Smart Politics’ Eric Ostermeier was interviewed by Jason DeRusha on WCCO-TV’s “Good Question� segment during Tuesday night’s 10 o’clock telecast.

DeRusha’s Good Question tonight was, “Does the Vice President Pick Matter?� Ostermeier explained why a VP pick is not a predictor of how a party's ticket will fare in November - even in the VP nominee's home state. Nearly twice as many VP picks have failed to carry their own state during the past 100 years (38 percent) as those who have picked up their home state after their party failed to do so in the previous presidential election (20 percent). This is what McCain would be asking of Tim Pawlenty, should the Minnesota Governor be selected later this month.

Ostermeier also picked up on why Barack Obama and John McCain are strongly considering gubernatorial running mates, even though over 90 percent of vice-presidential nominees since 1952 have served in Congress.