Inouye on Veepstakes: Pick Kerrey or Webb

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) told his hometown newspaper that Barack Obama should pick a running mate with military experience.

Inouye told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin that Obama should consider Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) or former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.). Webb is a veteran of the Vietnam War and a former Secretary of the Navy. Kerrey won the Medal of Honor for his Vietnam service.

Inouye said that Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), who is reportedly on Obama’s short-list, would be “fabulous” because of his knowledge of foreign affairs. But Inouye noted that Biden doesn’t have military experience.

Inouye added that it would be a mistake to pick a woman other than Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), whom he supported during the Democratic primaries.

“If it were a woman other than Hillary, her supporters would be very unhappy,” Inouye said. “I don’t think either Obama or Hillary want that to happen.”