First, Do No Harm

I believe the Hippocratic oath applies with equal measure here: first, do no harm. For, in reality, Vice Presidential choices don't win elections. But with gaze pointed firmly in the direction of soccer mom Sarah Palin, who could (so SNL informed us) see Russia from her house and was irrevocably linked to building a bridge to nowhere, V.P's can do a Titanic on the captain of the party's ship.  

Just ask poor Thomas Eagleton whose fatal flaw was in having been treated for depression earlier in his life. And rather than this being an anchor weighing down George McGovern, Mr. Eagleton was thrown overboard.

But for the likes of Donald Trump, J.D. Vance is but one tiny step removed from irrelevancy. For who given the outsized personality of Mr. Trump, and the starkness of the choice between him and Kamala Harris will cast their vote predicated on the choice of underling? God help us all if that is the difference maker.

As to the Dems, any of the possibilities presented to Ms. Harris seem as if they can stand on their own feet, chew gum and walk at the same time, and be zealous advocates for the party's standard-bearer. 

So while there is much triangulating being done to determine where this one may be of assistance and that one may not, as long as they are cheerleaders and do not implode, they will have passed the test and fully met the moment.  

First, do no harm.