Steadfast McCain ally sparks veep talk

Politico ^ | Feb 17, 2008 07:56 AM EST | Jonathan Martin

[AM2000]

Even through the McCain campaign’s darkest days in 2007, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty remained a steadfast ally to the Arizona senator in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

As a result, with John McCain as the clear GOP frontrunner and insider talk turning to speculation about his possible running mate, party insiders are now buzzing about the 47-year-old, second-term governor’s vice-presidential prospects.

[Mogollon]

And he has a nice balance of, on one hand being totally acceptable to the conservative wing of the party, especially to social conservatives, but at the same time sharing a couple of key maverick strains of thought with McCain.”

"MAVERICK STRAINS of THOUGHT????? like what...amesty, CFR, constitutional rights for terrorists??

McCain either chooses a rock-ribbed social & fiscal conservative or he loses.

[T-Bird45]

“That’s the way to think! Send a message!”

Sorry, no message here, just refuse to vote for a man that I believe has shown, without a doubt, no moral scruples beyond WIIFM. You will have to look to someone else for a message.

Further info: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1971888/posts?page=15#15

[DPMD]

The Harriet Miers debacle showed the dangers of placing loyalty over principle. This is yet another opportunity for McCain to demonstrate whether his “maverick” ways were for real or for show. Loyalty is nice for keeping friends; principle is mandatory for governing properly. A maverick would pick a VP based on principle while the standard to date seems to have been loyalty.