Staying In Key

By tapping Warner to speak 8/26, Obama continues the long tradition of Dems picking a rising star (and likely future WH cand.) to keynote their convention. Warner's profile as a non-traditional candidate willing to blur the lines between red and blue is in sync w/ Obama's message. But this hasn't always been the case.

--Think back to '04. Obama was preaching bi-partisanship while Kerry (and Bush) were all about preaching to - and turning out - the base. No one was trying to expand the playing field. In '88, DLCer B. Clinton introduced a more traditional liberal in Dukakis.

--So who makes sense for McCain? The maverick can't settle for a traditional pick, can he? Lieberman's pointed and cutting comments on Obama in PA yesterday sure looked like a tryout for a Sept. speech. But is another Zell moment what McCain really needs? Though at least Lieberman's not likely to challenge MSNBC's Matthews to a fight.

--Jindal seems like another obvious choice. He can't help on the "experience" front, but his youth and ethnicity can help show McCain - and the GOP - as a party that is forward-looking. Isn't that what McCain needs more of?