Hillary Clinton's potential vice presidential picks
Hillary Clinton's running mate should square the circle. Required is the gravitas to be vice president. But he or she should also give her a boost in a key state or with a key constituency and appeal to progressives.
Elizabeth Warren
The senator from Massachusetts is the darling of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. The former Harvard law scholar is a passionate voice on economic justice and consumer rights issues. She has also shown herself to be an outspoken surrogate for Hillary Clinton willing to go-head-to-head with Donald Trump. By selecting Warren, Clinton would opt for an historic all-female ticket.
Tim Kaine
The former governor and current senator of Virginia is considered the safe, if somewhat uninspired choice for a running mate. Kaine has several assets and one downside: He represents a swing state, speaks fluent Spanish and boasts extensive political experience. But like Clinton herself, Kaine would be a clear establishment choice in an election rife with anti-establishment fervor.
Julian Castro
Seen by many as the future of the Democratic Party, Julian Castro would be the first Hispanic candidate on a presidential ticket of either of the two major parties. The youthful former mayor of San Antonio in Texas is currently Barack Obama's housing and urban development secretary. A graduate of both Stanford and Harvard, Castro has been a strong proponent for same-sex marriage.
Sherrod Brown
A liberal Democrat from Ohio, Brown has been representing the swing-state in Washington since 1993. A vocal opponent of international trade agreements and strong supporter of his state's industrial base, he could help Clinton win over an important constituency: white workers. But choosing Brown would lead to a vacancy in the Senate which would likely be filled by a Republican.
Cory Booker
A former mayor and current senator from New Jersey, Booker could help Clinton energize a key Democratic constituency: African-American voters. With his progressive leanings on social issues coupled with his more conservative stance on economic affairs, he offers something for both wings of his party. Unusual for a senator, Booker, with more than 1 million followers, is a Twitter celebrity.
Xavier Becerra
The chairman of the Democratic Caucus in the US House of Representatives is the Democratic Party's highest ranking Latino and a strong advocate of immigration reform. Becerra, who hails from California and is fully bilingual, serves as an important link to the Hispanic community. He has been a strong Clinton supporter, but his progressive leanings could make him acceptable to Sanders' supporters.