June 18, 2008
 

For the next several weeks—or until Barack Obama and John McCain end the suspense—almost every political writer in the country will offer his/her two cents about the vice presidential choices. After the new president is inaugurated, of course, we can go back to forgetting about the “Veep,” but until then, let's join the fun.

Pajama Media, an online website, has launched its “Veepsakes contest.” Click here, if you want to play along.

Yesterday, “Loose Cannon” joined Democrats James Carville and Peter Hart in musing about an Obama-Gore ticket. Today, writing in Slate, Walter Shapiro proposes a McCain-Lieberman ticket. That’s a mixed marriage, and we’re not talking about religion. But Chuck Hagel, a Republican senator from Nebraska, is thought to be on Obama's radar screen as a possible Veep; and, anyway, Joe Lieberman is now officially an Independent, not a Democrat. Moreover, Lieberman has been campaigning for McCain strenuously. If Gore might be asked to take a job he held for eight years, why shouldn’t Lieberman be considered for a job he almost had?

Other names being bandied about as possible McCain running mates include:

 

n      South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham

n      Florida Gov. Charlie Crist

n      Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina

n      Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney

n      Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal

n      Former Ohio congressman Rob Portman

n      Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour

n      Minnesota Gov. Tom Pawlenty

n      South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford

n      Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

n      Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee

   n      Security and Exchange Commissioner Christopher Cox

n      Comedian Stephen Colbert (just kidding, folks.)

 

We’ll handicap the entire field in the days to come, and do the same for Obama as well. But, as you consider your own choice, keep in mind the primary qualification for the job: The person chosen has to help the ticket he/she is chosen to represent--must help that ticket get itself elected.

 

   

 

 

NEXT POST: Numbers Game

PREVIOUS POST: The “Goreacle” Weighs In

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Comments On This Post
By polijunkie, 06/19/2008, 11:49 AM EDT
 

Lieberman would seem to scare away those very conservatives that McCain appears to have been attempting to court over the past few months. Or would he help McCain win over so many independent voters -- and keep much of the Republican base that really doesn't mind Lieberman too much -- that the loss of some conservative votes won't cost him the election...

By fuzzyboy, 06/19/2008, 7:50 PM EDT
 

I can't imagine putting another senator on the ticket with McCain. That's way too much Washington for most voters. Also, Christian conservatives need a clear presence on the ticket to feel like they were taken seriously. McCain would be in much better shape is the base wasn't already restless. I think the conservatives have a hair trigger this year and I wonder if McCain is ready to irritate them further. Pawlenty might just strike the right balance.

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