Vote for McCain's Vice President

Thanks to our readers for their suggestions on our top ten picks for McCain's Vice President.

It was difficult to narrow it down to ten, because McCain has got a big field to pick from. But in the end we've taken out Colin Powell and Mike Huckabee because we think they're unlikely.

In their place we've added Carly Fiorina, a woman who could provide the economics knowledge that McCain lacks and Senator Lindsey Graham, a well-liked Southerner and old friend of McCain's.

Comments

[Rui, form Portugal]

I would expect a vice-president to be dressed.. even an american VP...

[Gregor Hopkins]

Condi is a great choice. It would neuter a lot of the whole 'Obama is the second coming, yes we can, I believe' stuff, and head off any subtext that voting Republican is a conspiracy against black people. He's already said he's going to see through the Iraq war, so drafting in a prominent member of the Bush administration really isn't going to make much difference in that regard. There is also the plus that Condi is a very able, smart and respected woman. Win win I say.

[Jitter]

Hey I wanted to vote for Huck!

[Andy C]

Condolezza Rice - hahahaha because that would be a break with the past. That's clearly being voted for by people who don't understand the US political landscape - McCain is going to go with someone who compliments his foreign policy experience.

It's going to be Charlie Crist, so he carries Florida.

[Richard D. Henkus]

The business community generally, and the IT industry specifically, would not think Fiorina a good pick. It is now clear she badly managed Hewlett Packard, an former icon of American business, and pushed an unproductive acquisition of what had previously been a leader in computer technology, Compaq. In her published autobiography, she is hasty to blame every one but herself for her errors as CEO of HP.

I rather doubt Fiorina is an example of business prowess McCain would want in his administration.

[Franc]

McCain does not need Crist to carry Florida. Obama is not going to win Florida. Hillary might be able to. Rice? She and Carly has never been elected to anything. Open-Borders Graham is loathed by conservatives. Who is Sarah Palin? Out of this group, Mitt is the best choice. Fred Thompson would be a good one too.

[acharya]

Bobby Jindal may see the end of his political career in a move like this.
US needs sanity and maturity not youth alone. Why not Colin Powell ?

[Martin, Chicago]

I sure hope he picks Condi, because she has been absolutely worthless as our Secretary of State. What better way to show Aericans you intend to continue four more years of failed Mideast policy? For Obama, it would be a dream ticket!

[Alessandro]

Hey, you forgot Huckabee!

[James]

Why is Joe Lieberman on that list? Isn't he the Democrat forced to leave the party following the furore over primaries being forced forward in Florida and Michigan? Although still associated to the party.
And to the person who said McCain will go with someone who is idealogically aligned with his foreign policy position, bearing in mind Condi is well known for being a hawk, coupled with his desire to 'win' the war in iraq, in this regard she is very much a realistic and viable candidate.

[Nonplussed]

She's a fanatic. As fundamental as any muslim. Be aware of evangelists. FUBAR. www.raptureassurance.com

[Ernest]

Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin are the future of the Republican Party. It is too soon for them to be considered for VP.

Romney is the best choice

[K Johnson]

Since any successful campaign for McCain requires a divorce from Bush, taking Condeleeza Rice,a Bush flunkie , as VP is absurd.

[Broon Zatwat]

Obviously only one candidate: Stewie Griffin.

[kevin brewer]

Condi who? She must be the worst Secretary of State in living memory; my memory goes back to Foster Dulles and none have been as bad as her. She doesn't seem to exist for long periods these days, and is totally ineffectual when she does. I suppose she is rather like her boss in that respect. Chuck Norris would be a better choice.

[Ian Jardine]

Rice "owns" the current Iraq situation. Thus such a negative link would harm McCain. Despite your taking Powell of the list he remains a good candidate. McCain needs a candidate strong in States which he needs to win and currently cannot carry on his own.

[seaweb]

Condi is one of the most insistant and unrepentant liars America has ever produced. In the 21st Century, when few in this world hold to honesty, that's a Presidential asset. But why bother? Why not just create a cult that worships meat-eating lizards and make it all as simple as possible for Americans who have such a hard time thinking or themselves.

[clay]

Are you nuts? Two hawks in the White House...Have mercy on us for once.

[billy]

I think Rice has basically been holding the country in trust while the Bush presidency runs its course. She is far more popular at home and internationally than Obama supporters want to admit.

[Bill Adams]

McCain is old and not too bright but he'd need to be brain dead to select Condi. She brings all the Bush baggage and a personal record of continuous and comprehensive foreign policy fail. No doubt McCain will choose a woman, but not this one.....

[Carleen]

Joe Lieberman would be an excellent choice, as a former Democrat and a true moderate. Condi Rice is my second choice: intelligent, well-educated, and being both black and a woman would neutralize the race issue between party choices in the election. Either would make a great president.

[j butler]

Condoleeza Rice is the best choice as she is well qualified for the position and will most definitely complement JM.

[FreeMarketeer]

The USA needs Condi as VP like a fish needs a a bicycle, like a hole in the head, etc, etc!

[Yesh Prabhu, Plainsboro, NJ]

Each one of them is a quart low, so any one of them will do to match McCain perfectly.

[Dana]

Mmm, you realize that Rice, Pawlenty and Lieberman have all said they don't want the job and would refuse if offered, right? Then there's Sarah Palin who just recently had a baby; I rather doubt she'd be interested.

Frankly, I think McCain should take Hillary, if only as a token of gratitude: I can't think of a single person in this world who has done more good for his campaign than her.
Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton will never happen because you can't spend months telling voters how incompetent the other candidate is - then decide he or she is just competent enough to fill in for you should anything happen.

McCain/Clinton, however, could be unbeatable. All the big states would be in their pocket, as well as the entire Midwest and South. Obama wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell...

[Lawwizard]

One candidate not listed in Christopher Cox, former congressman from California and current chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He is well versed on domestic and international views. He might help slightly in California, which McCain has repeatedly stated he intends to contest.

[John Benn]

Connie might be a slip of a girl, but she's an honest lady.

[Jon]

He will certainly choose a prominent rightist democrat, particularly if faced with Obama. Lieberman may be a bit old. How about Hillary Clinton (Senator NY) ?

[Quentin Q. Benton]

Where is Giuliani? Surely, as McCain's good personal friend and a popular conservative, he is "in the running"?

[Phil J N]

Who cares?
Same faces, different hats... every single one of them promise democracy, freedom, security and honesty, yet most are warmongering , cheating lying scumbags.

[C Bozner]

McCain needs an executive branch person (governor) from a swing state, young-ish but experienced, high approvals and no religious baggage. And one who America is confident can be a good President given McCain's age. Only one choice: Charlie Crist from Florida whose approval ratings are through the roof there. Romney's mormon faith knocked him out once already, Jindal is too young (under 40), and the rest are longshots.

[Ken-Hall]

Ron Paul? I know that Ron is too honest, able and knowledgable to accept the job, but I would rather Ron was on the ballot for VP and then I would be praying for a republican win and then for McCain to succumb to some fatal illness. Then the USA may finally be able to recover from the cancer at its heart. Ron Paul was the ONLY candidate that understood what was wrong with America's economy and had the plan to put it right.

[Andy Coxon]

Obama got slaughtered in both Kentucky and West Virginia by white uneducated (non-college degree) voters in the primaries, as race started to become an issue. He would start to bite into his own demographic if he selected Condi.

Lot of people ignoring Romney on these comments, although he's campaigning furiously for McCain (i.e. himself). I still feel it will be Crist, but don't rule out Slick Mitt.

[K Dub]

No way it will be Crist. Too many skeletons in his closet.

[Peter]

Why not Newt Gingrich? He's a brilliant political strategist, witnesss the "Contract With America" that propelled the Republicans to majority status in 1994. He's a genuine intellectual and has a documented history of exploring how to grapple with modern challenges. (See his books: "Winning the Future," and "Real Change.") He has a proven track record and would calm the fears of the Conservative wing of the party.

[Glenn Scott]

What does McCain need against Obama? Ideally a person who could deliver a key Blue State - New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York or California.

Obama has three weaknesses; working class whites, moderate women, and Hispanics.

McCain's weaknesses are the young, fundraising, and the anti-war moderate suburbanites.

The US president is elected by capturing 270 electorial votes not by winning a plurality of votes cast.

Obama begins with the Dems' core big three states; California 55, NY 31, and Illinois 21 for 107 votes. McCain begins with the GOP's Texas 34, Florida 27 and Ohio 20 for 81. (there is no way Obama will defeat McCain in Florida, the older and Jewish vote will assure that).

Obama will carry the far-left states Mass, Hawaii, Vermont, DC which takes him to 133. McCain and the GOP then add a huge block of far-right states along with Arizona; Alaska, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, and Kentucky which propels McCain to 181.

The break from recent years will be Obama's strength in the greener, affluent, very white, highly educated West which will give him Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and probably New Mexico and Montana.

These Obama gains means McCain must win in the MidWest and try to hold the educated South (NC, Georgia, Virginia). If you give Obama all three of the these "new-south" Southern states and add the rest of the likely Atlanta seaboards - NJ, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Maine - Obama's at 255.

Obama's weakness with the white working class sends West Virginia, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota and Live Free or Die New Hampshire to McCain getting him to 252. Leaving two states - Wisconsin 10 and Pennsylvania. But its PA's 21 that determines the winner. Too bad Lynn Swan lost to Rendall for PA gov in '06. Santorium's defeat probably costs him a VP gig as he would have been a both a solid geographic choice and a bone thrown to the conservative base.

Another conservative that could get the nod is JC Watts, an African-American and solid conservative from Oklahoma. Watts might tip NC and perhaps Georgia back to the GOP ... and that would mean game over even without PA and Wisconsin.

If they want a conservative women holding current office the best choice would be Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

I just can't see the GOP with two white men on the ticket facing Obama. Hillary's moderate female core are open minded on McCain. If he's going for a Clintonesque triangulation he could go for a GOP clone of Hillary in Sen Olympia Snowe. The right would go nuts but he might get 20% of Hillary's primary vote.

Another interesting choice would be Gov Jindal of Louisiana a solid conservative and a Roman Catholic Indian-American. So my bets are either of two conservative sitting governors Jindal or Palin or former Rep. JC Watts.

[Cynthia Young]

Why not Michael Steele, former lt gov of maryland. talk about a conservative and he knows economics too. He has executive experience and he would be the best possible candidate for vp. It would also set him up to run for president in 2012 or 2016.

[Neil Murphy]

The comments above re Carly are rubbish. Her successor has taken up where she left off and delivered what she set in motion. The problem she had was she didn't carry the HP old guard in doing what she did and she was stabbed in the back. Doesn't mean she woud make a good VP, but she is not the failure portrayed.

[mullah_marco]

Lieberman. He looks like a team player, isn't ambitious, and he knows his way round congress and the senate which would free up McCain to deal with foreign affairs, the economy and the military.

[Frank Holden]

How about Axl Rose?

[Harry Thode]

As a member of the McCain mutiny I shudder to think that my GOP even consider him let alone a VP. The wag who said if the GOP were dogfood it would have been taken off the shelf was very probably right.The only republican worthy of thye name is Ron Paul. For him I will vote.

[Tim Clarke]

I suspect from reading the above that the ardent Condi haters are also ardent Democrat. McCain will of course ignore their wishes. Rudi would be interesting, but is he now a spent force? I suspect that he will go for someone of the next generation, perhaps Sarah Palin, perhaps none of the above.

[HENRY]

Lindsey Graham is as good as it gets and he would bring S.C. to the Republicans!

[HENRY]

What Time Zone are We In? The times on these posts are now here yet! 14:12:27 and 16:23:19 ???????

[joe]

Hey, why isn't hillary on the list? She's been at least as loyal to Bush as Liebermann.

[gb]

I went with Haley Barbour, though Charlie Crist would probably be okay too. Barbour as Governor of Mississippi was one of the few examples of rationality and 'can do' pragmatism following Hurricane Katrina; Mississippi put Louisiana to shame when it came to rebuilding instead of constant bitching.
I have to believe that most people who voted for Rice did so because she was the only name on the list they recognized!

[JR]

It will be Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida. Get it right, would you?

[James Thurston]

John McCain will lose the election anyway!

[Laurence]

If the Republicans truly want to to repair the damage of the Bush administration in the eyes of the world outside the US, then the only candidate with the necessary credibility and integrity to carry it off would be Colin Powell. Alternatively, if McCain chose Palin, then at least the French and Italians would be able to relate to that ...

[MB]

What makes anyone think that Carly Fiorina has a knowledge of economics? She may have been a successful businesswoman but that does not translate into a knowledge of economics. More likely she would just be a shill for big business (nothing new there for the Republicans) and an advocate of the utterly useless 'trickle down theory'. I very much doubt that she is someone who could actually fix the serious economic problems that the US now faces. She is a saleswoman and business executive with no economic training whatsoever.

[Tom in TX]

Being a moderate Democrat man and Clinton supporter, I'd vote for a McCain/Clinton Ticket.