I think an interesting scenario would have been for the Democratic Party in 1928 to give the VP nod to Nellie Ross the former governor of Wyoming. The Hoover landslide was so massive I doubt if he could have been defeated but Gov. Ross would have brought much to the ticket that might have lessen the loss. Obviously she was a woman. She was also a "Dry" in contrast to Smith's "Wet" position. She was a westerner with southern roots and had been elected to a meaningful political position if only for two years.