Rendell Mentions Clinton, Biden and Bayh as Possible Obama Running Mates

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) floated the names of Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) as possible vice presidential picks for Barack Obama.

Rendell, a vocal supporter of Clinton during the Democratic nomination fight, said that an Obama-Clinton ticket would be the strongest the Democrats could offer. But he noted that both Clinton and Biden have foreign policy experience that could help Obama.

“You’ve heard me talk about Joe Biden, because he’s been the head of the Foreign Relations Committee, because he’s our reigning Democrat expert on terrorism,” Rendell said. “I think Joe Biden would be a perfect pick. There are plenty of other good candidates.”

He said that Obama’s decision to hire Patti Solis Doyle, who was replaced as Clinton’s campaign manager after Super Tuesday, was a curious one. But he said that he wouldn’t rule out Clinton joining Obama.

“It would be a strong ticket, but so would Obama-Biden, so would Obama-Bayh,” he said. “There are many people that would fill the bill.”Rendell downplayed the chance that he would become the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

“The vice president should probably stay on message more than I would do,” he said. “And, secondly, I don’t have a great deal of foreign policy experience. And, obviously, all governors, with the possible exception of Gov. [Bill] Richardson (D-N.M.), have that as a weakness. So I think there are better people.”