'Yes' and 'yes'

Obama and Cardin: Getty Images PhotoThe Hill asked all 97 Senators who are not currently running for president whether they'd be open to running for the number two slot with their party's nominees, and print their responses, verbatim.

Both U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin are honest and say they're up for it, acknowledging -- either through earnestness (ahem, Cardin) or humor (Babs) -- that they don't have much of a shot.

Cardin:

Other than you and my wife, I’m not sure anyone else has asked me. Obviously, it’s a position that I think is critically important, that the right person who can lead the nation be selected as vice president, someone who’s compatible with the president, and someone who can add balance to the ticket. So I’m not going to presume to answer that as far as any specific people, including myself. But I’m in the United States Senate. To be president of the Senate would be a great honor.

Mikulski:

Absolutely. Absolutely. I think I would be great. First of all, I know how to behave at weddings and funerals. And I know how to be commander in chief. I’d bring a lot of fun to the job. We would rock the Naval Observatory.