The silly season of the presidential campaign is officially open: a CNN blog suggested that Mike Easley or John Edwards might be Barack Obama’s running mate.

Let us count the many ways neither makes sense.

The apparent theory is that one of them could help Obama carry North Carolina or a Southern state. This myth dates back to JFK and LBJ in 1960. The Kennedys figured that if LBJ could steal enough votes in Texas to be elected Senator he could steal enough votes to elect JFK.

The running-mate-carries-a-state theory has not worked since.

Witness especially Edwards in North Carolina in 2004. Worse for Edwards, he got a reputation then of looking out for himself more than John Kerry. Worse again, Elizabeth Edwards has made clear her disapproval of Obama.

And Easley?

Ask yourself: What would the Republican attack machine do the minute he was picked? They would start asking:

• What’s the running mate’s travel budget?

• Will Obama provide the Easleys with matching chauffeur-driven Mercedes for the campaign?

• What kind of job will Mary Easley get in the administration? And what will be the salary be?

Easley himself would ask Obama: Do I have to leave the house to campaign?

Let’s get real, folks.

The only real running-mate possibility in North Carolina is on the other side: Senator Richard Burr.

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