As the Republican race for president comes to close, the race to be the name below John McCain's is on the ballot and the campaign signs begins. John McCain has secured the nomination for the Republicans and now he needs a Vice Presidential Running Mate here is our list of the choices we feel McCain may consider on his short list.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
South Carolina Governor Mike Sanford
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour
U.S. Senator John Thune
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham
Former MA Governor Mitt Romney
Fmr. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge
Fmr. U.S. Senator Phil Gramm
U.S. Senator Sam Brownback
U.S. Senator Richard Burr
Florida Governor Charlie Crist
U.S. Senator Mel Martinez
U.S. Congressman Mike Pence
Fmr. U.S. Senator George Allen
Fmr. U.S. Senator Fred Thompson
U.S. Senator Tom Coburn
Long Shots
U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman
Fmr. Governor Jeb Bush
U.S. Senator Kay Hutchison
Fmr. NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Fmr. U.S. Sec. of State Colin Powell
I'm hoping for a McCain/Huckabee ticket or a McCain/Thune Ticket, but Im sure I will be satiffied with whoever Sen. McCain chooses as his running mate, just as long a John McCain is the next president of the United States.
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My best bets are Pawlenty, Sanford, and Thune. Pawlenty and Thune supported him relatively early, while Sanford was a big backer in 2000. All are young and have decent conservative cred.
I don't think any of his 08 rivals are in serious contention though--sorry Huckabee, Brownback, Romney, Thompson, and Giuliani.
Mike Huckabee - trying hard for it, but unlikely. Maybe HHS Secretary, which he himself has said he'd like.
Tim Pawlenty and Mike Sanford are top prospects. Reform oriented pro McCain governors.
Haley Barbour - no chance. Old, pudgy, extremely thick Mississippi accent, fat cat lobbyist. A chance for Chief of Staff or similar high competence job.
John Thune - a solid choice, and a response to Obama's glamour.
Lindsey Graham - good friend, but would enrage the base on immigration. Perhaps Attorney General.
Mitt Romney. Despite timely withdrawal and generous endorsement, would McCain set aside grudge from tough campaign?
Tom Ridge. Too controversial over pro-choice stance. Would have to answer for border problems, airline security hassles (especially from Political Correctness).
Phil Gramm is competent and solid on the issues, but no chance for Veep: ugly, old, with a thick drawl. He's definitely a shot for a high-level economic job, such as the Treasury Secretary, Federal Reserve, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, or perhaps budget (OMB) chief.
Sam Brownback is a possibility - Catholic, pro-amnesty, solid social conservative, endorsed McCain after dropping out. But being pro-amnesty will enrage the base, and he is also politically unappealing.
Burr is a solid, safe choice. Will cause no harm, but create no excitement.
Crist is appealing on many levels, a governor, swing state, and gave a key last minute endorsement. But he's pro amnesty, and the appearance of a quid pro quo may cause too many questions (some say he promised to endorse Giuliani).
Martinez is foreign-born, inelibile.
Mike Pence alienated conservatives on immigration with yet another "non-amnesty amnesty" proposal. McCain may make the mistake of seeing Pence as a bridge between his own position and the base's "throw 'em all out" sentiment.
No chance for Allen. He endorsed Thompson, and "macaca" haunts him. McCain is ultra wary of accusations of "racism".
Fred Thompson is too old and tired seeming; would reinforce questions about a central McCain vulnerability.
Tom Coburn is a real possibility.
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