Opinion: Should Obama choose Clinton? Cast your vote. Also McCain’s VP options

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Today is the big, public Democratic rapprochement day in Washington, the time when that party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Barack Obama, presumably gets the presumably hearty endorsement of the party’s presumptive loser, Hillary Clinton.

She says she’ll work for the election of his ticket Nov. 4.

But should she be on it too?

Would that be a major unity coup, bringing in those 18 million primary Clinton voters and halting the drift of conservative Democrats toward the Republicans? Or would that buy the freshman Illinois senator a two-pack of Clinton trouble that makes it better to risk the race with someone else?

Should Clinton accept if offered the spot?

And while we’re at it, what about the Republican ticket? Who should John McCain tap as his running mate?

There are a whole lot of possibilities, some ridiculous, some safe and standard, a couple daring. It probably should be someone from outside Washington, someone at least somewhat younger than McCain’s 72. We’re betting a governor or ex-governor; Americans like electing executives as chief executive.

Should the Arizona senator go with young Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, dynamic, conservative, from an immigrant family of color with a compelling American success story, who has some Washington House experience? Florida’s an important state. Gov. Charlie Crist delivered it in the GOP primary. Could he do it again in the general election?

What about former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a veteran campaigner, vetted, knows the issues, strong jaw, better-liked among some conservatives and, unlike many GOP possibilities, still with his first wife? Also, unlike McCain, Romney’s a super-fundraiser.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas? Not gonna happen.

Just for fun, we’ll throw in Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. She’d be the first female Republican VP nominee, and she’s a real doer, conservative, popular. But Alaska’s a long ways away. Can Americans come to know and like her quickly enough from Labor Day to early November?

Click here to take the poll. Vote your choices. Then see how the tallies are going.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo Credits: CNN, Los Angeles Times / Don Bartletti, Office of Alaska Governor