by Jason Tabrys

Created on: June 05, 2008

The long and distracting journey to the nomination is all but complete (still waiting on an actual concession speech Sen. Clinton anytime now) and now the real race within the Democratic Party can begin. The race to inject youth, experience, foreign policy, geography, gender, or any other viable asset that a vice presidential candidate aesthetically brings to the table to Barack Obama's campaign for the Presidency. A candidate ever ready to ultimately be as irrelevant as Hillary Clinton's policy stances will be in about five minutes for the next four years. So who will it be? Well the usual suspects all seem to be coming out of the wood work like lantern jawed conservative Democrat Evan Bayh (who may actually come from woodwork), John Edwards, and of course Mrs. Clinton herself. Others in play seem to be the Democratic parties tired (Wes Clark, getting an A for an effort in his pursuit of a political career), weak (Obama/Kucinich? Or perhaps the political stylings of Pennsylvania's Governor Ed Rendell?) and the parties huddled masses, (Biden, Dodd, and every other left leaner with an opinion) all yearning to be this close to power. Bill Richardson though seems to be a step above the rest. A man bereft with ability, and benefits who could bring tangible value to the ticket. With his influences possibly being felt within the Latino community, the ranks of the Clintonistas, and the slightly up in the air state of New Mexico. Richardson also possesses the foreign policy credentials of a former UN ambassador, who could be seen as an aide in the energy crisis as well, having served in the role of Energy Secretary under Bill Clinton in the late 90's. But while such merits might make Richardson legitimately stand above the pack in a typical situation, Hillary Clinton's dogged campaign and fervent supporters make this selection anything but typical, insuring another passionate battle within the democratic party that is guaranteed to be less lengthy but perhaps equally as bloody. The true battle though wages within the newly minted Democratic nominees conscience. Will Barack Obama make his decision based on the right person for the job or will he cave to significant pressure and cede to Clinton's demands for a unity ticket? One thing is for certain, whoever it is there contribution to this cycle may be felt most in the coming days if they can provide Obama a healthy bump, and a timely shift in the attentions of the party faithful from the cannibalistic blood sport of primary politics to the less civilized but more rewarding spectacle that is the general election.

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