Chris Mooney is a freelance writer and the author of two books, 
In presidential campaigns, there's a tradition of allowing one's opponent a clear run on the night they accept their party's nomination. This time, McCain plans to air an ad congratulating Obama as he accepts the presidential nomination.
Also for several hours we've been hearing rumors that the name of the Republican VP pick will be leaked just before tonight's speech. And McCain does indeed have to make a very tough choice...
Pawlenty (age 47) would make it impossible to argue about experience to lead.
Lieberman or Ridge would mean selecting a pro-choice running mate (not to mention Lieberman ran with the Dems in '00).
Romney is another multimillionaire with $30 million in residential real estate.
So folks, who would you pick and how do you think this will play out?
Politics
Comments
I think he has to go with Romney. He's probably the best choice, but it will be difficult for this pair to appear in touch with the American people.
Posted by: Caden | August 28, 2008 5:31 PM
How about None of the Above?
While you have probably named the choice, I can't think of a single reason that any of them would make be want to vote for McCain. And, I lost all belief in the myth of McCain the maverick of the straight talk express when I got a robo-call from him praising the environmental record of Richard Pombo.
He is not more a maverick than any other branded critter.
Posted by: Wes Rolley | August 28, 2008 5:35 PM
Bobby Jindal?
Posted by: Travis McDermott | August 28, 2008 5:39 PM
Man, there are just no bad choices here! I'm hoping for Pawlenty. They can run on a 'repairing the infrastructure like in Minnesota' ticket.
Posted by: decrepitoldfool | August 28, 2008 6:35 PM
I've got my fingers crossed for Giuliani, because the campaign ads would be awesome. Noun verb POW noun verb 9/11, conjunction 9/11 noun verb POW. Plus IIRC Giuliani has kind of a temper too, which has potential to be entertaining.
I'd settle for Fred Thompson, though. McCain/Thompson 2008: FEEL THE EXCITEMENT!
Posted by: mr_subjunctive | August 28, 2008 7:53 PM
He should pick Sarah Palin. He will pick Mitt Romney.
That's my 2 cent guess, anyway.
Posted by: Matt Springer | August 28, 2008 8:31 PM
playin' it safe; mittenz.
Posted by: razib | August 28, 2008 8:32 PM
Sarah Palin has been suggested, but I doubt she's a serious contender being relatively inexperienced and young. Other ladies making news as possibilities are Condoleezza Rice and Kay Bailey Hutchinson, but I expect Rice is too close to the Bush administration while Hutchinson seems aimed at becoming a governor.
I may be mistaken, but I do not think we'll see women on either ticket this cycle.
Posted by: Sheril R. Kirshenbaum | August 28, 2008 8:43 PM
My guess is that he'll pick Pawlenty.
Posted by: Julie Stahlhut | August 28, 2008 10:16 PM
Yeah, McCain should go with Mitt. That will fetch him tons of votes in Utah ... the only state in which Bill Clinton came in 3rd place not once, but twice.
P.S. McCain is an idiot to not pick Palin. But that's good for us.
Posted by: llewelly | August 28, 2008 11:07 PM
Whoops! Guess who he picked?
Posted by: CyberLizard | August 29, 2008 1:46 PM