Welcome back for more speculation! As promised yesterday, today we'll be polling my personal top 14 possibilities for Obama's v.p. This is the first time I've listed just my personal top 14, so you can see my true biases and whether you agree. (They are not those I necessarily consider most likely to be chosen.)

I'm still alternating "break-out" polls for a while longer with the top 14 average vote-getting candidates in these threads' polls, averaging in each day's votes as we go. I'm going to do the top Westerners, military veterans, those experienced with foreign policy/national security issues, and governors before cutting 14 names to narrow the field to just two tiers--that's if Obama hasn't decided by then, of course.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..." "Oh my God, where's Jane/Johnny Politician?!" would be a bit alarmist, don't you think? I'm sure they're fine. I'm happy to hear all ideas, and of course I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

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Welcome back for more veep speculation! Last thread (two days ago) we considered the top Southern candidates. Averaging in those votes yielded a slightly different top 14 average vote-getters overall as the thread before that--namely, Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL) dropped down a few spots, and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg moved up into the top tier--so we'll consider this new top 14 in today's poll.

I'm thinking of running some more "break-out" polls in the coming days, alternating with the top 14 candidates, averaging in each day's votes as we go.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..." "Oh my God, where's Johnny Politician?!" would be a bit alarmist, don't you think? I'm sure they're fine. I'm happy to hear all ideas, and of course I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

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This is an ongoing series from the national tour for THE UPRISING. You can order The Uprising at Amazon.com or through your local independent bookstore.

CHICAGO - Per the last few posts, I debated my latest newspaper column on McCain and NAFTA on Fox Business. Watch it here:

This is an ongoing blog series from the national book tour of The Uprising. Order it at Amazon.com or through your local independent bookstore.

SEATTLE - As the vice-presidential speculation intensifies, we cannot lose sight of just how intense the populist uprising is in our country today - and how it is, fundamentally, a backlash to conservative economic policies and liberal capitulation. This is what the cover of my new book, THE UPRISING, metaphorically depicts - and what the cover of this recent edition of The Economist portrays, as well. This is why my new newspaper column this week says that Barack Obama should not pick Hillary Clinton for vice president - but an anti-Clinton.

Welcome back for more v.p. speculation! I had a doctor's appointment today, so I'm a bit late posting, but I decided to go ahead as it is still the 5 o'clock hour here on the left coast. As promised two threads ago, since the top 14 average vote-getting candidates list was unchanged from the previous thread I ran, today's will present the second tier of vote-getters and add one new name not yet tested here, Fmr. Sen. Tom Daschle (SD), who replaces Gov. Ted Strickland (OH), who definitively took himself out of contention yesterday.

I'm thinking of running some "break-out" polls after that, perhaps by age, sex, military experience, place on the political spectrum, etc., some of which I've done before, but we'll see about that after the next thread.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..." "Oh my God, where's Johnny Politician?!" would be a bit alarmist, don't you think? I'm sure they're fine. I'm happy to hear all ideas, and of course I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

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We've all seen the results of the "free" trade system that has run our economy for the last few decades: communities shattered, families broken apart, dreams run aground. And in exchange? A tidal wave of cheap plastic junk, and a new generation of workers overseas to be exploited in sweatshops.

To put the American Dream back within reach for workers everywhere, we need a trade system that embodies progressive values rather than focusing solely on the corporate bottom line.

Well, for the first time in decades, we now have the opportunity to pass such a trade system into law. But it won't happen without your help.

(After the jump - learn more, including how you can take action to make a progressive trade system a reality.)

 In good news: yesterday, a group of Congressional leaders--and I mean leaders in the sense that they take leadership, not that they hold some exalted post...posts that often make them not leaders but suppressors of leadership--set out to stick a shiv in so-called "free trade" agreements. Any reader of this blog knows what I think of so-called "free trade": it's a marketing phrase used to aid the imposing of a harsh economic regime of declining wages and corporate power around the globe. The plundering of the world's resources--human and physical--does not increase or decline based solely on the imposition of so-called "free trade" deals but these deals to grease the process.

Welcome back to your Daily Open Obama V.P. Thread. Sorry I missed yesterday!

Today's poll will test some previously tested names who didn't do as well as some others so far. I might be re-running some previous (mostly) second-tier names for one or two more days. Then I'll reaverage and again run the top choices overall.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..." "Oh my God, where's Johnny Politician?!" would be a bit alarmist, don't you think? I'm sure they're fine. I'm happy to hear all ideas, and of course I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

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Amidst all the discussions about Barack Obama's potential running mate, the single most important consideration is being consistently overlooked.

The office of vice-president exists so that the president can be swiftly replaced in the event of his death, removal or incapacitation. Indeed, this is why we have vice-presidents. These individuals are only a heartbeat away from the most powerful office in the world.

This is such a stark consideration that it really ought to narrow things down somewhat regarding whom Obama should choose. Far too many discussions that I have observed treat the "running mate" as some kind of special electoral buddy, whose primary responsibility is to somehow grab votes that Obama could not secure on his own. Much of the reasoning behind the purported electoral impact of the running mate is ill-founded, speculative and secondary to our principal goal of electing representatives that we believe in.

Welcome back to your Daily Open Obama V.P. Thread. I've been running these threads mostly daily for about three weeks, with the last two weeks dedicated to an elimination series featuring the top 14 average vote-getters from my v.p. polls, and so without further ado, your winner is Sen. Jim Webb (VA), quite narrowly in the average vote total over Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (KS).

Today's poll will test a few new names, including Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA), Rep. Diana DeGette (CO), Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN), Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL), Reps. Patrick Murphy (PA), Linda Sanchez (CA), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD) and Joe Sestak (PA), Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA), Rep. Robert Wexler (FL) and also some previously tested names who didn't do as well as some others so far. I might re-run names for two or three days. Then I'll reaverage and again run the top choices overall.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe __ __ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..." "Oh my God, where's Johnny Politician?" would be a bit alarmist, don't you think? I'm happy to hear all ideas, and of course I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

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Welcome to the Final Smackdown of the elimination round begun 12 threads ago with 14 of the top average vote-getters from my v.p. polls so far. Only two candidates now remain, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (KS) and Sen. Jim Webb (VA). I will announce the winner in tomorrow's thread, with a brand-new vice presidential poll.

Feel free to discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments, hence the name open thread. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..."

There's still enough room to turn all the options over a few more times. My current plan for tomorrow is to test a few names I haven't yet, including Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA), Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN), Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL), Reps. Patrick Murphy (PA), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD) and Joe Sestak (PA) and Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA), and also re-run some previously tested names who didn't do as well as some others so far. I might re-run names for two or three days. Then I'll reaverage and run the top choices overall.

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Welcome back for more Obama v.p speculation. We are down to the top three candidates now in our current elimination series, begun eleven threads ago with 14 of the top average vote-getters from my v.p. polls so far.

Once again we'll take away one chair and stop the music with your votes to see who will remain tomorrow. You should feel free to discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments, hence the name open thread. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe __ __ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..."

This poll won't be including new names until this elimination series has finished, but feel free to suggest any new names for then. There's still enough room to turn all the options over a few more times. My current plan is to test a few names I haven't yet in the first post-elimination poll in a few days, including Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA), Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN), Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL), Reps. Patrick Murphy (PA), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD) and Joe Sestak (PA) and Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA), and also re-running some previously tested names who didn't do as well as some others so far. Then I'll reaverage and run the top choices overall the next day.

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Welcome back for more Obama v.p speculation. We are down to the final four candidates now in our current elimination series, begun ten threads ago with 14 of the top average vote-getters from my v.p. polls so far.

Once again we'll take away one chair and stop the music with your votes to see who will remain tomorrow. You should feel free to discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments, hence the name open thread. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe __ __ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..."

This poll won't be including new names until this elimination series has finished, but feel free to suggest any new names for then. There's still enough room to turn all the options over a few more times. My current plan is to test a few names I haven't yet in the first post-elimination poll less than a week from now, including Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA), Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN), Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL), Reps. Patrick Murphy (PA), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD) and Joe Sestak (PA) and Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA), and also re-running some previously tested names who didn't do as well as some others so far. Then I'll reaverage and run the top choices overall the next day.

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Welcome back for more Obama v.p speculation. We are down to five candidates now in our current elimination series, begun nine threads ago with 14 of the top average vote-getters from my v.p. polls so far.

Once again we'll take away one chair and stop the music with your votes to see who will remain tomorrow. You still may and should feel free to discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments, hence the name open thread. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..."

This poll won't be expanding or including new names until this elimination series has finished up, but feel free to suggest any new names for then. There's still enough room to turn all the options over a few more times. My current plan is to test a few names I haven't yet in the first post-elimination poll under a week from now, definitely including Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA), Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN), Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL), Rep. Joe Sestak (PA) and Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA), and also re-running some previously tested names who didn't do as well as some others so far. Then I'll reaverage and run the top choices overall the next day.

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Welcome back for more Obama v.p speculation. We are down to six candidates now in our current elimination series, begun eight threads ago with 14 of the top average vote-getters from my v.p. polls so far.

Once again we'll take away one chair and stop the music with your votes to see who will remain tomorrow. You still may and should feel free to discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments, hence the name open thread. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..."

This poll won't be expanding or including new names until this elimination series has finished up, but feel free to suggest any new names for then. There's still enough room to turn all the options over a few more times. My current plan is to test a few names I haven't yet in the first post-elimination poll in a little under a week or so, definitely including Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA), Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN), Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL), Rep. Joe Sestak (PA) and Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA), and also re-running some previously tested names who didn't do as well as some others so far. Then I'll reaverage and run the top choices overall the next day.

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Welcome back for more Obama v.p speculation. We are down to seven candidates now in our current elimination series, begun seven threads ago with 14 of the top average vote-getters from my v.p. polls so far.

Once again we'll take away one chair and stop the music with your votes to see who will remain tomorrow. You still may and should feel free to discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments, hence the name open thread. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..."

This poll won't be expanding or including new names until this elimination series has finished up, but feel free to suggest any new names for then. There's still enough room to turn all the options over a few more times. My current plan is to test a few names I haven't yet in the first post-elimination poll in a week or so, definitely including Sen. Joe Biden (MBNA), Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN), Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL), Rep. Joe Sestak (PA) and Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA), and also re-running some previously tested names who didn't do as well as some others so far. Then I'll reaverage and run the top choices overall the next day.

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Welcome back for more Obama v.p speculation. We are down to eight candidates in our current elimination series, begun six threads ago with fourteen of the top average vote-getters from my v.p. polls so far.

Once again we'll take away one chair and stop the music with your votes to see who will remain tomorrow. You still may and should feel free to discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments, hence the name open thread. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..."

This poll won't be expanding or including new names until this elimination series has finished up, but feel free to suggest any new names for then. There's still enough room to turn all the options over a few more times. My current plan is to test a few names I haven't yet in the first post-elimination poll in a week or so, definitely including Fmr. Vice President Al Gore (TN), Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL), Rep. Joe Sestak (PA) and Fmr. Gov. Mark Warner (VA), and also re-running some previously tested names who didn't do as well as some others so far. Then I'll reaverage and run the top choices overall the next day.

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We now return to our previously scheduled Obama v.p. speculation, having taken yesterday off for some much deserved Hillary excoriation.

Today we'll continue the elimination poll we began five threads ago with fourteen of the top average vote-getters from my v.p. polls so far.

Once again we'll take away one chair and stop the music with your votes to see who will remain tomorrow. You still may and should feel free to discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments, hence the name open thread. The correct format would be to simply state their name, unless you have further comments, in which case, "I believe ___ ___ should be Obama's v.p. running mate because..." This poll won't be expanding or including new names until this elimination series has finished up, in about a little over a week or so, but feel free to suggest new names for then.

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