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The three things McCain's number two needs to do

James Forsyth

Monday, 18th February 2008

Normally a VP pick needs to do one thing. John Kerry picked John Edwards as he needed to extend his reach both geographically and socially. Dick Cheney was George W. Bush’s choice because he reassured voters that there would be someone who knew how it all worked to show Dubya the ropes. Al Gore went for Joe Lieberman as he needed to put distance between himself and the Lewinsky affair and Lieberman had been the first Democrat to condemn Clinton’s behaviour. But McCain’s VP ideally needs to fulfil three criteria. First, he or she needs to be ready to be president from day one; this is the only way to stop McCain’s age and health becoming major campaign issues. Second, they require domestic policy heft to make up for McCain’s lack of enthusiasm for the subject. Finally, they should be able to fire up those parts of the base which remain unenthusiastic about McCain’s candidacy.

It is hard to think of anyone who meets all three of these tests. Most of the other people who ran for the Republican nomination do not. Mike Huckabee fails the first one given his total absence of national security credentials. Mitt Romney, apart from the fact that him and McCain really don’t get on, doesn’t reach the Southern part of the GOP base as shown by his poor performance in the Southern primaries. Rudy Giuliani with his pro-choice views would be unacceptable to a large chunk of social conservatives. Fred Thompson technically meets these tests but if he could not summon up much enthusiasm for running for president himself it is hard to imagine that he’s suited to criss-crossing the country on McCain’s behalf.

Finding someone who meets all three criteria will be tricky for McCain—no one springs instantly to mind. Of those whose names have been floated Rob Portman, the former US Trade Representative, probably comes closest but he lacks rock start quality. Team McCain will either have to hope that one of the Republican governors tipped for the post—Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Charlie Crist of Florida, Mark Sanford of South Carolina—prove to be quick studies on foreign policy or go for an out of the box pick. If they go down the latter route keep an eye on Fred Smith, the founder of Federal Express and a Marine vet.

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Pangloss

February 18th, 2008 3:39pm

He should go for Michael Bloomberg. McCain's biggest weakness is the perception that he is not economically literate enough. Going for a successful businessman who can appeal to moderates (and possibly win New York) would be a real advantage. By choosing Bloomberg he would actually turn the health stories on their head- if McCain dies in office the US would get the closest thing they are ever likely to get to an independent President. Bloomberg has executive experience, comes across as Presidential, is close enough to McCain in his views and would cause headaches for either Obama or Clinton in trying to make the election about partisan division. McCain-Bloomberg would not appeal to the base but it would 1. Have no financial problems as Bloomberg could effectively bankroll them 2. Appeal to all 50 states on some level. Alabama and Georgia will never vote for Clinton. High African American turn out could concievably sway them into the Obama camp but gains elsewhere will more than offset such loses.

TGF UKIP

February 20th, 2008 7:16pm

McCain is in the most fortunate position by being able to wait beyond the end of the Democrat Convention and see who he needs to match up with. Team Democrat will determine who is to be McCain's VP.

Richard

February 22nd, 2008 6:26pm

A quick study on foreign policy? Bill Owens is very interested in foreign policy (particularly US-Russia relations), appeals to conservatives, and is a former Governor of Colorado.