by Pj Cioffi

Created on: March 12, 2008   Last Updated: March 19, 2008

I would compare it to the wild card in the poker game. All the rules in the game are the same, but a wild card can make a good hand a winner. I'm referring to the Vice Presidential nomination, and, like a poker game that has gotten stagnant after a couple dozen hands, the wild card can invigorate the player who is down a few chips, or cause agita to the person who's been ahead all night.

This year's political standoff has been much more about personality than qualifications. Far more capable and experienced candidates like Joe Biden, Rudy Giuliani, John Edwards and Bill Richardson have fallen to the wayside, while a couple of junior senators and an old political maverick have taken center stage. This tells me two things - that America would rather have ideas and creativity than experience, and America likes star power. In this celebrity-obsessed, short attention span nation that we live in, America wants something exciting to vote for.

The Clinton/Obama race will keep the voting audience glued to the tube up until the nomination is finally decided upon. You can be sure that at that very moment the first African-American or first female Presidential nominee is crowned, the audience will be clamoring for what is next. You can tell the Republicans are anxious to siphon some of the Democrats editorial ink - naming a Vice President would be an energizing step. However, all good things come to those who wait, and the unveiling at the convention will be an event upon itself.

So, who's going to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency? Considering what just happened in Albany two days ago, you can never be too prepared. Let's start with the Democrats, who have a deep bench to choose from. Joe Biden and Bill Richardson bring seniority, credibility, experience on foreign relations committees, and cabinet experience. Because they have gone through the intensive Presidential candidacy process, they have been vetted, background- checked and trail-toughened. But remember that on this stage, experience is only part of the game - vote getting is the other half. Remember in 2004, when John Edwards failed to deliver a single Southern state, even though he had similar qualifications. Then again, look at the Bush-Cheney ticket. I don't know if there's anyone who could be less likable than Dick Cheney (other than, perhaps Karl Rove), yet, that was a winning ticket.

The Democrats will either have a magnetic, inexperienced candidate in Obama, who would need a shrewd, but trustworthy

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