Tangled up with Webb?

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: June 18, 2008

Running mates are supposed to have something the presidential candidate lacks. The goal is to create a ticket balanced by age, experiences, temperament, expertise and even region.

For John McCain and Barack Obama, choosing a running mate will be the toughest and most important decision they make this summer — and it will have repercussions all the way to Election Day.

We’re not aware of McCain considering any Virginians this year. But Obama may try to adopt a running mate from the “Mother of Presidents.” Virginia’s junior senator, Jim Webb, is said to be on his list.

Webb is older than Obama (62 versus 46), and has a deep military background. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy and served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam. Webb was Secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration and was an early critic of the war in Iraq. Since upsetting George Allen in 2006, Webb is best known for shepherding a new G.I. Bill through Congress.

If Virginia turns out to be a battleground state in the fall, Webb’s connection might help Obama win the Old Dominion — something no Democrat has done since 1964.

But Webb also has a famous temper, and he is relatively new to both the Senate and the Democratic Party. It’s also hard to know if he would mesh well with Obama or have enough of what Obama needs.

Still, if the conventional political wisdom is correct that Obama needs an older running mate with foreign policy (and possibly military) experience — much as George W. Bush did eight years ago —  Obama has a lot of strong choices this year.

Former Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia served 24 years in the Senate and was chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, a Navy SEAL during Vietnam and winner of the Medal of Honor, served two terms in the Senate and was a member of the 9/11 Commission. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson are also solid choices.

Obama is trying to win as many states in play as possible this year. For an electoral map famous for its red states and blue states, that strategy means he’ll need a strong No. 2 to balance out his weaknesses without overshadowing his strengths.

Even if Webb isn’t Obama’s choice for vice president, the fact that he’s being talked about shows how far he’s come in two years.