Kerry On

Evidently, John Kerry has chosen John Edwards to be his running mate for the fall.

The Good:

• Edwards can only make Kerry look more alive, interesting, and in-touch, three things he’s been struggling with. Edwards has a great personality and vigor that the Kerry campaign has sorely lacked.

• Is cross-regional appeal still meaningful? Are folks in the South more likely to vote for Kerry/Edwards than Kerry/some-other-Yankee? If there’s any truth left to that, Edwards is a good choice (certainly a better one than another “establishment politician” sort).

• Edwards could be a blithering idiot and he’ll still dance rings around Cheney in any veep debate. Edwards looks like the likeable action hero that defeats the evil Cheney-bot without either of them opening their mouths.

• If Kerry wins, it positions Edwards for a strong run on the presidency in eight years (though VP succession ain’t what it used to be). If Kerry loses, the VP run may enhance his connections and prominence enough to give Edwards a good run (if he chooses) next time out.

The Bad:

• Edwards struck me as definitely to the populist left of Kerry during the primaries. Will Kerry have to moderate his views, or (more likely) will it be Edwards who does so, and how will that play?

• While Edwards lends perkiness to the ticket, he may actually show up his running mate. If Kerry can pull off being the sober elder statesman while Edwards is the flashy youthful protege, it will work. Otherwise, he may just make Kerry look like even more of a stiff.

The Ugly:

• Cue reporters (and RNC flacks) rooting around for any criticisms that Edwards made of Kerry during the campaign (or vice-versa). While Edwards ran a pretty positive/clean campaign, y’gotta know there’ll be something there that folks can leap on.

• John & John?

UPDATE: Well, the RNC flacks are certainly on the job this morning regarding differences between Kerry and Edwards during the primaries. Not that it’s invalid to point out those differences, but there’s a certain amount of glee over it.