Kerry-Edwards is “an exciting ticket” — or so says Dick Gephardt, a man who knows excitement when he sees it. For Kerry, the dour Northeastern presidential candidate, John Edwards was an obvious choice as number two. As Republicans have already breathlessly pointed out, both men are doggedly liberal. They have mostly insignificant differences in policy. And Edwards’ well-documented mass appeal — which actually has a basis in a refreshing willingness to make concessions and sometimes grant credit to opponents, along with “lookin’ good” at 51 — can do little but help John Kerry.

The early attacks on Edwards’s credentials have been less than convincing, particularly the absurd assertion that, if Kerry’s incapacity forced Edwards into the presidency, his “inexperience” would compel him to freeze up like the 6-year-old school play lead on opening night. Spare us.

It’d be easy to say Kerry’s selection was based solely on the winner’s merits and not on any particular flaws in the runners-up. And, in the senator’s mind, maybe it was. However, the passing over of Gov. Tom Vilsack was wise on Kerry’s part. Vilsack’s record as Iowa’s head man is laden with disturbing parallels to the 4-year career of the man he’ll spend the next four months campaigning against — President Bush.

A race between Vilsack and Dick Cheney to run the U.S. Senate would at best be a wash. Members of both parties have said congressional civility is at an all-time low, and clearly Cheney is not a big fan of at least one senator — but Vilsack couldn’t be considered a uniter using any lens, an important qualification in a body that will probably not stray far from its current 51-48-1 composition.

Vilsack’s work with a Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature has bordered on embarrassing. To be fair, plenty of blame is due the legislators too — but even then, the same holds true in the repeated fights between Bush and Congress over numerous controversial confirmations and legislations.

In fact, current retrospective battles over the war in Iraq, No Child Left Behind, the Patriot Act and tax cuts suggest Bush is a far superior politician to Vilsack, since he apparently can “snooker” people into voting for his pet policies. Vilsack, in contrast, every year tries the tired threat of a money-wasting special session to get his way — and it usually doesn’t work.

Kerry, Edwards and Vilsack are all fond of criticizing the economy and the state of education. Guess what — when it comes to jobs and education, things aren’t exactly rosy in Iowa, either.

Vilsack was an inferior choice, whether Kerry realized it or not.