Possible veep choice? Howdy, Gov. Strickland

Columnist George Will may think Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is the logical choice to be either Democratic presidential hopeful’s running mate, but Strickland thinks that kind of talk says more about the state’s importance than his.

“Howdy Doody could be in this office and the same speculation would occur,” Strickland told the Enquirer editorial board Thursday, referring to the title character of a popular 1950s children's TV show.

“I have no interest in the position (of vice-president),” he said during a lengthy, wide-ranging interview. “I feel it’s a little preposterous of me even to say I have no interest in it.”

Reacting to Will’s nationally syndicated column, which appeared on Thursday’s Enquirer op-ed page, Strickland tried to deflect the issue with some self-effacing humor. “After I read it, I told my staff I was a really important person and they should start treating me as such,” he said. “Unfortunately they didn’t pay any attention to me.”

But he stopped short of saying categorically that he’d turn down a request to join the ticket of either Sen. Hillary Clinton, whom Strickland has endorsed, or Sen. Barack Obama. “If I were asked, I would say, ‘Thank you. I’m glad you think I and Ohio are that important, but I have some suggestions,’ ” mentioning former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as a good alternative.

“I think this interest in me (as vice-president) has everything to do with Ohio and its perceived importance as a swing state, but I’m not letting it go to my head as far as a feeling of self-importance,” Strickland said.

“I try to say this as clearly as I can: I have a job I like. I don’t know in fact what I’ll do after my first term. I don’t know if I’ll go for a second term or get a T-shirt shop in Key West, Fla. ... Unless I commit an impeachable offense, I’m going to be Ohio’s governor for the next nearly three years.”