FIRST EDWARDS, THEN STRICKLAND AND NOW WEBB: NOBODY WANTS TO RUN WITH OBAMA

MCGOVERN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM - AND FELT FORCED TO PICK THOMAS EAGLETON, WHO HAD TO REPLACED BY SARGENT SHRIVER, A KENNEDY APPARATCHIK.

DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT; LISTEN TO MCGOVERN HIMSELF: HUFFPO:

"Remember the Hippocratic Oath that doctors take: first do no harm," said the South Dakota Democrat in a telephone interview. "You want to be sure that whoever you pick is not going to prove to be a controversial person and make it more difficult for you to run."*

McGovern should know. His initial choice for vice president turned out to be a monumental blunder after it was revealed that Sen. Thomas Eagleton had once undergone shock therapy. McGovern, who initially claimed to back the Missouri Democrat "1000 percent," was eventually forced to accept his withdrawal. Since then, the '72 campaign has become exhibit A for a vice presidential search gone wrong.

"We didn't have any time for [background research]," he recalled. "The first half dozen people that I chose turned me down. I guess they didn't think I had a chance to win or they just didn't want to be Vice President...."

THE SAME THING APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING TO OBAMA:

• EDWARDS HAS SAID HE'S NOT INTERESTED.
• JOE BIDEN SAYS HE'S NOT INTERESTED, BUT MIGHT SAY YES IF ASKED.
• DITTO KERRY.
• GOVERNOR TOM STRICKLAND OF OHIO HAS SAID HE'S NOT INTERESTED.
• SENATOR BAYH SAID HE'S NOT INTERESTED - BUT MIGHT SAY YES.
• GOVERNOR BREDESEN SAYS HE'S NOT INTERESTED.
• WEBB HAS NOW SAID HE'S NOT INTERESTED.

AT THIS RATE OBAMA MIGHT HAVE TO PICK CAROLINE!

Update: Rick Moran has much more!