While the Primary isn't over yet, it appears John McCain is extremely likely to be the Republican nominee.
The obvious questions are:
Who should he pick as VP.
and
Who will he pick as VP?
Pat Toomey gives his suggestions here.
His suggestions are:
1) Mark Sanford
2) Jim Demint
3) Mike Pence
4) Phil Gramm
5) Steve Forbes
I think the last three are about as likely as McCain picking Larry Craig as VP.
Stephen Hayes at the Weekly Standard has another list.
1) Tim Pawlenty
2) Rob Portman
I'd add that McCain may consider Sonny Perdue, or Colin Powell. However at this point the smart money is on either Tim Pawlenty or Mike Huckabee.
Comments (4)
I think that the conventional wisdom that McCain picks a Governor is wrong, because I think he will be very concerned about ensuring that his VP has national security credentials. I would put my money on Senator Lindsey Graham. If McCain does choose someone with experience as a governor, it would be a former governor with experience in Washington, like Tom Ridge (though probably not Tom Ridge himself).
Posted by Josh | February 10, 2008 10:23 PM
Posted on February 10, 2008 22:23
Josh, I think McCain probably wouldn't pick Graham or Crist because of fear of the skeletons in their closet being revealed 3 weeks before the election.
The problem with Tom Ridge or John Engler is that they're tied to George Bush. I think McCain will try to avoid that connection.
Posted by Doug Forrester | February 11, 2008 11:47 AM
Posted on February 11, 2008 11:47
Hey Doug/Josh-
What about Haley Barbour? Too good ol' boy?
What about JC Watts? John Bolton? George Allen? Rick Santorum?
Posted by Phil James | February 11, 2008 8:42 PM
Posted on February 11, 2008 20:42
My $0.02
Haley Barbour was a lobbyist with (distant) connections to Jack Abramof. McCain will want to avoid that.
JC Watts is a great choice but I wonder if the media would spin it as cynicism (McCain picking a former Congress... oh yeah he happens to be black).
Rick Santorum is a strong possibility. He'd certainly help McCain mend fences with the right and assure social conservatives. He wouldn't do much for Pennsylvania though.
George Allen is like Rick Santorum but with the added appeal that he helps in Virginia. The "macaca" incident would be the only strike against him.
Posted by Doug Forrester | February 12, 2008 8:55 AM
Posted on February 12, 2008 08:55