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Joe Biden is named Obama's running mate
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Joseph R. Biden Jr. ★ the pick
Pros: The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he would help close the nominee's "experience deficit" on national security. Cons: He has publicly criticized Obama's willingness to meet with leaders of Iran and North Korea -- and he comes from one of the smallest states in the nation.
Evan Bayh ★ top contender
Pros: A prominent Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter, he would symbolize another step toward party unity and could help Obama win Indiana. Cons: He is more hawkish than Obama when it comes to foreign policy.
Tim Kaine ★ top contender
Pros: A popular governor, he's a moderate and could help Obama pick up support in key swing states, including his own. Cons: His political experience is mostly at the state and local levels.
Pros: She is backed by millions of Democratic voters, with especially strong support among women, Latinos and blue-collar workers. Cons: Obama aides say they worry that Clinton's husband, the former president, might become a distraction. » See story: Clinton no longer considered for VP
Pros: After decades in Washington, he doesn't lack experience. Cons: His ties to lobbyists (his wife is one) clash with Obama's promises to decrease lobbyists' political influence.
Pros: A longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has expertise that Obama's critics say he lacks. Cons: Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, he recently has had to explain why he got a special deal on his mortgage from Countrywide Financial Corp.
Pros: Hagel, a Republican who opposed the war in Iraq, would symbolize the kind of bipartisanship Obama is emphasizing. Cons: He could alienate Democrats who think he is too conservative on social issues like abortion.
Pros: She comes across as an affable everywoman -- who also happens to be a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Cons: She lacks experience and wouldn't add geographical diversity to the ticket.
Pros: A former U.S. attorney and Arizona's first female attorney general, she could get Obama more votes in the Southwest. Cons: Even with her on the ticket, Obama would have a tough time winning Arizona.
Pros: He could help Obama carry Georgia and other states in the South, and his foreign policy credentials would be a bonus. Cons: He's been out of politics for more than a decade, and opposed President Clinton's 1993 proposal to allow gays to serve openly in the military.
Pros: He's a military veteran, and accompanied Obama on his recent trip abroad. Cons: He has said that he has "no interest" in the vice presidency.
Pros: His foreign policy work during the Clinton administration could help make up for Obama's lack of experience, and he could help win Latino voters. Cons: During his campaign for the Democratic nomination, he didn't exactly fire up voters.
Pros: She might be able to help Obama pick up a few Republican-leaning states. Cons: Choosing a woman other than Clinton might alienate the New York senator's supporters.
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