Ad --

I could quibble with your ratings, especially with regard to Richardson and (to a lesser extent) Sibelius, but there is a greater problem with your methodology. You have identified proper categories -- but you have given each of them equal weight. For instance, I don't think that pizzazz is as important as consistency of message.

Also, some of your factors are better assessed in both positive and negative terms (pizzazz and gravitas) or in purely negative terms (scandals). This is more of a quibble than the weighting problem.

However, it is for these reasons that I prefer narrative to mathematical assessments of potential VP candidates. After all, the VP candidate's greatest effect is the story they add to the campaign -- the story about who they are and what it would mean for them to be Vice-President in general, and Obama's veep in particular.

Beathan