Now a new fun game can begin around the table at American dinner parties. Who will be Barack Obama's choice for Vice President? Everyone, of course, will have an opinion and all will have the appropriate geographical and ideology argument to back up their choices. There will be the supporters of Senator Clinton who are offended by such talk so soon but my advice to them is to just ignore the discussion.

Over the next weeks, I will be looking at different options Obama will have for Vice President. This week is "The Women".

For those who feel strongly that after this primary season that it must be a woman, there a number of powerful choices.

Of course, Senator Clinton immediately comes to mind. Almost everyone knows the pros and cons of this equation. One can't help wonder what life would be like for President Bill Clinton at the Vice President's residence at the Naval Observatory while the real action is happening down at the White House. It boggles the mind! Such a pairing of Obama and Clinton would rival that of Kennedy and Johnson in 1960. There would be likely very little love lost between the top two. In addition, after this primary would either be able to sell the other to their supporters?

Maybe a better approach would be to seek another woman who would bring unity to the ticket.  

At the top of my list would be Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri. She has been a long standing State official in this critical swing state that Obama carried in the primaries. A strong supporter of the Illinois Senator, she is a tough and uncompromising campaigner with a good grasp of economic issues. The Senator was the first female Jackson County Prosecutor (Kansas City). In her post as State Auditor of Missouri, she had to deal with budgets and the economic battles that states have to face. The Senator became famous as a watchdog for taxpayers in the "Show Me State". The big bonus with Senator McCaskill is her mother "Miss Betty" who was the first woman to serve on Columbia's City Council. "Miss Betty" makes Lillian Carter seem like a shrinking violent. Seniors will love her! No one has been more loyal or devoted to Obama than McCaskill.

Then there is Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. This remarkable and charismatic woman has won state wide twice in Kansas and knows how to campaign in rural areas. She could be invaluable in states such as Iowa, Colorado, Oregon, Montana and Arizona. In addition, the governor is Catholic and that could be a big plus for Obama. She has been a champion of the small family farmer, a fighter for education and has a pro small business record in Kansas. A little known fact is her strong Ohio connection - her father is the former Ohio Governor John Gilligan. That could be a great added bonus. She is the first daughter of a Governor to be elected to that same position in United States history. See the clip below where Governor Sebelius is featured on the Obama registration video.

Finally there is Congresswoman Jane Harmon of Southern California Her strength would be the around national security, homeland security and intelligence. She has been on the House Intelligence Committee for eight years. Although she is not on close terms with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, she has the respect of the defense and military establishment. Her credentials on Israel and in the Jewish community are flawless. She would add reassurance to those who have concerns on Obama's foreign policy experience.