“If Fred gives his delegates to his good friend, John McCain, the traitor, then McCain will be the nominee, and Joe Lieberman will probably be VP.”
But that’s exactly why Fred NEEDS more delegates.
If the VP is not at stake (and it’s patently NOT with McCain because a McCain-Thompson ticket doesn’t work) then Fred might back McCain....but IF Fred has enough delegates to throw it either way, Mitt can can do what McCain can’t: buy his support with the VP slot.
The more delegates Fred wields, the more Romney HAS to put him on the ticket to keep him out of McCain’s camp.
(assuming of course neither McCain or Romney wins outright)
Your scenario assumes several premises:
1. Fred is not already in McCain’s camp,
2. Fred wants to be VP,
3. Fred deserves to be VP,
4. The Presidential candidate should BUY a VP, and
5. FRED is the kind of guy who can be bought by the highest bidder.