Susan Sarandon, activist-actress: “Oprah Winfrey and the Dalai Lama. She’s incorruptible, has her finger on the pulse of America, and could annihilate any candidate in a debate. His Holiness has the global expertise and doesn’t solve problems like a crank cowboy.”

Patricia Field, designer: “Howard Dean talks simple and sensible. As for a running mate, an intellectual. But intellectuals don’t do well in this country. Remember Adlai Stevenson?”

Al Franken, author of Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right: “Franken/ Clinton (Bill). The 22nd Amendment does not prohibit Clinton from being elected vice-president. I would head the ticket, debate Bush, and pledge to resign the moment I was sworn in.”

Dick Gregory, onetime White House contender: “A (Hillary) Clinton-Gore ticket has been etched in people’s minds. Gore had been leading the pack of Democrats, so when he stepped aside, I knew there was more to it. Then Hillary wrote the book! If she waits, her political career is over.”

Ruth Messinger, former Manhattan borough president: “Martin Sheen, of course! But I’m supporting Dean. I’m not for Hillary; I’m perfectly happy with her as my senator.”

Related:

• Archive: “The Big Question”
• Articles by Jada Yuan
• Table of Contents: Oct 6, 2003 issue of New York | Subscribe!