Laura recently wrote about the possibility of a “unity ticket” for the Democrats - Barack Obama choosing Hillary Clinton as his running mate.

Ted Kennedy is one who doesn’t think it’s possible, and he said so in some less-than-kind words on “Political Capital With Al Hunt”:

Obama should choose a running mate who “is in tune with his appeal for the nobler aspirations of the American people,” Kennedy said. “If we had real leadership — as we do with Barack Obama — in the No. 2 spot as well, it’d be enormously helpful.”

And the spin control from Kennedy’s spokesman is this: “Senator Kennedy thinks Senator Clinton is more than qualified to be Vice President, but doesn’t think it’s likely given the tenor of the campaign in recent weeks.”

This brings up something that I hadn’t thought about, but someone mentioned to me in a conversation yesterday: If Obama chose Clinton as his VP, it could ruin his stance on a “new kind of politics.” Obama has been running on the idea that experience in Washington is bad - one becomes mixed up with special interests, loses touch with everyday people, etc. - and implying that Clinton is part of “old” politics. Wouldn’t it be extremely hypocritical, and perhaps a step backward, to include Clinton on the ticket?

On the other hand, if Obama chose Clinton, it would represent another point he’s been running on: that he brings an end to divisiveness. The Obama/Clinton ticket would be a great representation of his message of unity if he can spin it the right way - and, as we’ve seen, he always can.

A whole other host of issues comes up if you consider electability. Who will be the most helpful in terms of getting Obama into the White House?

Back in early March, I spoke by phone with Washington state superdelegate Pat Notter, who endorsed Obama in January. When I asked her about possible vice presidents for either Obama or Hillary, she had this to say:

It seems to me that the strongest ticket with either Hillary or Barack, either one of them, would be to latch onto a white, male, moderate governor-type person - someone who is more conservative, who would help bring more moderates on board, and help balance out the fact that those two people are in the minority.

I agree with this in terms of electability. It would be great if Obama could choose whomever he wants, but the fact is that he is the first truly viable black presidential candidate, and he may need a VP who can “balance” the ticket. Choosing someone from the South would also make geographical sense, to help wrangle the Southern vote in the general election.

When I think “white, male and Southern,” I immediately think of John Edwards, who filled the VP slot on the “John-John” Democratic ticket of 2004. However, I don’t really see him running with Obama - the “John-John” ticket failed, and the last thing a presidential candidate wants to be associated with is failure.

This debate will rage on until Obama (assuming that he is the nominee) actually picks a VP, but it sure is fun to speculate.