If this happens, my guess is he'll pick Tom Ridge as VP, then pick Giuliani to replace Ridge as homeland security director. That rewards Giuliani for his work, and puts him in a position appropriate for his experience.
Bush clearly likes Ridge given the confidence he placed in him. That job was high profile - the first director of a new agency whose founding purpose was to stop terror attacks. If they were incompetent it would have had serious consequences.
Bush convinced Ridge to leave his governorship to take a politically risky job. If a terrorist attack hits us at some point, Ridge's career is likely finished. That's more reason for me to think he's in line to be rewarded.
The public would accept his qualifications. He was a successful governor, then succeeded as homeland security director. That makes him very credible as a national security candidate. The Congress would have a hard time rejecting him, and the voters would elect him in '08.
I believe in the Constitution when a Vice-President steps down the replacement has to come from the Senate.. That is why Ford was in when Agnew Resigned. If Bush wants to pick Tom Ridge was Vp, Tom Ridge has to be from the Senate..
I like Ridge, but I have to admit that the Homeland Security Dept. has not run as smoothly as I'd hoped. He seemed to be at a loss to make key decisions such as those relating to the alert level, security personnel on airlines, etc. I cannot fathom why the government would require, for example, the skycops to wear professional looking clothes. No one is supposed to know who they are.
Ridge was in the running with Cheney to be W's veep. Someone suggested Ridge was too tall...