FACTBOX: Possible Democratic vice presidential candidates

(Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who said his hunt for a vice presidential running mate would involve a deliberative and wide-ranging search, is getting closer to naming his choice.

Here is a list of some possible Democratic vice presidential candidates:

* Evan Bayh, 52 - The Indiana senator was a supporter of Hillary Clinton during the nomination battle. He has been vocal on national security issues in the Senate as a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee. He is said to have an even temperament that might be a good fit with fellow Midwesterner Obama.

* Joseph Biden, 65 - The senator from Delaware, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is a respected foreign policy expert who would give Obama authority on the issue. But Obama might not want to add a second senator to the ticket, and could be looking for a fresher face to reinforce his message that this election is about change and the future.

* Hillary Clinton, 60 - Polls have shown strong Democratic support for a "dream team" ticket of Obama, the first black to lead a major-party presidential ticket, and Clinton, his top rival for the nomination who sought to become the first woman to win the White House. Obama has not ruled out the option, which would help unify the party after a long nominating battle. But the New York senator and former first lady also would bring complications, including the return of former President Bill Clinton to the White House. A joint ticket could help attract some of Clinton's supporters -- including women and white working-class Democrats -- who have been reluctant to support Obama.

* Tom Daschle, 60 - The former Senate majority leader from South Dakota was an early backer of Obama. He is a friend and close adviser to the Illinois senator and many of his former staff members and associates serve in senior roles on the Obama campaign. Daschle has also been mentioned as a possible chief of staff in an Obama administration.

* Chris Dodd, 64 - The Connecticut senator, a fluent Spanish speaker and expert in Latin American issues, is the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and former candidate for the presidential nomination who quickly endorsed Obama after dropping out. He would help bolster Obama's foreign policy and economic credentials, but presents many of the same drawbacks as Biden.

* Chuck Hagel, 61 - The Republican senator from Nebraska, a conservative Vietnam veteran but outspoken critic of the Iraq war, would help Obama reach out to independents and Republicans and reinforce his promise to bridge partisan divides.

* Tim Kaine, 50 - The Virginia governor was one of Obama's earliest and strongest supporters and could help him in a state that traditionally has been Republican in presidential elections but has been turning Democratic in recent years.

* Sam Nunn, 69 - The former Senate Armed Services Committee chairman from Georgia is a respected foreign and military policy voice, but his age and conservative views on some social issues might make him an awkward fit with Obama.

* Bill Richardson, 60 - The New Mexico governor, a Hispanic, could help with the Latino vote -- the fastest-growing segment of the electorate and a potentially vital voting bloc. A seasoned negotiator, the former energy secretary, congressman and U.N. ambassador would also bring foreign policy experience to the ticket as well as inside knowledge of how Washington works.

* Kathleen Sebelius, 60 - The two-term governor of Kansas could bring some vital elements to the ticket: she's a woman and as the leader of a mostly Republican state has shown she can work across party lines. But she is largely untested on the national stage.

(Reporting by Deborah Charles; editing by David Wiessler)