This is such a lame move.  I'm guessing Obama wants it to look like he has bipartisan support for his Iraq policies/goals.  I doubt this increases Hagel's likelihood as a VP choice.  The country and, especially the Democrats, want a Democrat in office if for no other reason than BUSH policies have tarnished the republican brand.  This is why repubs will lose so many seats.  Should Obama sellout even further and choose Hagel as a running mate, I won't be able to reconcile voting for another republican in (or near) the white house.  I just can't do it.  How many of you can?

Wasn't the point of the Wednesday post that a Hagel VP pick would be extremely unlikely?

I could Tammy, simply because not voting for Obama *would* effectively be voting for another Republican in the White House, and at the top of the ticket no less.  Reduces the Obama-McCain margin by 1 (switching to McCain would reduce it by 2).  Even though I think Hagel would be a lousy VP choice, at the end of the day, the guy at the top of the ticket is far more important than the guy at the bottom, and helping elect a President that will be the best for the country is more important than any squeamishness about his sidekick.

TammyA, Given the choice between a Republican _near_ the White House, or a Republican _in_ the White House, that's an easy choice to make, and I'd vote for Obama/Hagel in a heartbeat.

However, I would think of it as a historically foolish thing to do. Just look at William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, and Abraham Lincoln's second term for examples of how choosing a VP from the other party usually works out. All three died early in their terms and had their VPs completely eviscerate their policy agendas once in the White House.

Oh, please: these Hagel Nunn Webb "Watch" blog posts are the most ridiculous part of the stump. There's only one national security VP contender that has any reasonable chance of being selected, and that's Biden. If it's not a woman, it will be Joe.

Enough already with these embarrassing blogger-ish Kos-style wet dreams of Hagel Nunn Webb et al

Like tep, I'm pulling for Biden to get the nod, but unlike tep. I enjoy the veep speculation blog posts.  It is one of the most significant decisions a candidate makes and reveals a great deal about what he values and thinks.  Clinton's selection of Gore, a strong defense moderate from an adjoining state was a bold and effective choice.  Gore's selection of the  mewling Joementum, not so much.  This time it seems to matter more than usual for both candidates, so for my money, Watch away!

In the last Hagel Watch, I also plugged Biden.  Guess I'm on the same page with you guys.  Curious, though.  Tep: how would you rank the female VP candidates?