Yowza. Mike Young and Terry Madonna make the case for Ed as the Democratic veep candidate.

The critical benchmarks for that choice are well established: vice-presidential candidates are vetted for their ideological and personal compatibility with the presidential candidate. They must also pass some minimal test for presidential succession, and they must carry with them the electoral votes of their own states.

On all of these grounds, Rendell is a strong contender for the vice-presidential nomination. He is, first of all, a successful two-term governor in a year that virtually all observers believe the number-two spot will go to a governor. As governor, Rendell achieved a substantial portion of his policy agenda in his first term despite having to work with a Republican majority in the Legislature.

Equally important, Rendell has great appeal to suburban voters who are now the key electorate in presidential elections. Rendell’s strength in the suburbs has been largely responsible for his decisive Pennsylvania victories. In 2006, he won 70 percent of the vote in the Philadelphia suburbs. And in state politics, Rendell’s suburban popularity has become a catalyst shifting Pennsylvania away from the GOP.

Then, too, Rendell’s extraordinary Philadelphia mayoral tenure provides him with a success story in salvaging the city from fiscal insolvency and resuscitating center-city development. Tagged “America’s Mayor” by Al Gore, Rendell’s urban policy bona fides are impressive by any measure.

Finally, he is a brilliant campaigner, as even his opponents will attest, who has raised more campaign money than any other politician in Pennsylvania history.

This is an impressive array of political assets, but Rendell brings to the race something even more important: He puts Pennsylvania solidly in the Democratic column. The state is a key in the Electoral College sweepstakes — arguably one of three along with Ohio and Florida that could make the difference in 2008. With Rendell on the ticket, the Keystone State is a slam dunk for Democrats — without Rendell on the ballot it could be dicey.

Mickey Kaus at Slate says uh-uh.

The strongest argument I can see against Rendell being the Dem’s vice-presidential candidate is that he should be the presidential candidate. … He’s probably too outspoken and candid for a controlling personality like Hillary–another point in his favor. … Rendell/Zinni ‘08. The bipartisan all-beef no-BS ticket.

Gov. Ed outspoken? Really?