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VP selection looming for John McCain

John McCain wrapped up the nomination shortly after a string of commanding Super Tuesday victories. Winning Texas, Ohio and Virginia was the delegate-rich icing on the cake. Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney; once challengers for the nomination, have all endorsed their former rival. It is time for McCain to consider the only significant decision a presidential candidate has before taking office: choosing a Vice-President. Conservatives betting on McCain pandering to the right with a Bill Frist-George Allen-type candidate are fooling themselves into delirium. Senator McCain owes not one small favor to an establishment that was against him from the beginning.

Historically, geography has played a major role in the selection of Vice-Presidents. Since McCain hails from a western state and has strong support in the Northeast, the natural assumption is toward a popular Southerner. There is no shortage of Southern Republican governors or senators. Governor Charlie Christ has impressed many in his charge of perennial swing state Florida. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has been a loyal ally in the Senate and; more importantly, the campaign trail. Though Sen. Graham does not deliver a state McCain could not already win, he aids in reassuring the angry Republican minority still unsure whether there will be a true Republican in the race. John Warner of Virginia would make an excellent choice, but may be too advanced at this stage in his career to endure four-to-eight years in the second highest office.

Ideological balance ought not be underestimated, particularly for a McCain ticket. Richard Nixon chose Spiro Agnew of Maryland for his tough, conservative reputation on crime. Nixon himself was selected by Eisenhower for his role as a leading anti-Communist in the Congress. Though they would likely make fine choices for a traditional GOP nominee, Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) would be perceived as too liberal to compliment McCain. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Governor Perry of Texas and Haley Barbour of Mississippi provide long-held reliable views on all the issues social conservatives care about. Barbour has the advantage of being a former Republican Party Chairman. Santorum may be out of consideration for the only unpardonable sin in American politics, losing your home state. Governor Perry has a relationship with President Bush and is in a unique position to heal to rift between the Bush and

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