The VP Pick
Written by Sam on January 12th, 2008One thing we haven’t really done yet is speculate who the VP running mate might be for each of the candidates. I thought I would strike up that subject and start with my thoughts.
I’ll start with McCain since he has recently become the front runner. I think a very likely choice for John McCain would be Mark Sanford. Sanford is probably the most fiscally restraint governor of all 50 and a McCain/Sanford ticket would send a message that Republicans are serious about fixing the run away spending problems in Washington. They are good friends and Sanford endorsed McCain in 2000. It also doesn’t hurt that Sanford is a southern governor ( proudly my governor!) and his running with McCain might help quell some of the disdain conservatives have with some of McCain’s past shenanigans in the party.
With Romney I used to think that Huckabee might be a probable choice for him being a southern governor, but at this point I don’t think there would be a salvageable relationship between the two of them. I have always viewed Mitt to be the establishment candidate, or the Bush neo-con backed candidate, so based on that I turn to Condi Rice, perhaps?
I could see Giuliani aligning with Huckabee to woo the social conservatives who are aghast at his social liberalism. A Giuliani candidacy is looking less likely at this point though. He is no longer leading in Florida and only leading in New York by three points now over McCain. I don’t think Super Tuesday is going to save him.
Fred Thompson is a hard one. He can’t pick a southerner so he has to go either west or to the north/northeast. Duncan Hunter might be a good fit for him. I had actually suggested a few months ago to a friend of mine who is affiliated with the Thompson campaign that he should consider Spencer Abraham. The Michigan economy is in a shambles. Years of left wing economics have shriveled it away to practically nothing. Combine that with Howard Dean’s boneheaded decision to strip them of their delegates I think that if the GOP worked hard in that state they could deliver it. Having a Michigan running mate wouldn’t hurt the effort.
Then, of course, there is Huckabee and on that one I have no earthly idea.
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I was at a McCain rally today in Michigan and he had Govenor Tim Pawlenty introduce him. Pawlenty has been actively involved in the campaign and would add some youth to a McCain ticket.
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Huckabee would be smart to pick McCain. McCain has the foreign policy experience that Huck lacks.
Thompson might consider McCain for VP as well since they are friends. I think Pawlenty would be a decent pick for Thompson as well though.
If Rudy wins I think he should pick Haley Barbour from Mississippi.
I don’t think Duncan Hunter would be a good VP choice for anyone. If you are going to pick a congressman no one has heard of then you might as well pick someone rock solid like Jeb Hensarling or Mike Pence.
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who sees Pawlenty as a potential pick. I think any Republican could pick him and gain something from it.
McCain and Thompson are both too old to be VP candidates. A few days ago, some of you were extolling the virtues of a McCain/Giuliani ticket. I think those two are the only candidates who could hook up with one another. There’s too much bad blood between everyone else.
Hunter might be a good Sect. of Defense pick, but not VP.
Personally, were I the nominee, my first call would be to Condi Rice. But I doubt she wants to be involved in actual campaigning.
For a historical aside, extra kudos to whoever can name the last governor to be nominated for VP. And don’t look it up. Let’s see who gets it…
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Well I don’t think there is any bad blood between Thompson and McCain but I think in both cases they would probably opt for someone younger for VP.
I am going to disagree with your pick of Condi, Celtic. She has mixed reviews as Secretary of State and picking her would play right into the hands of Dems who are going to use “We don’t want a third Bush administration” over and over again.
Duncan Hunter for Dept. of Defense is an interesting idea.
Thinking about VP picks makes me think about all the missed opportunities. Wouldn’t it be great if we could be debating whether Steve Largent (OK), Dino Rossi (WA), or Matt Salmon (AZ) would make the best VP?
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No way Romney picks another guv for his veep… but my picks are ….
Romney: Phil Gramm or Fred Thompson — pick a Southern Senator to give some regional balance.
Thompson: again Phil Gramm (I just like him as a VP), or Rommey
McCain (God forbid): Sanford is a great suggestion.
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RE Condoleezza Rice:
I hope that after January 2009, Secretary Rice would consider seeking elective office in California or Alabama. It would be beneficial for her to have some domestic political experience (particularly campaign experience) before running for Prez or VP.
She likely would be a very good addition to the U.S. Senate.
She is currently 54. After a term or two in the Senate, there still would be plenty of years for her to run for the White House.
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The best options for ideological and geographic balance with emphasis on the runner-up candidates:
Giuliani: Mike Huckabee
Romney: Former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, Fred Thompson, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour
McCain: Joe Lieberman, Fred Thompson
Thompson: Duncan Hunter, Tommy Thompson, Newt Gingrich
Huckabee: Sam Brownback
Paul: Tennesee Rep. John Duncan
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Condi? Uh. No thanks. She’s pro-choice and is a bad SOS. She keeps pursuing the insane mideast peace plan that asks Israel to give up more land for Arab promises to be nice.
On the Veeps, Romney can’t pick another governor as VP. Governors always pick someone with some foreign policy experience, such as Senators.
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I can see condi being a fine choice for someone like huckabee. and as someone who has traveled the middle east, the israeli-palestinian conflict can only be resolved with two states. An Israeli state with its capitol being west Jerusalem and a Palestinian States capitol being East Jerusalem with nearly the entire west bank and gaza. and weather conservatives like it or not this conflict matters greatly to people perception of the United States even in places like Turkey and Morocco so condi is absolutely right.
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Last Governor nominated as VP: Spiro Agnew (re-nominated) in 1972? I’m willing to be wrong, but I think that’s right. I almost went all the way back to Earl Warren in 1948!
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Interesting responses. I still think Condi would be a popular pick, but I understand your problems with her.
McCain and Thompson are too old to be VP picks. Unless they get the nomination, they’re finished.
Huckabee HAS to pick a senator or someone with national security experience. (Condi?)
McCain HAS to pick a young, attractive, solid conservative (Pawlenty or Sanford?) But I can see him picking Giuliani too.
Giuliani HAS to pick a southerner or a westerner. Like with McCain, the pick has to be young, attractive, and a solid conservative.
I’d mention Romney and Thompson, but they’re not gonna win, so screw ‘em.
As for some of the names previously mentioned:
Phil Gramm- Ain’t gonna happen.
Gov. Bill Owens- I always liked Owens, but he went through a nasty divorce and he’s got some pro-gun control problems. Still, for regional balance, someone like Huckabee could do worse.
Newt- If Newt doesn’t wanna run for President, he doesn’t wanna run for VP. Move on, guys.
Gov. Haley Barbour- Hmmmm. Interesting. He’d be great with McCain or Giuliani.
Sen. Joe Lieberman- The only, ONLY way this would work is if Huckabee picks him for regional, cultural, and experiential balance. No one else could pick him.
Let me through another name out there… he’s western, conservative, attractive, and articulate: Sen. John Ensign (NV). Any opinions on him?
Finally, I guess there were no takers on my trivia. The last governor to be nominated for VP? Last chance…
Spiro Agnew (Maryland), 1968 by Nixon. Governors don’t typically make good VP nominees.
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Fred Thompson:
VP JC Watts
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Ooops. Sorry Marshall, I didn’t see your response. Good job- extra credit on your midterm.
And yes, for those looking to score big on Jeopardy! some day, Earl Warren (CA) was the second-to-last governor nominated for VP, and that was all the way back in 1948.
As for the Democrats, the last governor they nominated for VP was Charles Bryan, governor of Nebraska, in 1924.
In short, if your life-long ambition is to be Vice President, don’t be a governor.
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If John picks Rudy, he has five votes from my family.