Obama's Female Veep Hopefuls Aren't Clintonesque

Unlike Hillary Clinton, the three leading female contenders for a spot on Barack Obama’s ticket aren’t divisive figures and haven’t played up their gender. Ben Adler, writing for Politico, takes a look at Kansas guv Kathleen Sebelius, Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, and Arizona guv Janet Napolitano.

Adler speaks to home-state Republicans about their Dem leaders, and finds that Napolitano is praised as a manager (and damned as “highly calculating”), Sebelius for her bipartisanship (two GOP lieutenant governors), and McCaskill for her campaigning skills and rural appeal (her bona fides among women are weakest). The selection of any of the women could help heal a rift with Clinton supporters. (More Barack Obama stories.)