McCain's 4 Ways to Pick a Veep

Senator considers do-no-harm and shake-things-up approaches: Kristol
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 4, 2008 10:01 AM CDT
McCain's 4 Ways to Pick a Veep
Potential running mates for John McCain include: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and Sen. Sam Brownback.   (AP Photo)

John McCain’s campaign is divided when it comes to a running mate, and William Kristol speculates in the New York Times about the four strategies being discussed:

  • Defeat Obama straight up—If McCain thinks he’s winning, he’ll pick a “do no harm” widely-liked, uncontroversial running mate, like Tim Pawlenty or Rob Portman.
  • Accentuate Obama's inexperience—Here McCain would pick a tested governor, like Mitt Romney or Tom Ridge. McCain likes Ridge more, but the ex-Pennsylvania governor is pro-choice.

  • Co-opt the public desire for change—This would lead McCain to pick a young or different VP, like Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin, or Eric Cantor.
  • Forget politics as usual—McCain could throw a monkey wrench in the works and vow not to seek re-election. Say something like, "Neither I nor my vice president will spend a day, an hour, a minute campaigning or raising money." Pick a non-Republican like Joe Lieberman or Michael Bloomberg, or a non-politician like ex-eBay CEO Meg Whitman.
Party insiders greatly prefer the first two options, but McCain, Kristol reports, is lured by the latter two. (More vice presidential sweepstakes stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X