The Case for Vice President Al Franken
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His jump from comedian to politician was through a ring of fire. Franken aimed high for his first campaign: U.S. senator from his home state of Minnesota. After a few years as a talk radio host, Franken aimed to avenge the bitter loss Democrats suffered in 2002 following the fatal plane crash of incumbent senator and liberal icon Paul Wellstone two weeks before Election Day.
Republicans painted Franken as an immoral Hollywood hothead, circulating bestiality jokes from a Playboy magazine humor piece Franken wrote, using out-of-context video clips where he looks deranged, and digging up evidence of his failure to pay back taxes and workers compensation. “We in Hollywood are a bit worried that Al Franken is hurting our reputation,” needled “Cheers” actor John Ratzenberger in one of the Republican Party’s final attack ads.
Yet Franken didn’t just survive the assault: He prevailed. After a recount and months of legal wrangling, Franken escaped with a 312-vote victory. While Franken was already trying to present a more serious face to Minnesota voters, the dead-even outcome was a constant reminder of his precarious political position, spurring him to be a senatorial work horse and not a show horse.
Today, he stands on firm ground. In the 2014 midterms, as the Republican tide was cresting in Colorado and Iowa, Franken scored an impressive 10-point reelection victory. And progressive activists credited his proud populism for his exponential electoral growth. Mother Jones’ Patrick Caldwell, among others, showered praise on Franken for channeling “populist outrage at growing inequality and the hardships of the financial crash.”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/110783354
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He's smart and knowledgeable, he's articulate, he's likable, he's comfortable on TV. If Hillary is the nominee, Franken would speak to Bernie-friendly and even "Reagan Democrat" voters tempted to vote for Trump. In short, he would be a real asset for the Democratic campaign for the White House.
Plus, he would absolutely cream any Republican VP candidate in the VP debate. 
I get the paper argument for Castro (Hispanic, younger, Texas, "rising star"
, but I personally think that Franken would be much more exciting. Also, he is someone absolutely, fully capable of stepping into a presidential role if need be.. an essential consideration that too often gets lost when VP nominations are considered.