Maureen Groppe has an article entitled Bayh says ‘dynamics’ of campaign hurt his chances. Dynamic might be the key word here. It’s not a word that comes readily to mind when describing Senator Bayh. And, it the present campaign culture, a Presidential candidate needs a running mate who is willing and able to throw a few punches at the competition. Edwards did a tolerably good job, I thought, for John Kerry; but I still cringe at Gore’s selection of Lieberman on the campaign trail.

Lieberman and Bayh have a lot in common: both are collegial conservative Democrats. I don’t think either are well suited to the attack dog role. More recent history has shown us that Lieberman is more comfortable attacking Democrats than he ever was attacking Republicans. (I still recall the Vice Presidential debate where Lieberman let Cheney get away with claiming that he didn’t owe his success to the government — Cheney of all people owed his wealth to his government positions; getting his position with Halliburton because of his Defense Department and other government jobs and then making money for Halliburton by landing government contracts. For Lieberman to keep his mouth shut in the face of that remark was inexcusable.

Anyway, I don’t see Republican attack dog in Bayh’s future, but I also don’t see him well-suited for throwing out the anti-McCain red meat so that Obama can appear above the fray.