Madame Vice President, Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton is still a slight favorite to be Barack Obama's running mate, at least according to the online betting markets. Intrade puts her at 22 percent and Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia at 19 percent. To be honest, I think Webb probably would give Obama everything that Hillary would say she brings to a ticket—appeal to white, working-class voters and foreign policy experience—with none of the drawbacks. (That would be hubby Bill.) And it seems doubtful that her middle-aged feminist base would flock to a John McCain-Mike Huckabee or McCain-Mitt Romney ticket or even stay home. But Obama might be well served by adding some of her policy ideas to his campaign agenda. Here are a few he might want to take a look at:

1. Create government-sponsored innovation prizes to spur research into key underfunded technologies.
2. Create universal savings accounts to which the government will match contributions by taxpayers with incomes of less than six figures.
3. Pledge to not raise capital-gains taxes beyond the 20 percent rate of the Clinton administration.

And here are three he should avoid:

1. Freezing mortgage rates
2. Calling for a free-trade "timeout" or pause
3. Determining just how profitable oil companies should be