About McCain's running mate.

[Perky]

The thin about running mate is that you have to look at several things.

Plusses to the ticket (carrying a swinf state)
Appeal to the base
Being able to take over.

Whoever McCain picks it is qoing to be some one who will be tapped as the heir apparent and wuite honestly the GOP needs a new generation of leadership but to balance out McCains age and to transition to the next generation.


It probably means a Governor and I betting it will be Pawlenty out of Minnesota...Huckabee does nt excite Consertvative except for the religious conservatives and he scares away independents. There is no upside to Huckabee,

[Demeter]

1. "No Upside" and Religious Conservatives are the same thing!

That's why I think McCain and Huckabee should get pinned.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Pawlenty couldn't deliver Minnesota for McCain in the primary--

it went to the anti-McCain, Romney. He doesn't have much influence, clearly, and his stock is way down. McCain did say that region/state wasn't important to him, shared values and ideology was--they probably all say that, but I'd expect his VP pick to be someone who won't turn off Indies, won't piss off conservatives, and will either help him on economic matters or blunt his more extreme positions on constant warfare--McCain's two biggest weak spots.

[OmahaBlueDog]

3. Pawlenty is an interesting thought, but..

I agree, he can't deliver the state. The war is unpopular there, and I think a lot of Dems and dem-friendly indys will be out to nail Norm Coleman. Even with the GOP convention in Minneapolis, I don't see it.

If he doesn't choose Huck, I think he might go with:

1, Rudy: If the religious right is already po'd, screw em. Go with someone who could tip the balance in Florida and who might make life interesting in New York.

2. Rick Perry: Solid party guy, Texas Governor.

3. Condi: She's black, and she's a she. It will be seen as counteracting Obama's or Hillary's novelty in the race.

4. Mittens: Party unity and conservative credentials.

5. If he could pull it off (and I don't think he can) Colin Powell: Strong military credentials and former Sec State experience will lend to McCain's platform of "It's not the war, it's been the incompetent execution of the war."

6. Sam Brownback: See Huckabee, but add that Brownback is a convert to Catholicism.

One thing to keep in mind; due to his age, McCain's veep picks will have more meaning than those for Obama or Hillary.

[democrat2thecore]

4. He has a fine line to walk

His pick will be tricky. He has to figure out how to balance the ticket, not only ideologically with the cultural conservatives, but with someone young enough to add 'fire' to the ticket. But then, they can't be too young as to make McCain look even older than he is. He has a tricky task ahead in his VEEP selection.