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It seems to me, though, that Hillary Rodham Clinton wouldn't make a good No. 2, partly because of the baggage that her husband brings along. And partly because I'm not convinced that she would be happy in that role for at least four years.

The key to Obama's success, in my opinion, is having great backup players, allowing those folks to freely express their opinions, and paying attention to those opinions.

Jerry Blow

Raleigh

Vice president doesn't really matter

Candidates -- and especially the media -- spend much time and energy debating potential running mates. But does it really matter?

I've never voted -- or not voted -- for a candidate because of his running mate.

To borrow a line from James Carville, "It's the president, stupid." I can't imagine that many voters think too much about the vice presidential candidates, except for maybe the interesting debates they often have, such as the one with Dan Quayle and Lloyd Bentsen in 1988 or Al Gore, Dan Quayle and James Stockdale four years later.

If John Kerry had been able to get his first-choice candidate -- John McCain -- to accept the post, would Kerry now be president? I doubt it, because most people care more about who the president is.

David Elstein

Durham

Who Obama shouldn't pick

1. Please, no more talk of the Clintons -- in any capacity. (Yes, everybody knows we'd get stuck with them both.)

2. Also, let's not resurrect North Carolina's perpetual "young face" either. I mean, how many times do voters have to scream "No!" Let John Edwards stay home with his family.

3. Since McCain's presidency would just be an extension of the current one, he might as well pick someone from the current "flock." And since he needs to attract voters away from Obama, I'd say Condoleezza Rice is a shoo-in.

4. Continuing in the female candidate frame of mind, for Obama might we hope to see Maria Shriver? Dianne Feinstein? Who cares?

I'm sure you didn't like reading the above. That's OK, believe me. Given our major choice, does the VP matter in the least? I didn't think so either.

All I really want to say is, heaven help us.

Raymond Lefrancois

Garner

A McCain-Romney campaign?

I have no idea for Obama ... except to say I hope it is not Clinton. I am tired of her and her husband. For John McCain, I think Mitt Romney would be a good choice, because he is knowledgeable in economics, an area McCain is light in. He is also a religious man, which will appeal to the evangelicals if they can get over his being a Mormon.

Shay Blakemore

Raleigh

Clinton deserves a second chance

The past two Democratic vice presidential nominees were terrible at the job.

The task of the vice presidential nominee is to support the presidential nominee, to say things about the other party that might not be "nice" coming from the nominee, and to forcefully call attention to the faults of the other party's nominee for president.

John Edwards and Joseph Lieberman both lost debates with their Republican counterparts. Neither defended his candidate or vigorously attacked President Bush, as an effective vice presidential nominee should.

Among the Democratic possibilities for the vice presidential nomination, just who is unrelentless in pursuing the other candidates and the other party, never letting them forget a misspoken word or a fault in their policies? Why, it's none other than Hillary Rodham Clinton!

Besides, she got half or more of the Democratic primary votes and appeals to many voters whom Obama hasn't convinced to vote for him.

Henrietta Jenrette

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