Running mate guessing game begins

Washington Times ^ | 2/13/08 | Joseph Curl

[Callahan]

• South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford: Strong conservative credentials, would be great for outreach to Mr. McCain's conservative critics.

• Florida Gov. Charlie Crist: Popular governor who helped deliver Florida in the primary, could help deliver it in the general election.

• Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas: Provides a conservative-leaning female face to round out the ticket.

• Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: Moderate Republican who was an early supporter of Mr. McCain's, could help deliver his swing state in the general election.

• Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal: Rising star among Republicans, he has many already thinking president.

• Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana: Solid conservative pick.

• Sen. Richard M. Burr of North Carolina: Friend of Mr. McCain's and an early supporter in the campaign.

• Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina: Longtime supporter on issue after issue, and possibly his closest partner in the Senate.

• Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: Would bring balance to the ticket demographically and would underscore the national security credentials of the Republican team.

[BillyBoy]

Mark Sandford -- would make a solid veep and will most likely be McCain's choice. Unfortnately I don't think he'll help in the area that needs it most -- getting a majority in the electoral college.

Charlie Crist -- I guess he's okay, and might keep FL in the GOP column. I haven't been following what he wrong to make a bunch of freepers get on the "lynch Charlie Crist" bandwagon. Apprently it's now en vogue on FR to call any Republican official you dislike a homosexual. Well I dislike Arlen Specter but I'm pretty sure he's straight.

Kay Bailey Hutchison -- No. She has a conservative voting record but is the squishy, go-along, get-along with Dems types, and we don't want a Texas-Arizona ticket consisting of people past retirement age.

Tim Pawlenty -- Excellent choice, the only conservative Republican to be re-elected Governor in a swing state during 2006. he'll put Minnesota in the GOP column. The unfortunate thing is that Pawlenty will outshine McCain, as Pawlenty should be the GOP nominee for Prez.

Bobby Jindal -- Too Soon. As someone else pointed out, he's been governor for what, a month? And as someone else pointed out, we don't want to risk tainting his career by an uphill fight the 2008 GOP presidential ticket that will likely lose. Save Jindal for 2016.

Mike Pence -- Another rising star in the GOP who should be President, and shouldn't be regulated to the second slot under McCain. Don't want him tainted either. Also, he's little known nationally and Indiana is very unlikely to vote RAT, so wouldn't help with the ultimate goal of winning nationally.

Richard M. Burr -- No. Exactly what would he bring to the ticket? I can't think of a single thing. He's an obscure Senator from a safe GOP state. Might as well suggest Senator Crapo for veep.

Lindsey Graham -- Despite constant harping from freepers that either Graham, Huckabee, or Lieberman have made a secret "deal" to be McCain's running mate, none of them will be on the ticket. And Graham wouldn't bring much either, as the Dems and Independants hate him over Clinton's impeachment and the purist conservatives hate him for diagreeing with them one or two times. South Carolina will re-elect him though.

Condoleezza Rice -- HELL No. She's in over her head at state dept., leave picking candidates on the basis of affirmative action to the Dems. And we sure as hell don't need McCain to pick a running mate that would move the ticket further leftward.