Tom Vilsack as veep? Pluses and minuses

Vilsack as veep?

Some Iowa Democrats like the idea of Tom Vilsack as a 2016 vice presidential candidate. Here are some of arguments they made:

PLUSES

He's already a vice-vice president, a trusted Cabinet member. He has the highest national security clearance and is familiar with the inner workings of the White House.

He's compatible with Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, the two most likely prospects for a presidential bid.

He has built a resume of international experience, with trade negotiations and other matters.

He has experience at several levels of government and politics — as mayor, state senator, a two-term governor, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association and as a federal department head.

The Pennsylvania-born Midwesterner has a squeaky clean background.

His rural background and communication skills — he's a former trial lawyer with a compelling personal story — help him connect with blue-collar and rural voters.

MINUSES

During his own bid for the White House — it lasted only 96 days between November 2006 and February 2007 — his fundraising efforts fell flat. Among his obstacles: competing with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

He was rejected as a running mate once before, by John Kerry in 2004. A CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll that summer found only 3 percent of national Democrats would be "enthusiastic" about Vilsack being on the ticket.

There may be other Democrats in the soap opera that is the vice presidential selection process who generate more excitement.