After all, McCain is a moderate Republican — even though I know a lot of my Democratic friends think that's an oxymoron. He needs help with the right-wing Republican and far-right neocon party base. Those segments of the party have, despite his record, taken Romney as one of their own. He could also probably deliver the states of Michigan and Massachusetts for the ticket. So I agree with my girlfriend, they should, for the good of the party, kiss and make up.

That got me thinking about the Democratic side. We all have our personal favorite in this contest, but I think it doesn't matter who wins the nomination: We all will happily support the winner. But it really makes sense to have both on the ticket.

Just think of it. Obama will deliver the black vote and the youth vote. The Hispanic vote will turn out en masse for both. Hillary will deliver the female vote. Maybe even some moderate Republican females will vote gender over party. Moderate and liberal Democrats will fall all over themselves getting to the polls for this dream ticket. Sure, there will be those that just can't bring themselves to vote for either a woman or a black man, and they will either stay home or vote for McCain.

But you couldn't find a stronger ticket for the Democrats. It would deliver all the big states like California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and the heavily Hispanic states like New Mexico and maybe even Arizona and Texas.

So these two should also kiss and make up for the good of the party.

— Patrick S. O'Malley, Oxnard