Leiberman evokes no passion, even less than Kerry. Would have got less GOTV than Kerry even if he would have one over War-On-Terror Dems like Eby.

Dean evoked passion but no thinking. Would have alienated swing voters.

Gephardt? Yuk. Clark, politically inept. Edwards, too young
Rest either too wacko or too left .

Kerry was best man out of a lousy bunch.

Really needed someone a bit more, well, Clintonian (politically, if not morally).
Enough of the NE technocrats candidates already.
Needed a Southerner, not from the Senate, who could better connect with people.
Rules out all who stood.

Who would that person be? I have no friggin idea. Clinton came out of nowhere - who else was there?
Kerry was a good candidate when we needed a great one.
The myth of the Bush persona lived on, depite best efforts to kill it (or facts for that matter).