VEEP Watch

Part One: Republicans

The sheer number of names being floated as possible vice presidential picks for each candidate is staggering. MSNBC did a whole March Madness thing, narrowing down 64 names to a final four and then finally one for each candidate. Some names seem to be mentioned more often or more enthusiastically than others, but it is also entirely possible that the candidates will surprise us with someone completely different.

Some top names on McCain’s list may include Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Bobby Jindal, Mark Sanford, Tom Ridge, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin, and Joe Lieberman. On Obama’s list, top names may include Hillary Clinton, Kathleen Sebelius, Sam Nunn, Evan Bayh, Ted Strickland, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Wesley Clark, John Edwards, Bob Kerrey, Ken Salazar, Chris Dodd, Tom Vilsack, Tom Daschle, Brian Schweitzer, Janet Napolitano, and even Al Gore (not that he’d want the job . . . again).

Today, I’ll do the Republicans. Look out for the Democrats tomorrow!

Republicans: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is a favorite, as is the very young and respected Bobby Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana who is known for his strong ethics and integrity. Former Massachusetts Governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney is, of course, a popular pick as well, although if McCain does choose his vice presidential candidate from a pool of people with whom he gets along, as some say he is wont to do, Romney might not make the cut. Also mentioned seriously is Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison – she is very well-respected on the Hill and, though one of her great strengths (and what must be a key factor in considering her for the VP campaign) is that she is consistently conservative, she is also thought to be someone who works well with Democrats. Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin may also be on the short list.

Former presidential candidate, Baptist minister, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former presidential candidate and Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani are, of course, contenders. So are, South Dakota Senator John Thune; Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin; football Orange Bowl champion and CNN political contributor, former Congressman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma; Former Hewlett-Packard CEO and McCain advisor Carly Fiorina; former Mayor of New York and former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani; law-enforcement politician, former Presidential candidate and actor, former Senator Fred Thompson; and Secretary of State and close-advisor-and-confidante-to-the-President Condoleezza Rice. Former Ohio Congressman Rob Portman’s former position as U.S. Trade Representative probably wouldn’t have ruffled too many Republican feathers, however fiscal conservatives and deficit hawks may not have appreciated his other White House position . . . former Director of the White House Budget Office under President Bush. Recently, Portman has said he is not interested in the position.

The governors: Former Governor Mitt Romney; Governor Bobby Jindal; Gov. Tim Pawlenty; Governor Mark Sanford; former Governor Mike Huckabee; former and first-ever Secretary of Homeland Security and former Governor of Wisconsin Tom Ridge; Texas Governor Rick Perry; Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.; Governor Sarah Palin; former Republican Party Chair and Governor of Mississippi Haley Barbour. Former EPA Administrator and former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman’s name has been floated, but her positions on the environment may be too liberal. The current and past governors of Florida are also mentioned in conversations about potential VP picks, but they both may have disqualifying factors. Governor Charlie Crist of Florida has recently gotten engaged, but Republicans are questioning his motives, and although former Governor and brother-to-the-President Jeb Bush is popular and well liked, his last name may keep him off the ticket this time around.

The senators: Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; Senator John Thune; former Senator Fred Thompson; Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina; Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander; and finally, Independent-but-Caucusing-as-a-Democrat and 2004 vice presidential candidate Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman would be an interesting choice and possible because of his strong support of the War in Iraq and of Israel.

The businessmen and women: Carly Fiorina; Rob Portman; Former California congressman, SEC Chairman Chris Cox; former E-Bay CEO Meg Whitman; and Dell Founder and CEO Michael Dell.