Who will John McCain select as running mate?

In choosing a running mate McCain must reach out to the conservative and evangelical wing if he is to heal wounds in the GOP.

Mike Huckabee is probably a strong contender: He is a conservative,an evangelical Christian and a southerner. He has performed strongly in the primaries especially in the southern states. He is a proven vote getter and an excellent communicator.

Joseph Lieberman has been mentioned. On foreign policy he is strongly in tune with McCain. However on social policy his views mirror those of the Democrats.

J.C. Watts, Jr. is conservative and CNN political contributor. He is a former Representative for Oklahoma in the in the Congress. Watts is, to date, the last African American Republican to serve in Congress. He wrote the book What Color Is a Conservative: My Life and My Politics.


Michael Steele, is Maryland’s former Lieutenant Governor and quite popular, articulate and able. He is a FOX News contributor. Might swing Maryland for the GOP. He is an African American

North Carolina Senator Richard Burr has been mentioned. He is a conservative. He is especially strong on social issues. This would win favour with the right wing of the GOP. Sen. Burr endorsed Sen. John McCain for the Presidency.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is a fiscal conservative and has his admirers.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist is also a possibility He is a conservative on social issues. Endorsed John McCain during the Florida Primary.

Governor Matt Blunt of Missouri would be a strong choice. He is young but he has run into difficulties with the pro-life movement. Missouri Right to Life announced that it no longer considers Blunt a pro-life politician. He opposes abortion but has encountered difficulties on stem cell research.

Newt Gingrich is highly talented and a strong conservative. He is probably too controversial to get the nod.

Colin Powell would appeal to independent voters. He is African American. He is strong on foreign affairs. He however had doubts on the war in Iraq. Differs somewhat from McCain on issues such as abortion. Would need to adopt a strong anti-abortion stance.

Bobby Jindal Governor of Louisiana is Indian-American. He was chosen by Scholastic Update magazine as "one of America's top 10 extraordinary young people for the next millennium. Rush Limbaugh has described him as the next Ronald Reagan.

Senator John Thune (S. Dakota) is a strong supporter of John McCain and is a fiscal and social conservative. He could be a dark horse.


If McCain decides to select a female running mate he might possibly choose Condoleezza Rice. She is African American and is strong on foreign affairs. She has never expressed an interest in standing for the Presidency.

The leading candidate for a woman would be the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. She’s young and conservative. She would make an outstanding running mate.