Democratic vice presidential candidates

Former La. Sen. John Breaux

The pitch
A former US senator from Louisiana, John Breaux could aid Obama in his home state and nearby Arkansas. After leaving the Senate in 2005, Breaux began working on a bipartisan healthcare initiative, giving him credentials on an important campaign issue.

The downside
Breaux isn't exactly a household name, and since leaving the Senate in 2005 he has worked as a lobbyist -- a sector Obama may want to avoid in his VP search.
(AP)
Former La. Sen. John Breaux The pitch A former US senator from Louisiana, John Breaux could aid Obama in his home state and nearby Arkansas. After leaving the Senate in 2005, Breaux began working on a bipartisan healthcare initiative, giving him credentials on an important campaign issue. The downside Breaux isn't exactly a household name, and since leaving the Senate in 2005 he has worked as a lobbyist -- a sector Obama may want to avoid in his VP search.