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posted May 8, 2008 at 18:26 in Other Articles

By now, it's become pretty clear that unless Hillary Clinton is able to complete her "Hail Mary" pass, she isn't going to get the Democratic nomination. The liberal faction of the party, the super delegates, the minority interests, and the left-wing side of the press just isn't going to let it happen.

So let's operate on the assumption that Barack Obama is going to be making his acceptance speech at the convention. Who's going to be his running mate?

More to the point, who might offer some value in the online betting odds at this point?

Let's take a look at the odds to be vice-president, only among the Democrats, as posted by BetUS sportsbook, keeping in mind that you can't win until you get nominated:

BetUS 2008 Election Political Odds

Next United States Vice President

(Democrats Only)

Hillary Clinton +600
Barack Obama +900
John Edwards +2200
Bill Richardson +700
Ted Strickland +2000
Dennis Kucinich +3500
Bill Clinton +8500
Kathleen Sebelius +800
Evan Bayh +2000
Wesley Clark +4000
Claire McCaskill +1600
Joseph Biden +3000
Christopher Dodd +3000
Jim Webb +1200
Michael Bloomberg +2000
Al Gore +1600
Mark Warner +4500
Anthony Zinni +3000
Bill Nelson +3000

First, let's chop some names off this list, shall we?

* Barack Obama (+900 in BetUS odds) -- I guess at this point, the odds are longer than this that Clinton is going to win the nomination, and maybe even longer that Obama would accept a second spot on the ticket if she did.

* John Edwards (+2200 in BetUS odds) -- I don't think Edwards is going to want to run for vice-president again, but rather, I think he's angling for a cabinet post and has been waiting to see who was going to come away with the nomination.

* Dennis Kucinich (+3500 in BetUS odds) -- Kucinich is from Ohio, and has gained more of a national profile from running in the primaries, but I'm not sure he brings any votes to the table. He's too far out on the left.

* Joseph Biden (+3000 in BetUS odds) -- The long-time senator is too much of a loose cannon for the Obama campaign, which has probably had its fill of loose cannons already.

* Michael Bloomberg (+2000 in BetUS odds) -- If hasn't bought his way onto all fifty state ballots by now, he's not interested in national office.

* Al Gore (+1600 in BetUS odds) -- Hasn't he already been vice-president? Gore is too high-profile at this point to accept second fiddle again.

* Bill Clinton (+8500 in BetUS odds) -- As my eight-year-old niece might say, Uncle Chuck, are you seeeerious?"

Not written off just yet, but....

* Christopher Dodd (+3000 in BetUS odds) -- You saw him in the primaries - is there anyone who is inspired by this guy?

* Anthony Zinni (+3000 in BetUS odds) -- He's a former general who spoke out against the Iraq War. In a way, he provides some gravitas from the military standpoint. But he has stated that he's not really interested in running for office, and I don't know if a VP's spot will change his mind.

* Mark Warner (+4500 in BetUS odds) -- The ex-governor of Virginia would be useful in a state that could be up for grabs, but he had a chance to run for the presidential nomination very early on and pulled himself out because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Now, the contenders:

* Bill Richardson (+700 in BetUS odds) -- This former Bill Clinton appointee came out for Obama, which angered Hillary's camp, as we know, not just because he appeared a turncoat, but probably because they think this was his de facto declaration for the vice-presidency. He's the favorite, and deservedly so.

* Bill Nelson (+3000 in BetUS odds) -- Nelson won re-election to the Senate two years ago with 60% of the vote over the dreaded Katherine Harris. He is a moderate and could certainly come in handy in Florida, which is a key battleground state that the Dems need in their column.

* Ted Strickland (+2000 in BetUS odds) -- He's the governor of Ohio, and as such he's probably the strongest guy the Democrats can have in their corner if they want to steal that battleground state away from the GOP.

* Evan Bayh (+2000 in BetUS odds) -- He is a Clinton supporter, and in fact was Clinton's co-chair in the Indiana primary campaign. He's also from a state that borders Obama's, so it doesn't offer the kind of geographic balance that is ideal. But he's moderate, and that's a plus.

* Kathleen Sebelius (+800 in BetUS odds) -- She's the governor of Kansas, which is Obama's state of birth. I'm thinking that her candidacy will be the subject of a few focus groups. If it is determined that having a woman on the ticket who is NOT Hillary would be beneficial, that's her best chance.

* Claire McCaskill (+1600 in BetUS odds) -- Basically, her situation is the same as Sebelius. But she's in a state that means more (Missouri).

* Wesley Clark (+4000 in BetUS odds) -- A military man like Zinni, this is someone I do think would be willing to take the second spot on the ticket. He's also been introduced to the public through the 2004 process. He has legitimacy and objects to the Iraq War. I think he is a solid choice at this price.

* Hillary Clinton (+600 in BetUS odds) -- There are various schools of thought - one is that Hillary is hanging in there in an attempt to achieve leverage to get on the ticket, and the other is that she would like nothing better than to sabotage Obama so she can run in four years. There are other schools of though in between. The Democrats' best chance may be for her and Obama to run together, in whatever order.

* Jim Webb (+1200 in BetUS odds) -- Webb is a guy I've liked right from the beginning. No one can label him a liberal, not after he has served conservative Republican administrations. He is articulate, credentialed, represents some strength in the potential battleground of Virginia, and can go toe-to-toe with John McCain on foreign policy issues. He would balance the Democratic ticket in a way few others can. I'd play the +1200 on him.

Bet politics and the 2008 elections now at BetUS Sportsbook. Get odds on the political races, and profit for a change when someone goes to the White House! Come to BetUS for a variety of propositions and futures on anything and everything - don't let your knowledge go to waste! BetUS is the most complete sportsbook on earth!

(Charles Jay was the 2004 presidential candidate of the Personal Choice Party, and is also the 2008 nominee. He says he will place odds on himself at the appropriate time. He is currently a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)