Veepstakes

Obama needs heft for his VP. Clinton needs to broaden her appeal. Sorry, Bill Richardson, you're not the guy.

Colin Powell would be a bold choice for Obama. Double down on race, reach across the aisle to someone who still - mysteriously to me - has a positive reputation, and play both sides of Iraq. But this would confuse the hell out of Obama's base and not in a good way. Powell had his chance to be useful on the national stage and completely muffed it.

Wesley Clark could be a good military heavyweight who's not in thrall to the Bushists, but he doesn't bring his own geographic constituency, and Obama could use some border state appeal to flank the GOP. Since Obama's organization on the ground is so strong, Clark's lack of that isn't a drawback.

Sam Nunn? At least he wouldn't be called upon to deliver charisma. Weirder things have happened, but I don't see this as really helping Obama anywhere. Chuck Hagel would be better, more aligned on Iraq, and a regional threat into Republican areas, but Senators don't have executive military or foreign policy experience, though that's probably too much inside baseball to matter.

Hillary can't double down on gender. It's too bad, but she can't. She simply has to have Obama. There's no other way she can win. Even that is no guarantee, but a triumvirate of Hill, Bill, and Barry could be a potent story.

You'll know if she's doomed to lose to McCain: She'll pick someone else after talks with Obama fall through.

Or maybe she and McCain could run together on a unity ticket! David Broder would pop another Viagra after creaming his jeans the first time.