By Bruce Schreiner
The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - Who should John Kerry pick as a running mate? In their hearts, some prominent Kentucky Democrats want John Edwards. But their heads tell them to look for someone with more electoral vote power in swing states.

"This has to now be a strategic decision," said State Auditor Crit Luallen, who called herself a fan of Edwards, the young, photogenic U.S. senator from North Carolina.

"Senator Kerry has to look at where a running mate can help the most. And I think he has to look at some of these tossup states like Florida or Missouri," Luallen said Monday.

U.S. Sen. Bob Graham of Florida and U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri would be "outstanding candidates who add to the ticket," Luallen said. Like Edwards, Graham and Gephardt were once Kerry rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, arrived in Louisville on Monday. It was his first campaign visit to Kentucky, which voted solidly for President Bush four years ago and has received a good deal of attention from Bush and his surrogates in the current campaign.

Terry McBrayer, a Democratic national committeeman, leaned toward Edwards early in the presidential race and said he still likes him. But with the prospect of a cliffhanger, Kerry needs to "bring Electoral College votes to the table," McBrayer said.

"If you could show that (Edwards) could win his state, it would make it a whole lot easier," said McBrayer, a former state Democratic chairman.

Kentucky Democratic Chairman Bill Garmer is promoting Edwards for the vice presidential nomination. He said Edwards' name always attracts the most enthusiasm at Democratic gatherings, and his Southern roots would be a plus in Kentucky.