Let the Democratic veepstakes begin

Now that Hillary Clinton has won five out of the last six Democratic primaries, including big states like New York and Pennsylvania, I think it’s safe to say the former secretary of State will be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in the fall.

{mosads}She now can focus more of her attention on Republican front-runner Donald Trump, who won five primaries on Tuesday as well as New York last week. Unless something totally unexpected happens, the real estate mogul is going to be the GOP nominee.

Whatever time Clinton has left in her busy day, I hope she starts thinking about her running mate soon. I know many believe Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, a young, dynamic Hispanic former mayor, would be a good fit, but I’m not one of them. Frankly, he’s too young and inexperienced.

Some like Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio; unfortunately, he already is on record as saying he doesn’t want the job. Others keep talking about former Gov. Deval Patrick or Sen. Elizabeth Warren, both of whom hail from Massachusetts.

Patrick, who now works for Bain Capital, the private equity firm founded by one Mitt Romney, probably can’t help Clinton much politically. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but an all-female ticket simply isn’t going to happen in 2016.

Yes, America is ready for a Madam President, but there is no way this nation is ready for both a female commander in chief and a second in command. Maybe in 2020.

“Hardball” host Chris Matthews keeps promoting Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia as a running mate. I don’t think Clinton needs Kaine to carry the Old Dominion State. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a loyal Clinton insider, will make sure that happens.

So whom should Clinton pick as her running mate? First, someone she knows well; second, a political partner who won’t upstage her; and third, and most important, that rare person who can assume the office of the presidency on a moment’s notice should the circumstances require it.

That person is Dick Durbin, four-term senator from Illinois. Durbin and Clinton have been friends for years, he typically flies under the political radar, but serves on the all-important Appropriations and Judiciary Committees.

Durbin has three major pluses going for him: First, he is a favorite of progressives, which will help convince supporters of Clinton’s rival for the nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), to vote for her in the general election; second, because Durbin’s no poster child for the National Rifle Association, that will help her as well; and third, he will not wilt under the bright lights of the media. With these attributes in mind, Durbin would be a very solid pick for vice president.

I realize both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have a long way to go until they officially are nominated by their parties, but the results of the recent primaries should be a “uuuuge” boost to both of their campaigns (sorry, I couldn’t resist).

Freidenrich writes from Laguna Beach, Calif. His letters and commentaries have run in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register and many other newspapers. He can be reached on Twitter @freidomreport.