This is a bad, bad idea for Kerry, for several reasons.
- The only reason to do it is geographic balance, North-South. That kind of ticket hasn't actually won a lot recently, while lots of geographically unbalanced ones have.
- They're both Senators. Since the Civil War, I don't know how many Senators have run for President, dozens and dozens for sure. Exactly three have won, none since JFK. And JFK had only been a Senator briefly and probably won for other reasons. There's a very good reason for that: You have to cast unpopular, often contradictory votes. Why put TWO on the ballot and just make the target bigger?
- When Edwards said he wasn't going to run again, the latest polls had him losing reelection. There's no guarantee he could win even his home state. What does he get you?
- The Bush-Quayle effect. To those of you who have blacked it out, Dan Quayle was our VP for while, amazingly. The reason he got named? He wouldn't (and didn't) upstage his famously charm-challenged running mate. If Kerry chooses Edwards, he gets outclassed, and the "why isn't this guy (Edwards) on the top of the ticket?" questions start. Those are deadly.
I think Kerry (if he wins) should shoot for a non-DC hand, maybe someone from out West. Ex-Governor Kitzhaber of Oregon comes to mind. Gov. Richardson, if he'll do it (very doubtful) is a possibility. What do y'all think?