The Maverick Conservative

Setting aside the nightmare fantasy of McCain choosing Hillary Clinton (see yesterday's entry),  John McCain's Vice Presidential choice is likely to come down to 1 of 3 people.

The one I hve previously predicted would be McCain's chocie is Governor Crist of Florida, who is probably as responsible as any other man for McCain being the presumptive nominee.  Governor Crist is a "mocderate" pretty much in the mold of McCain (albeit seemingly without the overhyped McCain "temper").  Crist would probably guarantee that McCain wins Floirda, but otherwise will bring little or no excitement to the McCain ticket.  Governor Crist is the "safe" choice that will not LOSE McCain the Presidency.  Since McCain SHOULD beat Obama in Florida anywary (if McCain is going to win at all), Crist will probably also not WIN the Presidency for John McCain.  As I have said before, it is very rare, if ever, that a Vice Presidential choice has actually WON the the Presidency for the Presidential nominee.  Given McCain's age, and lack of excitement generating charisma (McCain has a kind of charisma, but not the Obama kind), this may be an exceptional year where a Vice Presidential choice COULD win McCain the Presidency.  Crist will NOT be that choice, except in the negative sense of solidifying the McCain tickwt with a safe, solid (from general public point of view) choice.   Crist has been popular in Florida.

Romney is not quite so "safe". There is still the leftist BIGOTRY (at least the catering to the rligious bigotry that leftists think they can exploit as to the Mormon Church).  Even some cnservertatives (I heard Mark Davis, as guest host of the Limbaugh program, exhibit what I regard as either religiouis bigotry against Mormons or too mcch willingness to cave to the leftist view that religious bigotry against Mormons can be EXPLOITED against Romney).  Nevertheless, Romeny adds substance in his own way, in ways that Crist can't really match.

Romney has ECONMIC credility.  He has not only been succesfful in private business, but turned around the floundering Salt Lake City Olympics.  Further, he gives McCain more cridibility amon conservatives, since conservatives like me settled on Romney as our choice for 2008.  Downside (besides the bogus "Mormon" thing, which could easily backfire against leftists);  Romney adds crebility in serval areas to the McCain campaign,and MAY help McCain win Michigan, but Romeny adds no excitement.  His campaign failed to catch fire (or he would be the nominee instead of McCain), and he really is somewhat of a Republican type (as distinguished from leftiist type like Obama) ELITIST.  My older daughter (infected too much wiht the attitudes of her adopted Boston) intensely dislikes Romney (who was governor of Massachusetts while she was there).   I agree with my older daughter, to a much lesser degree.  Romney does NOT connect well wirth "ordinary" people, and comes across as somewhat aloof and elitist.  Romney has yet another handicap in that he already looks a lot like a political opportuniest in a lot of ways.  If he now flips back to enthusiastically supporting McCain right down the line, as Vice Presidential nominee, that "problem" is only going to be exacerbated.  Still, Romeny would add considerable strengths to a McCain ticket that Crist seemingly does not add.  The reason he will probably NOT be the VP nominee is that McCain simply does not like him very much.  This is not always fatal to a potential Vice Presidential choice, but is pretty damaging when one of the downsides to Romney is that his lack of "likability" extends somewhat to voters.   For example, even though Romney was my choice for President, McCain would probably NOT get my vote by choosing Romney.  Especially as a VP to McCain, I don't trust Romney as much as I would like to. 

IS there a VP choice that would cause me to vote for McCain?  Yes, I think Governor Robert Jindal of Louisiana would do it (although I would still be holding my nose to vote for McCain).   Jindal brings the kind of youthful enthusiasm for conservatism that Obama brings to extreme leftism.  He is only 36, although he has at least as much experience as Obama (with the advantage that MCCAIN provides the experience in the top spot). 

Jindal is obviously the most risky candidate, and one who does not really bring with him potential to win a specific state that McCain is not going to win anyway.  Jindal is only one year above the MINIMUM Constitutional age to be President of the United States. 

Still, I think Jindal is the ONE choice with a chance to WIN the election for McCain, and also the choice with a chance to LOSE the election for McCain.  But what does McCain need MOST?  I think it is enthusiasm--not onyfrom the VP nominee, but from his supporters).  Jindal is the ONLY potential choice that seems to offer that to a McCain ticket.  This is an election where being BOLD should be rewarded.  Jindal is the blod choice, and the one I would prefer.

That said, it probably will be Crist.  McCain is "hosting" the three named above over Memorial Day weekend at a "social" gathering.  No one believe the "social" part. 

I agree that one of the three will likely be McCain's VP nominee.  Crist is the odds-on favorte.  Romney remains in the running.  Jindal is a longshot, but so was Obama in the beginning.  Jindal will not get the favorable press that helped propel Obama, but he is the one who would generate the most EXCITEMENT. 

Crist is still my prediction, but I hope for Jindal.  Among other things, I am still looking for a conservative LEADER to bring conservatives back from the Wilderness.  Scuttlebutt is that Jindal might (at least potentially) be that leader.

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