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You make a lot of great points, and clearly you know more about the politics on the ground in those battleground states. So thanks much for your insights. But it still seems that, of all the options, Rendell offers the most upside for Kerry. He has the personality, the executive record, the friends in the media, the common-sense approach to politics and getting things done that any Senator, and especially Kerry, will need for ballast. I must admit that I wasn't aware that he had alienated so many union types. If even Rendell can't bring in the blue-collar types, then Kerry is worse off than I thought.

"But it still seems that, of all the options, Rendell offers the most upside for Kerry. He has the personality, the executive record, the friends in the media, the common-sense approach to politics and getting things done that any Senator, and especially Kerry, will need for ballast."

You are certainly correct that Rendell has the personality to be a great asset to any campaign. When he was DNC chairman, and later when he appeared on TV, it was difficult for me to dislike him. But he's been governor for less than two years, and being mayor of a city (even one 3 times larger than Vermont : ) is not the type of executive experience one looks for in a president. If Kerry wants executive experience, there's always Governor Vilsack of Iowa (although I don't know how good he'd be in front of the cameras---it's doubtful he'd be as good as Rendell) or Governor Warner of Virginia (who was elected a year before Rendell was and who did very well in that election with the rural and blue-collar voters Kerry needs to attract). But if I were him, I'd go with Gephardt.

If Rendell gets reelected in 2006 (which is likely, since PA governors usually get reelected once and then cough up power to the other party), he will be a fine presidential or VP contender for the Dems in 2008 (assuming Bush wins reelection). Rendell for president and a Southern or border-state Protestant for VP (Rendell is Jewish, and would probably need a Baptist or other Protestant as VP in order to have a chance in West Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas and some other states) would be a strong ticket for the RATs. But I don't think it's Rendell's time yet.