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After posting my dozen preferences for president, I started thinking about preferences for vice-president. They're somewhat different!
(I'm going to take Gore out of this one, since I don't think he'd want to be vp again.)
1. Ability to become president. This is kind of obvious; not necessarily running for prez after 8 years, but rather, the potential to take office should something happen to the president. So, I'd apply the same dozen things here, and give a point to Clark and Kerry as my top two.
2. Experience as a lawyer. Since the vp is president of the Senate, it makes sense for him/her to be a lawyer. Points to Clinton, Edwards, Kerry, Biden, and Obama.
3. Experience as a law maker, in House or Senate, for the same reasons, and for familiarity with both the players and the game. Points to Kucinich, Biden, Clinton, Kerry, Edwards, Obama.
4. Effectiveness as a pit-bull spokesperson for the president, both on the campaign trail and in the office. Points to Biden, Clark, Kucinich, perhaps Obama.
5. Ability to advise the president. The role and issues can vary, so I think this is a largely a wash, depending on who the president is.
So I guess all things being equal, my top vp picks would be Kerry, Obama, and Biden. (Well, all things are not equal, so I think there's a wider range of possibilities and variables. But at least weighted this way, my top prez pick, Clark, isn't at the top of my top vp list.)
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