The standard political view is the the vice presidential candidate does not gain the presidential candidate many if any votes but can result in the loss of votes if he or she is the wrong choice. McCain is not going to risk losing Republican votes by picking a Democrat, especially since McCain is viewed so positively now by Democrats and independents.

Who would you rather have answer the White House phone at 3:00 a m - Clinton or Rice?

I'll take Rice.

What useless information. 453 people making a decision! It sounds more like super-delegates decising or future than anything else. Please recycle the paper from this article.

I'm concerned about John Edwards as VP. Suppose he is in Senate during an important vote and outside there's an ambulance taking someone to the hospital? He'll go chase it and won't be there for the tie breaking vote!

It also means that Condi Rice could be ahead of Huckabee and Romney.

Aren't statistics wonderful?

John Edwards is the ONLY candidate from either party who knows how to fix healthcare.

Why are people so prejudice about how he earned his living that they won't even give him the courtesy of listening to what he has to say?

It's always seemed clear to me that McCain's chief appeal has been his ability to bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans. I think we will see him run a campaign on a bi-partisan platform.

If he's not taken too tough a beating from the far right by the end of the summer, I would expect Lieberman. The writing's been on the wall for that for the last 6 years now. Even if he DOES take such a right-wing beating, and is tempted to go with Huckabee, it's doubtful that Republicans would let Democrats have a solitary claim on historical significance during this election cycle.

McCain-Lieberman is a pre-existing partnership with a lot of publicity, both have a reputation for bipartisanship, and of course... Lieberman is Jewish. The historical significance of it would, theoretically, impede on the white guilt vote that may have been helping Barack Obama.

And if they go with Condi, they're doomed: She's a reminder of the Bush administration, which is something McCain wants nothing to do with. It would also look very vontrived, much like the GOP's nomination of Alan Keyes in Illinois. She may be qualified in every regard, but she frankly carries too much baggage.

My prediction is that it's between Huckabee and Lieberman. But only bet on Huckabee if the GOP base bails.

condi rice is an unpatriotic and incompetent partisan hack that will tow the party line regardless of circumstance. she was a grossly incompetent national security advisor and an undiplomatic embarrassment as sec. of state. give her a medal and kick her to the curb, never to return to public office.

Hey Nicole - I share your same concern. Only the guy being taken to the hospital would probably be John McCain!

Oh, the irony...

It'll be Lieberman, and they'll call it bi-partisanship even though he left the Democratic party in spirit years ago.

If John McCain wants to win he will pick a younger conservative Governor like Romney, Crist, Sanford or Jindal this poll puts Huckabee ahead because he ran longer sort of like Al Gores 36 day election night. Mc Cain will win if he acts humbler and reaches out to the GOP and all its divisions including conservatives. His my way or the highway approach will not lead to victory. The ball is in McCains court. And so is his victory or defeat. Jerry White, Springfield, IL

Mitt Romney could help fix our economic problems. He understands the economy and is one of the smartest people. He has been successful in business, in the Olympics, and in Government. Any you don't have to worry about scandals. He doesn't get a new wife or girlfriend every few years.

If McCain picks Mitt "I'll flip flop on any issue" Romney, as fas as I, and many like me are concerned, he's on his own!

http://OsiSpeaks.com

I'm thinking of Portman or former Rep. John Kasish from the Columbus area that would help McCain in a state [Ohio] he must win. My findings have Hillary winning and Obama losing in Pa. as well. The EC map depends on who the Dem nominee is, and from my analysis over many months have Hillary winnng nd Obama losing.

McCain, step away from the tree, look at the forest, and pick Huckabee, whose vast supporters are becoming more and more bitter by the day for your procrastination.

Huckabee (now Huckabeen since the promised big Huck-a-boom was a Huck-a-DUD) is the ONLY VP wanna-be who made Judicial Watch's 2007 list of TOP TEN MOST CORRUPT POLITICIANS???!!! Hillary #1, Huckabee #6, and Obama #8. Peas in a pod! Every other Repub listed in this article would be a wiser choice for McCain's VP.

http://www.judicialwatch.org/judicial-watch-announces-list-washington-s-
ten-most-wanted-corrupt-politicians-2007

Not Jeb Bush? Keep the dynasty alive!

I find it interesting that people think the vp "helps fix the economy". That is certainly NOT one of the duties of the vp. If it was, outsourcing to China is not helping keep jobs in the US, and running a fiscallly wreckless campaign where you loan yourself 42M$ and run in the red, is not putting much confidence in us that you could effectively manage the economy. We need a true conservative on the ticket because the vp breaks the ties in the senate. Also, need someone well-spoken to speak out as a voice for the conservatives (and make us feel part of the ticket). We also need someone with natn'l name recognition, great character traits, and governatorial experience....sound familiar.. maybe like, Mike Huckabee??

Romney or bust-the economy that is.
He's the only choice worth his salt.

I don't think Condi should be punished with VP, she deserves a Secretariat with more power. McCains already said that his running mate will probably have more expertise in domestic matters, I predict Romney on his economics.

It doesn't matter who he picks. John McCain is a washed up, flip flopper and should Barack Obama get the Democratic nomination, this election will be an absolute laugher. Remember 1988, where the Democrats nominated Mike Dukakis against Vice President George Bush. That was a case of the worst possible scenario to try to end Ronald Reagan's Third Term. Well, 2008's nomination of John McCain is the worst possible scenario from trying to continue the third term of George W Bush, which now, many Republicans wish they had never voted for him. Obama is the ony candidate that represents change and it is apparent that the country is starved for change. Once the dust settles and it comes down to McCain and Obama, we'll see the differences between the two candidates, and that will be a harbinger for John McBush.

Mary,
Didn't you mean "Romney would bust the economy"? Since that is what he DID to MA. Their jobs grew at a much slower rate than the majority of the rest of the country's and they lost more manufacturing jobs than the majority of the rest of the country.
http://tinyurl.com/3dg5o6
Plus, Massachusetts is really having trouble with his lousy "universal health care plan"
http://tinyurl.com/52kkd4

Add those negative facts to all his flip flops and he'd be a disaster.

If you look at the 2004 Electoral College map, you see Ohio moving into the Democratic column. The Republicans need a fair-sized state to make up for the loss. Otherwise, they're down to 266.

Add in Minnesota's 10 to offset the loss of Ohio's 18 and the Republicans still win. How to put Minnesota in play--McCain selecting Governor Tim Pawlenty as his running mate. Plus the Republicans have to make up for the loss of New Mexico from 2004 (Bill Richardson as Barack's VP mate) as well as Arkansas and West Virginia not the safe bets they were in 2004.