare-to-work social programs led to the creation of 350,00 new jobs. There are some disaffected Republicans who could be undecided who to support. Having a tax-cutter on the ticket could bring some of them over and debunk the McCain ads that Obama will raise taxes. For the Republicans whose chief issue is abortion, gay rights, or guns, I doubt they'll vote for Obama even if he picks a Republican. But Bayh could bring over independents and moderate Republicans.

Going beyond our borders, Bayh may not have the credentials of Biden, but he isn't bad. Bayh outlined a resolution to deal with Iran's nuclear program over two years ago. With the recent missile tests, advertising Bayh's plan wouldn't be bad move. Moreover, Bayh holds a position on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Bayh was an early supporter of the War in Iraq and voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act in 2006. This will anger Obama's base to the left, which was confused when Obama voted for the FISA bill. But I can only speak for myself as someone who aligns himself to the left on his political views when I say that I trust Obama with upholding our civil liberties more than George W. Bush and John McCain. I do not agree with Obama on all of the issues, but I echo the words of former Congressman Ed Koch when he famously declared, "If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, you should vote for me; if you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, you should see a psychiatrist."

Bayh would have Indiana go from purple to light blue, attract fiscally conservative voters across the nation, potentially help Obama in Virginia (he was an alumnus of UVA), and dispel some fears about Obama's experience and foreign policy. He is from a state that is directly next to Illinois, but wasn't Al Gore's state directly adjacent to Bill Clinton's state? And didn't they spend eight years in the White House?