Obama's Potential VP Shortlist

By Alan Lytle

Lexington, KY – Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has a number of potential VP picks, including some female candidates that may appeal to the women's vote, according to Al Cross, Director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky, speaking on WUKY radio on Wednesday.

The "short list" of VP picks, according to Cross, includes Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Virginia Senator Jim Webb, retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

Cross described Webb as "a great advocate for the dispossessed and for Appalachia" who could help Obama win the rural vote, a region that was problematic for the candidate during the primaries against Hillary Clinton.

"There are a number of women being discussed, to appeal to women who are disappointed that a woman is not the nominee," Cross added. The top female choice, according to Cross, is Kathleen Sebelius, the governor of Kansas.

"If he picked Sebelius, he'd be going for the women's vote. His polling over the next month will tell him just how much he needs to reach out for that vote," Cross said.