Instead, Obama could consider Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill or Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Either woman, he said, would be "very appealing" to female voters. "That group worked hard for Hillary and Obama is going to have to work to capture their votes."

However, Obama's strongest choice for vice president could come from further south -- former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn.

"Obama is going to have to do something quickly to address his issue of inexperience," he said. "And Sam Nunn is the perfect choice."

Nunn, Carmack said, "is squeaky clean and an expert in military preparedness."

"Nunn has all sorts of military experience," he said. "And Obama has none. Again, it's all about balance. Nunn would bring that balance."

And while Carmack said he expects both Obama and McCain to choose solid running mates, he said either man would make a good president.

"When McCain got the nomination, I remember saying, 'We can't go wrong,' because I think he'd serve very well as president," he said. "I'm not opposed to him at all. But I am concerned since he started all this pandering. He's waffled so much and said so many curious things; it scares me when he chums around with guys like Jerry Falwell."

Still, Carmack said he expects Obama to win in the fall.

"I think it will probably be Obama," he said. "He's sort of the Tiger Woods of the political world, and I don't know if anyone can fill up the hole that George Bush has dug; people are so ready for a change of administration. The Democrats have the best chance they've had since the first term of the Clinton presidency."

M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com