Why Tennessee is so important ...

[kentuck]

It could determine whather or not John Edwards is the presidential or the VP candidate. If he loses Tennessee to General Clark, it will be difficult for him to argue that he is the candidate of the South, since he only won SC, his birth state. Clark could claim wins in OK and Tenn, assuming Kerry does not win TN :) , and the stronger candidate in the South. This would create a difficult situation for the DNC. Would they support the strongest candidate with the most appeal to Southerners or would they pick Edwards, a very popular candidate perhaps in some other areas of the country? Any thoughts?

[leyton]

1. If Edwards loses, he might have a better shot at VP.

If there's an extended two-man race between Edwards and Kerry, it will be very hard to keep even these two from outlining one another's faults, which makes it even harder for them to turn around and share a ticket.

[mlawson]

2. I suspect the DNC has had the finished ticket decided for months.

I.e., Kerry and ????? (They know, of course.) I have thought Edwards would have VP, but am not certain. TN might make some difference, but I doubt it will change the establishment's plans very much: VPs need not even be in the primaries -- Gore was not in 1992.

[eaprez]

3. I wouldn't count on any of the candidates

being tapped for VP. VP running mates are not picked via the primary process - and it is unlikely that any of the current field would be on the ticket with Kerry if he is the nominee.

[PurityOfEssence]

4. It's the only state that borders both Arkansas and North Carolina...

If that ain't some kinda Venn Diagram symbolism, I don't know what is.

[MasonJar]

5. Both Clark and Edwards have said theu will no run for VP; they

might of course change their minds. If Kerry is the nominee, he needs a Southerner like Bob Graham (or Edwards or Clark.)