How could Barack choose someone with this record?

With the announcement of Obama’s V-P choice said to be getting quite imminent big question marks have been raised over the current strong favourite – Evan Bayh – the telegenic senator from Indiana who was a strong Clinton backer.

As the New York Times puts it: “Bayh’s support of authorizing force in Iraq stands in sharp contrast to Mr. Obama’s oft-stated view that he showed the good judgment to oppose the conflict from the start. After his vote, Mr. Bayh in early 2003 joined Mr. McCain as an honorary co-chairman of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, which made regime change in Iraq its central cause.”

Over the past fortnight the money has been going on Bayh and his price has tightened sharply. It’s now 2/1 on PaddyPower and 2.3/1 with Betfair.

It’s hard to see Obama continuing to point to his Iraq stance as evidence of his judgement and statesmanship and then choosing someone who went in totally the opposite direction. There’s also his supporter base to consider.

This is a very tough one to predict and the bookies will make a packet. Last night I got 25/1 on the ex Nato supreme commander, Wes Clark.

Mike Smithson