The presidential election is now at the phase of how the quality of vice-presidential running mates should compliment the short falls (i.e., age, link to key states, experience in international affairs and economics) of both presumptive presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

The deletion of Hilary Clinton from Obama’s short list (according to Obama campaign, Bill Clinton’s business activities may pose a Pandora box) has the media speculating on Senators like Joseph Biden, Evan Bayh, (John Edwards was mentioned early on but is now out of the picture with his extra marital affair scandal) and even Republican Chuck Hagel.

Comparing Obama’s current emergence and challenges with those of John Kennedy during the 1960 presidential election, there are two most outstanding similarities: a talented politician but whose youth and short track records pose a question of whether he is qualified for the job; the other is how the selection of a vice-presidential running mate could off set the experience issue.

As the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Kennedy’s selection of Lyndon Johnson was controversial. Jonson was a bitter rival and there was a fear that he may overshadow the younger and less experienced Kennedy. In the end, Kennedy had decided getting votes was more important than compatibility. The ensuing history would show that Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon, proved to be a world leader during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Johnson, as vice president, could never compete with Kennedy for the public limelight.

Hilary Clinton, like Johnson, has solid senatorial records and national stature (though controversial at times) and has proven to be a tremendous vote getter. But her failed primary campaign has clearly inflicted some damages to Obama’s image and left some lingering bitterness in Obama’s camp. On the other hand, judging from the “realpolitik” angle, Clinton – with her political talents and capability of mobilizing women and Latino votes – has no rivals among Obama’s current short list.

The mood of the country is clearly for a change. However, the seed of doubt of whether Barack Obama is qualified for president has been sowed. This means although he is the non-incumbent Democratic candidate during this period of a Republican administration whose rating has been at the low 30% in almost two years, his election is not a sure thing. Improving his ascent seems to lie with Obama’s bitter rival Hilary Clinton.