John McCain's veep list said to be topped by Mitt Romney

So Mike Huckabee told the world the other day that if John McCain calls, he'd be happy to be his running mate, but that he doesn't expect McCain to call. Good thing Huckabee's not waiting by the phone. The folks over at Politico have a piece this morning saying the call could well go to Mitt Romney. But, of course, at this stage no one knows, as our colleague Doyle McManus points out with his own list of bandied-about names.

McCain doesn't need to rush. He doesn't need a running mate until the Republican National Convention, scheduled for Sept. 1-4, which comes after the Democratic National Convention, set for Aug. 25-28. Advantage goes to McCain, since he gets to see what the Democratic slate will look like before he makes his call. And yes, he can pick a running mate earlier to make himself look decisive and unconcerned about political ramifications (which ties into his Straight Talk theme) but, chances are, he'll keep his cards hidden until he has to play.

So why Romney? As Politico points out, he's gone through the media vetting process, has access to cash fountains through his business connections and fellow Mormons, and plays well in his birth state of Michigan, which could be crucial in picking the winner.

The downside? The chemistry between McCain and Romney isn't exactly "Let's spend the next eight years together, shall we?" It's more like: "Does he have to come to this meeting? Can't we just send him to a state funeral somewhere?"

The other top names on McCain's list, per Politico, are former Ohio congressman and White House budget director Rob Portman -- not exactly a household name -- and John Thune of South Dakota, who knocked minority leader Tom Daschle out of the Senate in 2004.

Now it's your turn. Who do you figure? And no, not Dick Cheney -- he's not in charge of the search committee. The comment section is open below.

-- Scott Martelle

Photo credit: Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[TommyBoy46]

I hope McCain picks Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. My second choice would be John Thune.

[Romney2012]

Wow, all things would be forgiven of McCain if he does the right thing and picks Romney, that is a ticket I will campaign/support/donate money to.

Something to get excited about! McCain/Romney 2008!

[Joseph Antley]

I really don't get all of the comments about McCain and Romney not liking each other -- that was months ago when they hated each other! If you look at him flying around to Michigan and Massachussetts and Utah, not to mention their weekend getaway in Arizona, you'd think they were best pals by the way they act.

But yes, Mitt is clearly the best pick.

[Jon Galt]

Romney is the man. I like Sarah Palin but she is pregant right now. A little hard to campaign that way.

Romney will help take Michigan. He will also serve as a counter to Obama's money machine.

[Utah Patent Attorney]

Romney is the competent choice. Anyone else will show that McCain is more concerned with pandering to some minority political group than actually putting competence first -- and I don't think McCain hates Romney like people say. He's beyond clinging to petty grudges and more about making things happen. He may even like Romney now.

[Schneid]

I don't know that Romney is the best choice. Talk about a flip-flopper! Dude changed his position on everything over the course of the campaign to fit whatever audience he was talking to, and the Dems could hammer him on that.

I would go with the Minnesota Governor, somebody who is knew to the process.

Again, Obama can hammer his change theme even more if McCain picks Romney, and will turn off independents like me, who knows that Romney is fake

[Dan Campbell]

Romney is not an honest man. We need MIKE HUCKABEE to be the VP

[Derek]

Looks like Senator McCain is giving me the perfect excuse to give my first donation to Obama, Romney the robot will bring the ticket down. If McCain selects Willard, he is nothing but an old fool.

[JP in Ga]

Californians my not be too keen of Huckabee, but a practical thinker will rember that the 75% of the evangelical, christain or whatever you want to call it vote went to the republicans last election. It's this group that hasn't and didn't warm up to McCain and Romney, and not because they are a bunch of bigots, but because of concerns of social issues these two these two have held or wavered on. Practicall speaking, "someone like Huckabee" oh lets just say Huckabee would keep the south in the fold and help McCain win states that are leaning Obama or are toss ups like NC, VA, IA, OH, IN, (yes IN, see recent SUSA poll, Obama +1), MO, and WI.

Look, SUSA polls back in May even showed Huckabee was the best when compared to Romney, Liberman, and Jindal in several states including, MA(yes even Romneys own state), NM, OH, and PA just to name a few.

Its increasing clear, McCain needs Huckabee for the evangelical vote more than most know or will admit.

[vanno]

If it ain't Huck as VP, I think I'll go Barr. Someone in this mess must be openly and proudly FairTax.

[Sharon]

If he only picks him for the money, which one is the whore? Just wondering..........

[lisa]

GREAT! My disappointed dem friends will vote McCain if Romney is on the ticket. Romney will bring excitement back to the Republican party! McCain/Romney '08!

[SonOfHistoryProf]

I find Romney's abortion positions (multiple) to be completely disingenuous, and I find him thoroughly distasteful on account of it. McCain does not help himself by picking Romney from these angles:

*Closer association with damaged Republican brand.
*"Say anything to get elected" politician
*Romney is willing to compromise his core values in his positions.

From my perspective, a VP pick should have a couple of positives and no huge negatives. Romney doesn't seem to fit that bill, IMHO.

[JW]

He's crazy not to pick Governor Palin, even crazier to pick a former rival, and insane if picks another Beltway politician.

[Aaron]

Romney is unquestionably the front-runner, and rightly so:
1- He's the most competent and intelligent
2- He's the only one with turnaround experience
3- He's vetted
4- He's well-spoken
5- He's not P-Huckabee.

The fact is, Romney's flips have come on political positions...not personal. As Governor, he essentially admitted that he couldn't change the opinions of the masses, so he'd support them. But that's drastically different than where he is now. The one thing for sure is Huckabee is an economic nightmare. He's not that bright, and the fair tax is so stupid that no wonder no real economist promulgates it.

Go McCain/Romney!

[J.P. in GA]

Aaron:

Professors David Burton and Dan Mastromarco, University of Maryland and The Argus Group
Laurence Kotlikoff, Boston University
Stephen Moore, The Cato Institute
Professor Dale Jorgenson, Harvard University
Bill Beach (economist), the Heritage Foundation
Jim Poterba, The National Bureau of Economic Research
Professor George Zodrow, Rice University and the Baker Institute for Public Policy
Professor Joseph Kahn, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

These are some of the REAL economists that designed the fair tax. I suggest you read up before making false accusations.

It has only been recently that Romney has decided he was wrong on abortion and gay marriage. What's to say he won't change again.

At least with Huckabee, you know where he will and will not stand.

[drsnurse]

Romny with his five sons with other priorities and his own priority of mission work in the wilds of France, rather then serve their country,says it all. Another chicken hawk for VP.

[Linda]

The people in the field overwhelmingly want Huckabee. He won usa election survey polls McCain/Huckabee did better than Romney, Pawlenty or Lieberman in some 10 swing states. (only Pawlenty slightly beat Huck in Minn), but he did the worst in most all other states Huck even beat Romney in MA (those who know Romney best like Huck better). Why does the media ignore these polls, yet broadcast when Romney wins one of the some 50 internet polls (Huck has won 95% of those polls, was the facebook favorite (along with Clinton for Obama). It is clear Washington is afraid of Huckabee because he is an outsider who "dared" to run for president without their permission. Huckabee, in my opinion, has come out the clear winner this election. Will McCain pick the winner, or the man who spent 105M$ and taught us that money won't help if we don't like what you're selling? One more thing, Pattrick Ruffin of The next right stated yesterday on CSPAN Huckabee's internet group hucksarmy was the BEST online site this presidential election. Yes the BEST!!!! We come along with our guy......

[Brian]

Huckabee, of course. I agree, what's with no media coverage of him winning all the polls?

[ted811]

Romney is Mr. Plastic. Plastic walk, hair, personality, plastic through and through. Yes, there is a healthy appetite in this country for plastic, but don't expect McCain to bow to the ankle deeper's. There is too much at stake. He will put character and integrity at the top of the list of qualifications (sorry Huckabee).
Sorry Politico, put your crystal ball away--twill do you no good.
I say we all put Judge Judy at the top of the list. She'll get things done in 30 minutes or less. Romney next to her--He's a plastic factory...a shallow phony for head-in the sand-people.

[Herb Yood]

The Republican Party in Massachusetts was worse off after Romney's single term. He would not have been re-elected because he was absent an enormous number of days while he was governor. He did not set a good example for state employees.

More to the point, he simply doesn't have it. Not his fault perhaps, but he is a transparent phony, who will say anything he thinks will please the audience in front of him.

His record as a businessman consists largely of taking over companies, some profitable, and gouging the employees by reducing salaries and benefits to make a profit.

That won't sell in the heartland, and is what felled him when he ran against Ted Kennedy for the senate.

Romney is a loser, and a union state like Michigan will reject him. All he has is money. He adds nothing else.

[Kevin Neely]

Huck is a Schmuck (sorry to rhyme...).
Who can fix the economy? The only real choice here is Mitt. He is smart, a great businessman and a moral person. He will fix the economy if anyone can...
I think Independents and Republicans are smarter than to vote for Obama just because they might not like the VP choice.
These people who are saying they are going "to sit it out" if Mitt is chosen are nothing but infantiles having a temper tantrum.
In the end, even these idiots will "flip-flop" and realize they don't want a Socialist President in the White House.

[TVV]

This is the worst possible pick that McCain could make. It will guarantee that the losses in the south will be greater than any possible gains anywhere else. And I question whether or not it would actually help him win Michigan as Romney's supporters suggest. Remember, The Daily Kos told disappointed democratic voters in Michigan to vote for Romney in order to keep the Republican nominating contest going as long as possible.

Also, because all of the Republican Establishment is pushing for Romney, that pick really would hurt him as Obama would be all over it and suggest he has proof that McCain is following Bush's footsteps and seeking a third Bush term.

[Kay]

Why is the media doing a coverup that Mike Huckabee is winning most all polls as the people's choice for vp? He recently won facebook along with Clinton for Obama. He has won 95% of internet polls, yet the ONE poll Romney won is the one that gets media attn!! The survey usa election polls showed Huckabee gave McCain +2.58%. Romney only +.58 and Pawlenty and Lieberman ran him negatively!! Why do these results never get mentioned? Why did the media say one month ago Huckabee was rumored to be at the top of the list, then no mention of him at all? Could it be they are, once again, trying to control America's election away from what the PEOPLE want, and pressure McCain to picke their good ole boy pick? Now I know Huck is not liked by Washington because he dared to run for president without asking thier "permission", isn't bought by them, nor has he paid for their loyalty. Guess he had the audacity to believe the PEOPLE pick the president!!! Hopefully, McCain has enough good sense to go with the people's choice and pick a running mate he can be proud to have standing by his side. That man can only be Mike Huckabee. Russert knew what the outcome would be on May 18 when he kept calling Huckabee vice president the entire show of Meet the Press!!!

[lrobb]

Anyone who wonders whether Obama prays and whether his prayers are answered has only to read this article to know the answer is affirmative. Mitt Romney is the answer to all Obama's prayers for a Democratic landslide in the South for the first time since 1968.

[Stephanie]

Media has been wrong about every prediction they have made and this one will be no different. Why? McCain couldn't possibly pick Romney now, even if he wanted to (which I'm certain he doesn't). Bush/Cheney/Rove have pushed Romney and it made all the papers, tv, etc. The last thing McCain can do is let the Bush admin. pick his choice. No, McCain has to buck Washington and pick a people's favorite if he wants to excite the base and get out the vote. It can't be safe and boring, nor harsh and abrasive . That won't cut it. Choosing someone that Washigton hates would be shear genius!!!! The people and the candidates have said how Washington is broken but Mike Huckabee is the pick that would stick it to Washington in a huge way and really rally this party to victory. Anyone else, look for defeat......

[Granny T]

Huckabee would be the best choice for McCain's VP. Huckabee has 3 years serving 2nd in command as Lt. Gov. and 10 1/2 years governmental chief executive experience. Despite the fact that Arkansas had a Democrat majority so strong that Huckabee's office door was literally nailed shut when he was first voted in as Lt. Gov.; he was still able to accomplish major improvements for the state fiscally responsibly. He proved he is good at managing money by the way he used our campaign contributions. He received the most votes per dollar spent of any of the candidates because of his tremendous grassroots support. Since McCain has signed up for government financing; McCain is going to need that type of volunteer support to combat the Obama money. McCain can count on my vote as long as he chooses a VP that has consistently supported the moral values important to me. If he chooses Huckabee; he will get my vote, money, and volunteer campaign help. If he chooses a moral liberal or flip flopper; he is on his own.

[Ann]

Why would McCain pick Romney? Because he was such a successful Governor of Mass? According to the Boston Globe and the people of Mass (who voted Romney 70% disapproval rating when he left office), Mitt Romney is a flip flopper who said he was pro-choice and pro-gays (even had one in his cabinet, no Christians), and then 2 yrs before Pres. primary, he is all of the sudden, pro-life and against gays. Romney also was behind one of the biggest spending programs in Mass. - mandated health care for all Mass citizens....you know the same program Hillary wants for the U.S. How would McCain ever criticize the health care program from Obama with Romney on his ticket?

BAD BAD CHOICE! iF YOU DON'T BELIEVE EVANGELICALS WILL STAY HOME IF ROMNEY IS ON THE TICKET, JUST WATCH!!!

[Transplanted Lawyer]

Huckabee and Romney both have the same problem -- they lost. I think McCain's choice is between Bobby Jindal or Charlie Crist.

Charlie Crist could put Florida solidly in the GOP's column and is relatively young despite the shock of silver hair and the suave George Hamilton-like tan. There are rumors that he is gay but I don't know if there is any substance to them (or why I should care if they are true).

Bobby Jindal is very religious, the kind of Catholic that evangelicals can reconcile themselves to, speaks with enough Southern lilt to appeal to that constituency, and is not a white face in a campaign where a non-white face is a big plus. The GOP may want to save him for 2012 or 2016 but he may want to bail out of the ungovernable state of Louisiana while he still looks good.

Sarah Palin is not pregnant; she gave birth a few month ago. She would be a great choice if she were the Governor of one of the Lower 48 states; the logistics of running a national campaign and governing a state like Alaska would be overwhelming for nearly anyone, but especially for a parent of a months-old infant.

[WA gal]

Romney is by far the best choice for many reasons; we need his business savvy and experience. He knows world economy and understands cause and effect of different markets. He is a man of personal integrity, and a family man. When actions speak louder than words, all you have to do is look at the children he's raised.........it doesn't get any better than that. I trust the man.

McCain/Romney 2008!

[interested party]

-Transplanted Lawyer-

While I think your on the money with your comments, I don't agree that because the one loses a primary they can't be a V.P. History has shown otherwise.

As to Romney or Huck, my perception is that both have the same problem - in different ways. Huck's strength is the Christian right vote, but he also can be seen as too closely aligned with that group, unable to make secular judgments outside a strict biblical context. Likewise Romney has his religious base, Mormons, but certain voters might feel uncomfortable having a Mormon one-shot from the Presidency.

My personal preference... Mike Hucklebee. He's made a few horrible blunders in the past, all things considered,l I like his style.

[McCain all the way]

Romney is the best and safest pick for McCain. Why? Do not forget. McCain has hinted that he would only run for one term. Just think, he would not be beholden to any special interest group. After his four years, Romney could take over as President and run a full two terms. The man is an economic genius. Just the sort of person McCain needs to help balance out his ticket. As far as what's wrong with Romney. Nothing. If JFK could get elected and Clinton so can Mitt. Mitt is the safest and best pick McCain can make for now and for the future of the Republican party's chances in 2012 and 2016.

[Girl with the bushy armpits]

I promise to shave my armpits if McCain picks Huckabee.
The man is of a rare breed of honourable and dedicated
public servants like McCain. He would make it impossible
for the arrogant elitist to win over the working class in
many swing states and assure victory in the south. Mike
Huckabee realy livens up a campaign with his communication skills and good sense of humour. His moral principles are reassuring and tolerant.The man
would also make a fine president should anything happen
to Sen. McCain. A fine man by any standard and a true
patriot.

[Clay]

Since the Primary election concluded with McCain on top, which of the former candidates was man enough to set aside disappointment and energetically support the choice of the party? Not Huckabee, Actions speak louder than words. Supporters of Huckabee astound me. Mike's a nice enough guy, unless he's running against Mitt. Anyone watching the process had to shake their heads over the tag team approach Huckabee took, taking no shots at McCain, firing all his salvos at Romney, and continuing to take shots even after Mitt withdrew. Huckabee might well consolidate the South, but you folks who love him grossly underestimate the disgust he generates from a very large segment of the party, and I don't see you trying to figure out how to pull it all together. Does anything outside the South even interest any of you people?

[Mrs. P]

I would be extremely displeased (to put it lightly) if Governor Romney was put on McCain's ticket.

Mitt Romney might look presidential but he is plastic. More than that, he is duplicitous. Because he didn't use his full gubernatorial power, Massachusetts became the first state to allow homosexual marriage (yes I know he says he did everything he possibly could to stop it, but other people say otherwise: http://www.wyll.com/blogs/srios/11561276/). He switched his stance on abortion twice (yes I know he says it was from a genuine change of mind. But who says he won't continue the pattern and switch again?).

If McCain gives Romney the VP slot, I will have trouble voting for him in November. I'll probably still do it, but it will only be because I consider him the lesser of two evils. But I won't be anywhere near enthusiastic about it and will definitely NOT do any campaigning for them. And quite a big chunk of this Grand Old Party feels the same.

Here's my prediction: if McCain picks Romney, we Republicans will lose by a landslide.

[alvinels]

There is no way that McCain picks Huckabee. No one takes him seriously except a radical segment of evangelicals. Please pick someone with some honor, intelligence and class.

[nclady]

I'm an independent, Romney is a fine and more than capable man, I'd vote for him.

[Todd Carnegie]

I don't care who is the VP as long as it is NOT Mike Huckabee. What has he accomplished besides being governor of the dumbest state in the US? All he talks about is being an Evangelical preacher. He may get the Evangelical votes, but he won't get the votes of anyone with any common sense. For a good laugh, check out the Huckabee Family Christmas Photo:
http://sammit.freedomblogging.com/2008/01/04/huckabee-family-christmas-card/
Speaking of dogs, one of the junior Huckabees reportedly got in trouble for hanging a dog, slitting its throat, and stoning it to death at a Boy Scout camp. See the following site for details:
http://www.utopiarescue.com/oldsite/stop_animal_torture.htm
This guy should not even be mentioned in the same sentence as other VP candidates.

[Rick Blackham]

It is so funny to see everyone pushing Huckabee here. Mike Huckabee is an inch deep everywhere you scratch.

[Hank]

If McCain picks Romney, I will absolutely NOT vote Republican, as McCain's flip-flops are bad enough without that hypocritical phoney Mormon loon Romney on the ticket with him. The very best that McCain will get out of it all is Michigan, POSSIBLY- not anywhere else though - and he will then lose Virginia (who can't stand Romney), New Mexico, Ohio, and probably even Iowa too. Not only will Democrats NOT switch to vote Romney, but McCain will completely force a lot of his base into not voting at all. Mark my words, Romney is a LOSER - too liberal for Republicans and too conservative for Democrats. He will drag McCain down entirely.

[Shelby]

To Girl with the bushy armpits (Gross!):

Being on the Pres ticket requires more than being a loose-cannon-clown with that “good sense of humour” you mention.

And Huckabeen having “reassuring moral principles”?! That’s laughable! Surely you jest!!!!!!!

[Bob]

To Clay (and others)

1. To suggest that Romney could have stopped gay marriage in MA is either disingenuous or stupid - take your pick. Gay marriage occured in MA just as it did in CA, by judicial fiat based on a supposed interpretation of the State Constitution. The Governor has no veto power and no executive authority over Judicial decisions and, as a conservative Republican, Romney had little or no personal influence with the liberal court or the media on social issues.

2. Romney did not change his abortion position twice, only once, from that held very publicly by his mother, Lenore Romney (personally morally opposed, but the government should stay out of it and not dictate to women) to avidly pro-life, based on personal experience leading to a conviction that "choice" cheapens the whole value of life and leads to atrocity.

For the rest of you who accuse Romney of flipflopping, please note that over the course of his political career, he changed exactly TWO positions - abortion and his position on the role of the Department of Education (used to believe it should be abolished, now sees a limited role for it - I liked the first position better, personally). ALL of the other stuff he is accused of changing on is FALSE. He was NEVER in favor of gay marriage. He was and is still opposed to hatecrimes and discrimination against gays in the workplace. He was never in favor of gun control as some have accused, regardless of whether he did or did not hunt as a kid. Yes, he made a conscious choice not to emphasize some of his positions on social issues when he ran for Governor, and promised to leave those issues alone, because he ran at the behest of those who wished to avert an economic disaster for the State and he could not have been elected without saying "I'll concentrate on these fiscal issues and not a heavy social agenda." That does not mean he changed his positions or that he pandered. He ran to solve a huge fiscal problem (a multibillion dollar deficit) and he solved it. (Unlike Schwarzenegger in CA, unfortunately)

The reason he had a high disapproval rating at the end of his term was because his opinions and positions on those social issues became relevant to any reelection bid, BECAUSE THE CRISIS THAT LED TO HIS ELECTION HAD BEEN SOLVED AND THE STATE IS 85% DEMOCRAT. DUH!! He was not going to get relected. He had solved the problem the liberals trusted him with, and now they had to deal with his conservative moral values. END OF GAME in MA. Far from being a negative, this shows that he is able to set priorities and achieve them, even in extremely hostile environments.

[Shelby]

Kay & Linda,

“……Huckabee dared to run for president without asking thier permission……..”

To the paid Huckabeen bloggers, you need to better coordinate your blah, blah, blah cut and paste posts. Kay and Linda, it looks really dumb when both of you cut and paste the same thing under different names.

[Utah Patent Lawyer]

The best governor California ever had was Mormon, Goodwin Knight. If McCain's straight talk expres tells us somebody besides Romney is a better choice, I'm outta the republican party.

[Steven Rinehart]

Huckabee fails every measure of man compared to Romney. Romney is smarter, more educated, more accomplished, better looking, better family, and even more committed to God as Romney understands him (he just doesn't brag about it like Hic-is-me). What's wrong with us all for hating Romney? Are we the hatemongers liberals say we are?

[Cheryll]

With all respect Mr McCain, Mitt Romney will bury you. Sarah Palin should be your VP. She is brilliant, level-headed and inspiring. Sir, if you choose Mitt you are destined to lose and big....I hope you will not make that mistake.

[nh hiker]

McCain and Romney? They might injure each other while they're busy flip-flopping

[mathman]

as a democrat voting obama, i'm salivating over the pick of romney as the vp. He is horrible with women; seems to be very far to the right, just the type of guy that will send hordes of hillary supporters and independents into obama arms

[Ericmiami]

Romney brings all those polygamists to the voting booth!!!

[Edward]

Romney's only weakness is that evangelicals don't look upon Mormons as true Christians...a case of religious bigotry. He is the only VP choice who has the intelligence and presidential persona to offset McCain's age. Crist looks as old as McCain and Louisiana's governor has, like Obama, slim experience. Would anyone trust a college-student-appearing candidate to lead this country in these perilous times? Abortion is our nation's biggest problem and both Romney and McCain are pro-life. How any Democrat can be proud of their party in its lack of value of life within a mother's womb is beyond comprehension.