So, in view of the Biden pick, who do you think...

[bidenista]

would be McCain's best choice? And say below if you think his best pick, and his actual pick, are unlikely to be the same.

ETA: When I say "best", I mean most electorally advantageous. Not that they're actually competent.

[rucky]

1. Not Rudy - that's for sure.

I chose Huckabee, however unlikely it may be.

[ncteechur]

2. I'm not sure that Condi would take it.

Plus her testimony to the 911 commission was so shitty. It would certainly be a sign of desparation to place her on the ticket.

[bidenista]

3. i hate to say it

But I think the RNC would only choose her as a "token" candidate.

The one I'm wondering about is Palin, who seems to be getting some buzz. I know she's Alaska gov. - does anyone know anything else about her?

[femmocrat]

10. I agree on Condi.

They are craven enough to do it. In their twisted logic, they might think she could take away both the African-American AND the women's vote.

[Chloroplast]

17. Palin might be a no-go right now.

She's being investigated for allegedly having her former brother-in-law fired from his police job. She also has a baby that's less than 6 months old who has a disability. Running a campaign is tough but I can't imagine what it would be like with such a young baby.

[rucky]

15. Biden/Rice would be a debate I'd love to see.

[saltpoint]

21. Me too, rucky.

I'd pay big bucks to watch that one.

[MH1]

4. Isn't Ridge pro-choice?

I thought I read that McCain nixed any pro-choice veep.

[femmocrat]

7. Yes he is.

I don't understand how they think Ridge would swing PA their way. I don't have "fond" memories of his tenure as governor, and I doubt if younger voters even remember him!

Is he well-known outside of PA? :shrug:

[endthewar]

9. Tom Ridge might be defeated on the Convention floor

Lieberman probably would, but the backlash from choosing Ridge would be enormous. Even Rush Limbaugh is warning McCain against this. :rofl:

[femmocrat]

11. Then it SHOULD be Ridge!

That would be way too much fun! :rofl:

[endthewar]

14. Lieberman would be more fun

The backlash from the right will be brutal and there would DEFINITELY be a Convention floor fight. :patriot:

[Montauk6]

5. Other:

I'm still (call me crazy) thinking Fred Thompson shouldn't change his phone number yet.

[bidenista]

6. that would be the campaign of the living dead

I really don't think they're gonna go there!

[endthewar]

8. Mitt Romney for sure

I think that's why everybody in the MSM believes that it will be Romney. His father was governor of Michigan and he won the MI primary. McCain doesn't have many paths to victory, but if he is able to win Michigan then his chances increase greatly. Romney would also help in Nevada and some other states with "large" Mormon populations.

[salonghorn70]

12. Romney

He would help in Michigan, NH, and some of the western states that have larger Mormon segments. Not sure if he is much help in Pennsylvania. Ridge would help with undecided voters in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania but the religious fundies would go crazy.

[Orsino]

13. Huckabee.

He'll actually bring the alleged-Christian sheen that a GOP ticket requires. And he's the only one in the pack who ever demonstrated a dime's worth of integrity.

[Nipper1959]

16. Jesus Christ

It's his only chance! But I'm afraid he is unavailable.

[Chloroplast]

18. I almost feel sorry for anyone running as McCain's VP.

McCain doesn't share the spotlight with ANYONE. I can't see him willing to have a VP pick that is more affable than he is; Romney is his best choice but I'm sure John will screw it up.

[bornskeptic]

19. Everybody is more affable than John McCain except

Dick Cheney. McCain Cheney '08?

[saltpoint]

20. The GOP picks are all bad ones and they just got even worse with the

selection of Biden.

[medicswife]

22. Condi

Because then those folks who really don't want to vote for Obama because he's black can claim that they're really not racist or sexist because they're voting for McCain whose running mate is not only African American, she's a woman.

[saltpoint]

23. Good question. It likely ruined McCain's weekend.

He can still go the terra terra terra route and pick someone who has some national creds on that -- from McCain's perspective, I mean, not ours -- like Ridge or Rice, but I think Ridge's pro-Choice record makes him a third-rail pick.

I think Romney's out just because he's such an android. McCain is said to not like him much. He brings neither of the two states he's been most associated with. I don't think he offers McCain enough of a boost to counter the uplift Obama provided his ticket by choosing Biden.

And Biden would whomp his fanny on the veep debate stage.

McCain may go with Cantor, Brownback, Huckabee, or Franklin Graham -- one of the Fire Up the Fundies nominees.

[techtrainer]

24. Bloomberg