It sure looks like Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhat Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. But Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 Biden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security MORE (Vt.) has run an exciting and vigorous campaign and has definitely pushed her to be a more progressive candidate.

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The "Sanders people" are committed and dedicated to the ideas and principles that he espouses. Young people and old-fashioned, unapologetic liberals are not excited with Clinton. The Clinton campaign's greatest worry is that the Sanders people will not embrace Clinton in the general election, or worse, that they will stay at home and not vote for her at all.

However, while a vice-presidential choice may not guarantee an election, it can make a profound and determining difference.

Lyndon Johnson in 1960, Kennedy's pick, surely secured the South. Al Gore Albert (Al) Arnold GoreFox's Napolitano: 2000 election will look like 'child's play' compared to 2020 legal battles Who calls an election? Why we need patience and nonpartisanship this time Universal mail-in voting jeopardizes the equal right to vote, but absentee voting protects it MORE in 1992 was a definite asset to Bill Clinton William (Bill) Jefferson ClintonBarr says Ginsburg 'leaves a towering legacy' Trump reacts to Ginsburg's death: 'An amazing woman who led an amazing life' Jimmy Carter remembers Ruth Bader Ginsburg as 'a beacon of justice' MORE and the two looked and campaigned well together. (By the way, Gore in 2000 should have picked then-Sen. Bob Graham to be his running mate. Graham won every election he ever contested in Florida, including seats in the state House of Representatives and Senate, two terms as governor, and three terms as U.S. senator. Graham would have delivered Florida and the whole recount mess would never have happened. You can't tell me Graham was not worth an additional 537 votes in Florida in 2000.)

I know the campaign is not over and that Sanders will stay in the race all the way to the end (as he should), but right after the District of Columbia primary on June 14, Clinton should very soon after name her choice for vice president.

The best and wisest choice for a variety of good reasons is Sen. Sherrod Brown Sherrod Campbell BrownBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Emboldened Democrats haggle over 2021 agenda Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election MORE of Ohio. (As for his saying he doesn't want to be selected, don't believe it. That's just a politically correct official disclaimer.) This selection will say to the Sanders people that political idealism and philosophy mean something to Clinton. Brown has been repeatedly referred to as "unfailingly liberal." That's good news to all those liberals and progressives who were drawn to, and stayed attached to, Sanders. But more crucial to a successful campaign, Brown also has been described as an "ardent defender of the working class." This is a group of voters which Clinton has had a great deal of difficulty attracting to her side.

I have always thought that the vice presidency had two essential requirements. First and foremost, one must be qualified to assume the office of president if something should happen to the president. Brown, by all means, meets that standard. He graduated from Yale and has two master's degrees: one in education and the other in public administration. He has a long and scandal-free career in public office, including eight years in the Ohio House of Representatives, eight years as Ohio's secretary of State, 14 years as member of the U.S. House of Representatives and finally, he's been elected twice to the U.S. Senate.

A few months back, I wrote how important the state of Ohio is to the Democratic Party when it comes to winning the presidency. Since 1964, no Democrat has won the presidency without winning the Buckeye State. And to magnify this even more, no Republican has ever won the presidency without winning Ohio.

Brown has consistently shown how popular and electable he is in this all-important stance. I don't believe the residents of this state would turn away from this favorite son. Brown in person is approachable, accessible and tremendously amiable. He never comes off as distant or diffident. He's truly informal and likeable. Organized labor loves him and would be excited by his candidacy.

Brown seems to me to have it all. He's smart and principled and brings a Midwestern, down-home style which is rare in a big-time pol. His record on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee is outstanding. He has been a persistent watchdog over the big banks. He monitors the pharmaceutical industry and his efforts have led the drug companies to produce new lifesaving drugs.

In the end, the November election could come down to what kind of margin Democrats have in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) and Franklin County (Columbus). Having Sherrod Brown on the ballot could assure hefty majorities. He is the answer to progressives' doubts and fears of Hillary Clinton.

Plotkin is a political analyst, a contributor to the BBC on American politics and a columnist for The Georgetowner.