One of the failures of John McCain's capmaign was his inability to unite the Republican Party. He did well to select Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate as she gave many conservatives a reason to come out to vote. She was also the rallying point for a new conservative movement, the Tea Party. Sure, Obama won the campaign thanks to the October bailouts, but GOP losses in Congress could have been worse without Palin on the ticket. The right VP pick may not make or break the election for President, but it can make the difference in in the overall picture.
At this point, the GOP nomination is down to just four candidates, Romney, Cain, Perry and Gingrich. Bauchmann, Huntsman, Santorum and Johnson are at a miracles pace away from the others. Here is who I believe the candidates should pick in order to unite the GOP and ensure that Obama is a one-term president.
Mitt Romney
Mitt is considered more moderate fiscally because of "Romney Care" but is record in both government and private business otherwise shows that he is fiscally conservative. Where Mitt may have trouble is showing that he is more socially and culturally conservative. One of the criticisms with Latter-day Saints in the political arena is that the church is socially conservative, but culturally progressive in that they take a softer stand on immigration issue. Mitt is also having a little trouble with the religious right and the Tea Party because if his religion. Therefore, religion will need to be considered when Romney is picking a Vice Presidential running mate. Romney will probably have to pick a southern evangelical and definitely not another Latter-Day Saint. Placating the Tea Party should not be the sole consideration, but it will help to chose someone who the Tea Party will feel good about. As a former governor and from the northeast, Romney would balance the ticket by picking a congressman or senator from the south or southwest. Romney's best choice is JC Watts, a former Oklahoma Congressman as his running mate, or someone with similar credentials. Watts fits what Romney needs in a running mate. He provides regional balance and is someone that will help Romney unite the party. Others that could help are Florida Senator Marco Rubio or Representative Eric Cantor. Cantor is not a southern evangelical, but is likable by Tea Party Republicans.
Herman Cain
Cain's weakness is his lack of political experience. He has been part of the Federal Reserve board, but does not have any other experience in the public sector. It would help his candidacy to pick a running mate with a long and positive history of public service. As Cain seems to be the Tea Party dude, he does not need to pick another
southern evangelical, but someone that would help the "republican establishment"
vote for him. As we have observed, even in Sarah Palin's Alaska, the Tea Party is not strong enough to even win some local elections, and their is no reason to drink their Kool-Aid and believe that a Tea Party person would win a national election without the support of the Moderate Wing of the Republican Party. Therefore, Jon Huntsman may be the best choice for Herman Cain as a running mate, if that selection does not destroy the party it will help deliver the White House to Cain. Others that could help Cain are Rick Santorum or Mike Johanns from Nebraska who has experience in all phases of government.
Rick Perry
Rick Perry is known for being business friendly. But his weakness will be in reaching m ore traditional republicans who may not be as socially or culturally conservatives he is. He is not as culturally conservative as the rest of the pack and has been attacked for his views on immigration. He needs the help of the establishment republicans to deliver Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia...critical states that McCain lost in 2008. And he needs help with cultural conservatives. As a governor, Perry would balance the ticket by picking someone with Congressional ties and from the northeast or southeast. Perry's best choice for a running mate would be House Majority Leader, Congressman Eric Cantor from Virginia. Marco Rubio or Eric Brown from the Senate may have enough of the cool factor to balance the sometimes off cuff Perry. Another possible running mate for Perry is presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
Newt Gingrich
Newt has served as Speaker of the House and is from Georgia. It has been nearly a century since a former or current member of the House of Representatives has risen to the top of a Presidential Ticket. If Newt wins the nomination, he will need someone with balance of experience and a regional balance to convince independents and moderate democrats to vote for him. His best match may be New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. He could also do well to pick a running mate like Jon Huntsman.
Best VP picks in recent elections...
1976...Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia picks Senator Walter Mondale of Minnesota
1980...Governor Ronald Reagan of California picks Congressman George HW Bush of Texas
1988...Governor Micheal Dukakis of Massachusetts picks Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas
1992...Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas picks Senator Al Gore of Tennessee
2000...Governor George W. Bush of Texas picks Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney of Wyoming
2008...Senator John McCain of Arizona picks Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska
Worst VP picks in recent elections...
1972...Senator George McGovern of South Dakota picks Senator Thomas Eagleton of Missouri (First Pick)
Problem...lack of experience and regional balance.
1972...After Thomas Eagleton was dropped from the ticket, Senator George McGovern picked Ambassador Sergeat Shriver of Massachusets
Problem...no experience
Who McGovern could have picked? Governor Terry Sanford of North Carolina
Note: In 1972, the VP was picked by the convention delegates and not by the presidential nominee. This was the last time a VP running mate was chosen in this manner.
1996...Senator Bob Dole of Kansas picks Congressman Jack Kemp of New York
...Problem, no balance in experience.
Who Bob Dole should have picked? Governor Lamar Alexander from Tennessee
2004...Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts picks Senator John Edwards of North Carolina
Problem...lack of balance in experience.
Who John Kerry should have picked? Outgoing Washington Governor Gary Locke.
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