There's been a surprising amount of buzz hinting at the possibility that Barack Obama might offer the VP slot to Mike Bloomberg -- speculation inspired by Bloomberg's introduction of Obama before today's economic policy speech in New York.

I'd bet pretty heavily against an Obama-Bloomberg pairing. For starters, the main thing that Bloomberg would bring to the table is the same thing that Obama already has: appeal to upper-income Democrats and independents. Geographically, Bloomberg has nothing to offer, and there's no indication that he'd be a great campaigner. I've even heard the idea that Obama ought to pick Bloomberg because he's Jewish. Speaking as a Jew, I can assure you that whether or not someone is Jewish is irrelevant to me -- and I think most Jews. I was not at all pleased with the selection of Joe Lieberman by Al Gore, for example.

Obama needs someone who will put a little pickup truck into his campaign. Names that come to mind are Bill Richardson, John Edwards, and Mark Brian Schweitzer. I'm sure there are others that would be good -- just not Bloomberg.

I could see Bloomberg as Treasury Secretary though.