![['Frankly Speaking with Frank Likely']](https://saltwire.imgix.net/frankly-speaking-with-frank-likely-3160022.jpg?cs=srgb&fit=crop&h=568&w=847&dpr=1&auto=enhance%2Ccompress%2Cformat)
After the first round of debates among the Democratic Party presidential candidates, I'm not sure the race has tightened any, but the debates may well have shaken up the vice-presidential races for both the Democrats and the Republicans.
South Bend Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Mayor Pete to all those who can't pronounce his last name, had a very solid debate and I believe, set himself up to be everyone's choice for vice president. The mayor showed presence, a knowledge of the issues, and most importantly, a sense of being wise beyond his years. He is after all barely old enough to run for president at age 37.
Should he be selected as the vice-presidential nominee, he would potentially face off against current vice president Mike Pence in the traditional VP debate during the election campaign.
This would be a most interesting event for sure with the openly gay Buttigieg squaring off against the puritan Pence. The fact they are both Indiana natives, familiar with each other's records would only add to the intensity of the debate.
But I'm not sure Donald Trump wants to entrust any part of his re-election campaign to such a match up. It would not surprise me at all if Trump quickly dumped his loyal lackey should Buttigieg get the Democratic nod.
That then opens up the Republican vice-presidential slot, and the question of who would be a good running mate for the mercurial president.
Who could work with him, while providing the balance he might need to counter whoever is on the Democratic ticket with Mayor Pete.
My dream democratic ticket would be Sen. Kamala Harris in the top slot with Buttigieg as VP. Racial, gender, geographic balance all covered. They would bring a centrist bent to the ticket, but the matchup of a straight woman and a gay man should help satisfy the lefty wing of the party.
So who should Trump enlist? For balance, it would have to be a woman, preferably a younger one to offset Donnie's age. She would have to have a confident presence about her enabling her to hold up on the stage against Mayor Pete. She would have to have the confidence of the President that she could and would carry on his agenda should anything happen to him.
After watching the coverage of the recent G20 and Korean summits, there is only one person who fits the bill. Ivanka for Veep! HELP!
Frank Likely is a retired Anglican minister who lives in Springhill.
