I suggested the other day that Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana would make a good candidate for Senator Obama’s VP short list. Although I still think that’s true, his name didn’t show up on the lists circulating yesterday. Of course, that may not say anything about whether he’s being considered.

I’d like to propose another candidate: Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana. (Disclaimer: I’m from Indiana, so might be more biased than usual in this post.) Bayh is frequently underestimated on the national stage, more because of lack of national exposure outside the beltway than because of his weaknesses. He was Indiana’s Secretary of State for two years and Governor from 1988-1996, before being elected to the Senate in 1998. The son of former senator Birch Bayh, both he and his father had presidential aspirations. He is married (once) with twin sons.

I don’t agree with Bayh on some issues. But, I think he would help Obama in the elections, I think he would help Obama in governing, and I think he would make a good president if that were required. Those three tests seem to me to cover the broad requirements for a VP candidate. Here are what I see, off the top of my head, as Bayh’s pros and cons.

On the plus side:

  • Not an “attack dog.” Conventional wisdom says that every presidential candidate needs one, but I don’t think this traditional approach would suit Obama’s style. Although he supported Senator Clinton throughout her campaign, Bayh didn’t attack Obama, unlike some other surrogates. Note this MSNBC interview before the Indiana primary, for example.
  • Executive experience. After 8 years as Governer of Indiana, Bayh retained an approval rating of nearly 80%. Bayh’s experiences in both executive & legislative branches of government can be an asset for Obama.
  • Persona. Bayh is likable, charismatic, but not flashy and won’t outshine Obama. He is very bright, works hard and asks some of the most direct and knowledgeable questions at hearings I’ve ever heard asked by a Senator. He’s older than he looks (52).
  • Not gaffe-prone. An important characteristic for a campaign which demands message-discipline and focus.
  • Vetted. He’s been in the public eye for most of his life, having grown up in Washington. If any major scandals were going to pop up about Bayh, I think we’d have heard of them by now.
  • Fiscal conservative & former DLC chair 2001-2005. Left the governorship with an actual surplus in Indiana’s coffers. This (along with his loyal support for Clinton in the primary), will be attractive to certain of Senator Clinton’s supporters. His orientation as a Populist-Leaning Liberal, DLC-type also aligns him with many of President Bill Clinton’s policy positions, which some have argued may be very important to securing the enthusiastic support of the Clintons this fall.
  • Iraq opposition. Although he originally voted for the war, he has long since changed positions and has been more vocal in the Senate than either Obama or Clinton against Bush’s Iraq strategy since at least 2004.
  • Legislative experience. He’s been in the Senate only 10 years (so he doesn’t have as many votes to explain away as McCain), but he is a member of important committees, including: Armed Services, Intelligence, Aging, Small Business & Entrepreneurship, and Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs.
  • Indiana. Although conventional wisdom says Indiana will not be in play this fall, I think CW is wrong. It’s easy to point out that Indiana hasn’t chosen a Democrat for the White House since 1964 and that we currently have a Republican Governor. But, Bayh is very popular here; he won his 2 Senate elections by 64% and 62%. We have had a Democratic Governor for 16 of the last 20 years. So Indiana voters will vote for Democrats under the right circumstances. And the current deteriorating economic environment may be the “right circumstances.” Our Democratic nominee for Governor, Jill Long Thompson, is a relative unknown and that election will likely be a referendum on present Governor Mitch Daniels. But, if we are very lucky, a team of Obama, Bayh and Thompson could sweep them all to victory in the fall (Hey, fantasies aren’t against the rules, are they?)

And the minuses:

  • Abortion. Bayh is solidly pro-choice, but has only a 50% rating from NARAL, having voted to ban partial-birth abortion and for notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. This would hurt him with some of the Clinton voters. However, it shouldn’t hurt with those who are considering voting for the pro-life Senator McCain.
  • Centrism. CW dismisses Bayh with a “yawn.” And he’s not likely to be a top choice of the left-wing of the party. I suppose that’s two: boring and centrist.

Bottom line: Senator Obama needs to choose a candidate with whom he’s comfortable, and I have no idea who that will be. But, I think Evan Bayh offers some strengths that may work for the General Election campaign if Obama finds him to be a good personal fit.