But the NYT is betting on someone young.

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Mr. McCain said in a recent interview that he had not even settled on how the vice presidential selection process would work, let alone whom it might select, but added, “We all know that the highest priority is someone who can take your place.”

The potential import of Mr. McCain’s choice of a running mate has prompted a political parlor game of who would be the best fit for the ticket. Quite a few of the names being bandied about are those of politicians in their 40s and 50s, including Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, 47; Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, 51, whose well-timed endorsement helped Mr. McCain win the crucial swing-state’s primary; Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, 47; and Rob Portman, 52, a former Ohio congressman and director of the Office of Management and Budget.

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ooooh so many lobbyist jokes hehehe!

[ 24 February 2008: Message edited by: mary123 ]

I'm sure that he would be the first VP to still be playing pick-up hockey!! He grew up in St. Paul and, since I live here, I've watched him play. He's not that good but he's played since he was a kid and he absolutely loves the game.

So, he can't be all bad!!

I think the Democratic Lieutenant governor candidate said something like she didn't know where the iron range (northen Minnesota) was, or something like that.

Minnesota has been a competitive state in the last several elections and it's certainly not the liberal bastion it once was, but the Democratic Party (Democratic-Farmer-Labor, DFL as it's called there) is highly organized and has rebuilt up near veto proof majorities in the state legislature.

The Republican supposed star candidate for the open Minnesota U.S Senate Seat in 2006, Mark Kennedy, ended up losing by 20%.

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Originally posted by Adam T:
I think the Democratic Lieutenant governor candidate said something like she didn't know where the iron range (northen Minnesota) was, or something like that.

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There are, of course, people who aren't currently elected, or Congresspeople who he could choose as well.

U.S Senators
1.Olympia Snowe, Maine Haven't heard any mention of her, probably for good reason as she is a leader of the so-called moderate Republicans, but she would neutralize the 'gender' thing. She is also super popular in the state, and could help swing Maine (which is not as safe Democratic as some seem to think it is) to McCain, and maybe even New Hampshire, though I don't know how much people in New Hampshire care about Maine.

2.John Ensign, Nevada. A popular up and coming Republican, would play up the McCain Arizona South West angle. Nevada is a swing state, but it is small, still most of the south western states are increasingly competitive.

3.John Thune, South Dakota. Wouldn't help much in the electoral college, but he is a major favorite of a lot in the Republican version of the net roots.

4.Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas. Another candidate who would neutralize the 'gender' thing, as well as a somewhat well respected U.S Senator. However, she apparently wants to run for governor of Texas in 2010.

Governors
1.Bob Riley, Alabama. Again, doesn't add anything to the electoral college math, but he is a very popular governor who has survived battles with the 'Christian right'. He was given up for dead politically when a referendum that he pushed that would have lowered taxes on the poor and raised them on the rich went down to a large defeat after Democrats refused to help campaign with him for it (they said they didnt' trust him over something else). He was even further left for dead when the '10 Commandments judge Roy Moore challenged him in the Republican primary. However, he reversed course and made a huge turnaround and in the latest Survey U.S.A poll is rated 69% favorable/29% unfavorable.

2.Jodi Rell, Connecticut. Another popular 'moderate' women senator/governor.

3.Charlie Crist, Florida. Mentioned recently for his key timed endorsement in the Florida primary that all but knocked Mitt Romney out of the race. Apparently is the most popular governor in the country in what has been a swing state recently.

4.Sonny Perdue, Georgia. Receiving a lot of mention from the right wing establishment, especially the talk show hosts.

5.Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota See post above.

6.Haley Barbour, Mississippi. A highly connected governor (he was Chair of the Republican National Committee a few years ago) and a shrewd campaigner.

7.Mark Sanford, South Carolina. A favorite of some of the social conservative as well as the economic conservative wing of the party. Regarded as a bit of a libertarian. Apparently has a bit of a fued with major McCain backer and U.S Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, so, I'm not sure how that might effect things.

[ 06 March 2008: Message edited by: Adam T ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Adam T:
I think the Democratic Lieutenant governor candidate said something like she didn't know where the iron range (northen Minnesota) was, or something like that.

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The DFL Lieutenant Governor candidate admitted she had never heard of E-85, an ethanol fuel that is sold in many gas stations. Believe it or not, that actually got news in the final week of the campaign.

Pawlenty won 47%-46% over the DFL candidate, Attorney General Mike Hatch, on a night where a fresh candidate for US Senate got the biggest majority since Hubert Humphrey, unseated a 12-year Congressman from the southernmost congressional district, became the majority party in the State Senate, and increased their majorities in the State Legislature. The Independence Party (Jesse Venture's legacy) had a candidate who got 6% of the gubernatorial vote -- who knows where it came from. In short, Pawlenty was hardly strongly re-elected, but he did withstand a tide (by 21,108 votes out of 2,036,000 votes cast for Governor) that otherwise benefited Democrats.

[ 06 March 2008: Message edited by: Robo ]

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She was asked by a citizen at a public "townhall" meeting during the campaign about her views regarding E85 (not sure if that same term is used in Canada but here it relates to ethanol fuel for vehicles). She had no idea what E85 was. In a state where half the population is rural (farming and agri-business), it blew people away that she didn't know anything about E85. For many of those voters, it's like not knowing what "abortion" or "Iraq" or "education" is.

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