Who is McCain’s Running Mate?

Well, for starters it isn’t Lieberman (sure he would have taken Jewish voters from Democrats, yet he couldn’t even win Connecticut).  It’s also not Huckabee, while he certainly had appeal with Southern conservatives, Huckabee never showed a strong detail to the important issues.

Let’s break it down by who is least likely to most likely from the remaining three competitors:

3. Gov. Pawlenty – Sure he was Governor when a major bridge collapsed.  Remember it’s tax cuts for the wealthy over repairing infrastructure.  He also would be a weak debater against Biden.  Young and youthful indeed, yet his credentials are not that strong.

2. Millionaire Mitt – He never wanted to be second (he wanted to be first).  Mitty brings a lot of challenges.  First, he would overshadow McCain at times.  Second, he owns an equal number of properties as McCain, and finally, if McCain is using Clinton’s words against Obama, then by selecting Romney he sets up an even exchange for Democrats.  Sorry Mitt, not this time.  Probably not NEVER.

1. Tom Ridge – The fact that McCain is holding his announcement in Dayton and suburban Pittsburgh makes it highly likely that Ridge is the candidate.  Ridge was a former congressman, governor, and Homeland Security Secretary.  He would be a much stronger debater against Biden, unlike the previous two.  Whether or not Ridge helps McCain in Pennsylvania remains to be seen.  Pennsylvania can be broken down by the following:

Pittsburgh (city) – Obama

Pittsburgh (suburbs) – McCain

Erie – McCain (with Ridge)

Warren – McCain

Altoona – McCain

Johnstown – McCain

State College – Obama

Harrisburg (city) – Obama

Harrisburg (suburbs) – McCain

Lebanon – McCain

Lancaster (city) – Obama

Lancaster (suburbs) – McCain

York (city) – 50/50 Split

York (suburbs) – McCain

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre – McCain

Allentown/Bethlehem – Obama

Williamsport – McCain

Reading – Obama

Philadelphia (city) – Obama

Philadelphia (suburbs) – Obama

**Most votes would come from Obama strongholds versus McCain strongholds, thereby Obama still leads.  Ridge only brings one area realistically into McCain’s column – Erie, Ridge’s hometown.

Honorable mentions, but no reward this year:

Guiliani – Too much baggage.  Starting with his divorce from his wife and including moving in with a gay couple following the divorce (enough to anger religious fanatics).

Portman – Serving in the Bush administration is a liability in itself, regardless of the capacity.  Unlike Ridge, who left early and was not in the budget office, Portman was in office when Bush’s popularity plumetted and he helped draft the Bush budgets.