fwiw, I like to play the VP game for a different reason. List all the possible candidates - the serious ones, not the jokes. Note in particular the ones who are ‘almost ready for prime time’ but lack a little experience or polish. Do this for all the parties.

You now have the “bench” for 2016 and 2020 (the latter being the particular note candidates).

It disturbs me that the Democratic bench is surprisingly sparse.