I.e.:

thehill.com/.../son-also-rises-in-testy-webb-bush-exchange-2006-11-29.html

"Pick a running mate who doesn't give a damn about being like a nice guy...."

JJ beat me to the punch, but doesn't Jim Webb fit that description perfectly. I don't see a Clinton-Webb ticket, but Obama-Webb would be fantastic.  

I get giddy just seeing "Obama-Webb" is print.

Only problem with Webb: he's got that Senate seat for another 4 years after '08.  If he vacates it, it could EASILY flip back into the R column.

Mark Warner would be a reliable pinch-hitter, but he's almost certainly gearing up to take John Warner's open seat in 2010, at which he has a good shot.  So were he to jump in early behind Webb as VP, it'd throw the ball back in the Republican's court as there's no other VA Democrat who's such a gimme as MW.

It won't come up in any debate, though if Edwards really did want to mount a legal challenge to the '04 outcome, it'd be too his opponents' advantage to highlight the fact.  

It plays perfectly into the anti-lawyer narrative: better to sue than win on your merits. Disappointing.  Maybe JE was still thinking about the 2000 travesty, wishing he'd been on hand to inject some offense into the Gore defense in Bush v Gore.

Another vote for Jim Webb. Blindingly obvious choice, really. Prefer him at the top of the ticket, to be honest, but half a loaf etc.

Ideal ticket: Biden-Webb.

RE: Webb's seat.

Webb isn't going to be VP. He likes the Senate.

He's not a great speech maker and he doesn't like campaigning. That's what you do as VP candidate for 4 months, and I doubt he'd like it.

If he was tapped as VP, Kaine (D-VA) would appoint a new Senator - a Democrat - who would then face a Republican in a special election in 2009. He could appoint Creigh Deeds, or Brian Moran (currently planning to run for Governor) or someone from down state like Rick Boucher or from the Tidewater - like Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim. This person would face off with either Eric Cantor, Tom Davis, or Bob McDonnell. I doubt Allen wants to run for Senate again.

It's a winable race for Democrats...maybe a tossup - though McDonnell would be a tough foe.

aeromonas -

Mark Warner is running for the open seat in 2008, not 2010. He's currently ahead by between 25 and 30 points against Jim Gilmore. Webb is up for reelection in 2012.

Sorry to comment 3 times in a row, but one last thing about Webb. He is a HORRIBLE campaigner. He ran one of the worst Democratic campaigns I've ever seen in 2006. Ask any Virginia Democrat who had to watch that debacle unfold. They didn't raise money or conduct any field, the local parties did it. And the DNC bailed them out with about $8 million in ads in October.

Of course, Allen was way worse...but how did Webb manage to only squeak by a guy who had press hits on him for using the N-word and for calling a minority a monkey on camera? Think about that one for a bit...any other candidate would be buried by that sort of thing, but Webb barely squeaked by.

Fari enough, VAC. You make a strong case, one that puts to rest any fantasizing about Webb on the ticket.