The San Francisco Chronicle's Carla Marinucci and Joe Garofoli kick off the week's VP buzz with the idea of the day:

This could be the presidential election when it really happens: No. 2 actually helps No. 1 get to be ... No. 1.

Whether it's Democrat Barack Obama, who gets slammed by the GOP as untested, or Republican John McCain, who takes jabs that he's a George W. Bush third-term wannabe, both candidates need that special someone to fill out their resume.

It's a very human trait to think that the present moment is the most important -- indeed, that's what the media thrives on. But perhaps there's something to this idea. If we take either candidates' strategies, both purposefully or not rely heavily on the VP choice.

McCain's strategy is 1.) to make Obama an unacceptable option then 2.) place himself in the roll of a change candidate. He's busy with No. 1 at the moment, but it's difficult for a guy with 26 years in Washington to make himself the change of anything. Unless, that is, he chooses a running mate that helps him sell the idea.

Obama's strategy is to sell himself to a skeptical public right now. If he can do that in August, the race is over. But while voters like Obama, they aren't ready to give him highest office in the land, unless, that is, he chooses a running mate with just the right features. What those "right" features are is the great question, but voters will know when, and if, they see it.