The American Cynic

The VP choice for John McCain is a totally different process. While he also is searching for a candidate who offsets his weaknesses (failure to grasp world geography after 1989 and ability to differentiate Sunnis from Kurds and Iranians), he is also charged with finding a running mate who will generate some sense of excitement to help counter the Obama phenomenon.

Bobby Jindal is no doubt a rising star in the Republican party. He is of Indian descent and was elected Governor of Louisiana at the age of thirty-six. McCain seems completely smitten with Jindal and everyone agrees that Jindal is indeed on McCain’s very short list.

YEAH, BUT: Jindal is thirty-seven years-old. To make the “we’re not your father’s Republic party” statement with a guy literally half McCain’s age is a huge risk.

Tim Pawlenty is an enormously popular Governor in a blue-leaning state during a time when the words popular and Republicans are seldom used in the same sentence. He, like Jindal would do nothing to help the McCain argument that Obama lacks experience to be President.

YEAH, BUT: Outside of his time in office, Pawlenty has virtually no political experience.

Charlie Crist is yet another very popular governor. He has significantly more experience than Jindal and Pawlenty and is revered by party insiders. In Florida, he has fostered unity between the parties after a divisive run by Jeb Bush. Besides, what better way for McCain to shore up the shaky Evangelical base than choosing Crist?!

YEAH, BUT: There is a strange but real problem with Crist. He has a great head of white hair. Though far younger (52) than McCain, Crist doesn’t help in overcoming the age issue. Perception is political reality.

Mitt Romney is the candidate that McCain probably wishes wasn’t in the mix. Their mutual disdain for one another was evident in the primaries. McCain’s ‘straight-talk’ image is clearly boosted in Romney’s ‘what’s it gonna take to put you in this car tonight?’ image.

YEAH, BUT: McCain really seems to hate him. These two will make JFK and LBJ look like fraternity brothers.

ODDS ARE: With no real game changer, McCain will be forced to secure the most conservative base of the party and choose Mitt Romney.