July 02, 2008 09:46 PM UTC

VP Sweep Stakes

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• by: Haners

It’s been a little while since we’ve heard much about John McCain and Barack Obama’s VP selection.  But as the conventions for both parties approach fast, it’s a pretty safe bet that there is a lot going on behind the scenes as we speak.

As such I would like to offer my opinions on the matter to generate discussion.  Below the fold are possible candidates ranked on the possibility of their selection (number 1 is my pick for most likely, 5 is the less likely pick).

Agree?  Disagree?  Great!  Let’s hear about it!

Democrats:  They go first, because by all accounts Barack Obama will select his running mate before McCain does.

1. Kathleen Sebelius:  Gov. Sebelius seems to be a great fit for an Obama ticket.  As a twice elected red-state governor, she plays into Obama strategy of targeting non-traditional states.  She also balances out Obama with her six years of executive experience (and interestingly enough one of a few people with that experience that hasn’t already taken themselves out of the running).  Put those two factors together and Sebelius looks like an attractive probability.

However, she lacks military and international experience-two of Obama’s biggest weaknesses.

2.  Bill Richardson:  Hispanic.  Swing state Governor with strong Western ties.  Former Cabinet member, UN Ambassador and Congressman.  Richardson has the perfect resume and yet he doesn’t have the top slot-why?  For the same reasons his perfect resume didn’t get him anywhere in his run for the presidency.  He is undisciplined on the campaign trail with his message and speeches; and though he has the perfect resume he has brought unfavorable attention to himself by stretching it a bit.  Does Obama really need that distraction?

3.  John Edwards:  John Edwards would bring a nice balance in some areas for a ticket headed up by Obama.  As a white Southern male he could help Obama with the rural voters who are and may remain concerned about Obama’s elitist image.  

But Edwards offers more then balance.  Edward’s populist reform message plays into Obama’s strengths and he wouldn’t have to change any views to be in line with the party’s new standard bearer.  As a former VP candidate, Sen. Edwards has already been well vetted by the media and is used to the national spotlight.  

But Edwards does not offer much balance in the other areas where Obama lags.

4.  Tim Kaine:  The current governor of Virginia would be an interesting choice that would highlight some of Obama’s strengths but also some of his weaknesses.

Kaine is a new face on the electoral scene and has been a successful Democrat in a center-right battleground state.  His executive experience as the Mayor of Richmond, Lt. Governor and Governor could balance out Obama’s limited experience.

But as a one term governor, it could be easy to paint the ticket as “one term wonders” whose combined experience doesn’t add up to McCain’s.  Kaine also doesn’t bring anything to the table when it comes to international or military experience, nor does he significantly broaden Obama’s appeal.

5.  Hillary Clinton:  Yes, she’s on the list.  How can she not be?  If hard feelings among Democrats linger up until the convention Obama might have to select her just to unify the party.

However, many Republicans and independents hate Sen. Clinton, and a ticket with her on it could drag down Obama with key potential supporters.

Republicans:

1.  Mitt Romney  I promise I didn’t decide on Mitt as number one because I am the biggest Romney fan in Colorado.  The momentum behind Romney at this point is strong while somewhat unexpected.  There was no love lost between Romney and McCain during the primaries, and if you had asked anyone on Feb. 7th if McCain would pick Romney you would have been hard pressed to find anyone who would have said yes.  But now he’s finding favor mainly due to his strength with economic issues, his fundraising machine, and his appeal in the West as well as in states like Michigan and New Hampshire.

That’s not to say that Romney doesn’t have his drawbacks.  Could Romney’s Mormon faith be a drag on Republicans in the South, where McCain is already having problems?

2.  Bobby Jindal:  Ah yes, the Louisiana wonder.  Many Republicans tout young Jindal as the “Republican Barack Obama” (which inadvertently shows the magnitude of the political force that Obama represents), pointing to his unorthodox accent in politics and his push for reform.  Given this, he would be a good balance for Republicans in a year that the Republican brand is seriously tarnished.

But Jindal is young enough that some could see Jindal as highlighting McCain’s age, and remember-Jindal has only been governor of Louisiana for one year.

3.  Tim Pawlenty:  This conservative two term governor of a center left state could be an appealing choice.  Conservatives could find him acceptable, and he balances out McCain in the “executive experience” department.  

Unfortunately, Pawlenty is widely unknown outside of his homestate-and he probably won’t help McCain carry that-and he probably won’t help McCain in fundraising.  Safe choice?  Yes.  Best choice?  Maybe not.

4.  Charlie Crist:  Crist offers McCain some of the same advantages as Pawlenty would-some executive experience as a governor from a battle ground state.  A McCain/Crist ticket would certainly help McCain lock up Florida.

The thing that holds Crist back are his unknowns.  Rumors persist that he is gay (and that he fathered a child out of wedlock-yeah, who gets accused of being gay AND fathering an illegitimate child?), and it’s unknown whether or not there are any real skeletons in his closet.  He’s only been in office for two years.

Plus, ask yourself this-if Crist was from a state like…Wyoming, would he really be on anyone’s radar?

5.  Joe Lieberman:  If the Obama ticket is far ahead and McCain is in trouble, selecting Joe Lieberman would be an instant shot in the arm.  Lieberman would be a major coup against Democrats while helping McCain appeal to Democrats and independents.  Lieberman would help McCain distance himself from Bush the same way he helped Gore distance himself from Clinton in 2000.

But the move would be a major poke in the eye for conservatives who already have problems with McCain and as such there would be a serious risk of doing permanent damage to the Republican base.