McCain and the Running mate debate

John McCain is playing the running mate game much like every candidate in the past 100 years or so. In some cycles the running mate is chosen for what he brings to the table, in other cases they are chosen to just not be disruptive.

I think we need to balance a non-traditional candidate (Barack Obama) with a non-traditional running mate. I really think Senator McCain's chances are pretty slim unless he has a woman as his running mate.

A quick look at the field:

Rudy Giuliani: Giuliani would likely beat anyone except Hillary Rodham-Clinton in New York if he were the candidate. McCain's level of conservatism will stand independent of Giuliani's stances and Giuliani would deliver a nominal number of votes in New York and elsewhere.

Mitt Romney: While the religious right and ultra conservatives are not fired up about John McCain, Romney sends it from tepid support to outright apathy bordering on a mass exodus to any viable alternative such as Libertarian Bob Barr. He is viewed as being pro-choice despite his recent cries otherwise. Many Evangelicals even view his Mormon faith as a cult as opposed to just another Christian Denomination. Romney shatters the conservative base.

Mike Huckabee: One of two on the list I have actually met. Huckabee is a safe choice in the realm of Al Gore for Bill Clinton, Fritz Mondale for Jimmy Carter He may help invigorate the religious right, but it does little to draw moderates and independent voters into the fold. His relative youth would help bring in a few younger voters who seem to all be on the Obama parade. If safe is the ticket, Huckabee is the choice.

Charlie Crist: Governor Crist's main draw is to deliver Florida and we all can remember from 2000, Florida is important. This said, I am pretty political savvy and about the volume of my knowledge of Crist is that he is on a list someone is putting out and is Jeb Bush's replacement.

Michael Steele: His biggest plus is also his biggest minus. His race. Lt Governor Steele draws few voters away from Obama and sends some voters toward alternative candidates such as Bob Barr.

Kay Bailey Hutchison: A female who will draw some of the Clinton voters assuming there is not a female on the Democratic ticket. For McCain to choose a sitting senator, he needs a Republican governor to appoint their replacement. Governor Perry would likely resign in a heartbeat if he could broker a deal with Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst to get himself appointed if Hutchison were to become VP. She brings women back to the GOP table AND doesn't have any huge negatives. Being from Texas, I know her pretty well. I am not sure what kind of national profile she has.

Condaleeza Rice: Dr Rice is an excellent candidate. She has both the allure of being female and being black. She would likely draw even more moderate women away from the Democrats She also has never run for office which has more positive than negative. Simply she has not had to shift her views to match those of a particular race or particular time. The real question is Dr. Rice comfortable as the GOP nominee for VP. Is she ready for the scrutiny?

Colin Powell: As good a vice president as Powell would make, he gives little to the ticket as VP> His Age (71) is no improvement over McCain. His moderate stances seem to echo McCain, and establishing his birthplace might just be the kind of distraction that could derail the entire ticket. I could easily support him as the candidate, but as the running mate. Powell makes little sense.

So the no's are Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Michael Steele, Colin Powell and any sitting Senator with a democratic governor or seriously contested governor's election.

The rest are maybes. There are names on the lists that I didn't cover. Frankly, I believe that McCain needs a female running mate unless Obama has one too (then that point is moot.) Time will tell. I have said, that McCain cannot win without a female running mate, but that is based on neither campaign making positive inroads or having tremendous gaffes. In ten years this will be history and we can see where the mistakes were made and the opportunites were exploited.