If Dean nominee: Gep might make a good running mate for him

The only problem is the war which Gep enthusiastically supported the resolution and Dean did not--and that is a big problem especially if Dean is running against the war as he should.

Still many factors would weight heavily for Gep to be Dean's running mate:

1) Dean as an ex-governor could benefit from having a seasoned Washington insider as his VP.

2) Despite his hawkish position on the war, Gep is a genuine midwest liberal in the old Hubert Humphrey tradition.

3) Gep is from a swing state which Bush only narrowly carried in 2000.

4) Gep is very strong with organized labor--and I assume they would be happy if he were on the ticket.

5) Besides Missouri, Gep could help the ticket in other midwestern/border states such as Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

6) Gep has really come alive in the past couple of debates (something I wish he had done more of as Democratic leader of the House)and would be formidible on the stump and in debate with Cheney.

7) Dean and Gep appear to have a cordial relationship. Dean supported Gep for president back in 1988.

Gephardt's war vote doesn't dovetail well with Dean's position. How would we prevent Republicans from playing them off each other? (E.g. "Gov. Dean, why didn't you support the war resolution, like Rep. Gephardt?")

that is his major drawback as I noted--on all the other points I think he would be a fine choice--but in 2004 the Iraq may be the issue and as such would disqualify Gep.

Why does Dick Gephardt sound and talk like John Wayne?? That's all I could think of every time he answered a question tonight.

I think (of the current nine) that Sen Graham would make the best running mate. The support he would get in Florida is more than enough to make Rove & Company dump a huge load in their collective pants.

Best VP choice of the current nine.