MDPROF(Q) Since Obama's perceived weakness is foreign affairs. Do

you think it is conceivable that he would name Bill Richardson as a

running mate or is that ticket too drastic for American (actually it

was two questions)?

Dr_Martinez(A) Why would this be a drastic ticket? Selecting Richardson as the VP would be a smart move for a variety of reasons. Richardson has both extensive foreign policy experience and executive experience. He also could perhaps induce a greater percentage of Latinos to turnout and vote Democratic.

Dr_Shaw(A) I think the inclusion of Richardson on the ticket would (1) strengthen him in the area of foreign policy; (2) present an interesting coalition and certainly a strong connection between Latino and Black voters in key states; and (3) put a Western governor on the ticket. But as other commentators have noted, this would go in the opposite direction of "de-racializing" Obama's candidacy. There is just a strong of a case for putting Gov. Janet Nepolitano from Arizona on this ticket; not to mention garnering more of the vote of women.

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MDPROF(Q) For Dr. Ramirez: Since Obama's perceived weakness is foreign affairs. Do you think it is conceivable that he would name Bill Richardson as a running mate or is that ticket too drastic for America?

Dr_Ramirez(A) Having Richardson as his running mate would help him in the Mountain West states like Colorado and Richardson's home state of New Mexico. Richardson would also definitely bring in some noteworthy foreign affairs experience. However, I am not convinced

that these two things will be enough for him to select a governor/formber cabinet member from somewhere outside of the Midwest or the South. I think that Obama's campaign will seek out

someone with regional influence in the South or Midwest with foreign affairs credentials. Who this will be is unclear.