Post in McCain VP choice down to Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney

Jul 30 14:13 UTC

A conservative blog reported that John McCain had decided to pick our governor,
Tim Pawlenty, as his running mate. Then the report was amended to say that
choice was between Pawlenty and Mitt Romney.  Which will it be?

For Pawlenty:  He was an early and consistent supporter of John McCain in the
Republican primaries.  He won reelection as governor in a state with a
Democratic majority, bucking the anti-Bush tide of 2006.  As a tax cutter, he
has good conservative credentials; yet he is flexible on other issues such as
the environment and alternative energy.  The GOP convention will be held here,
and Minnesota is regarded as a swing state.

For Romney:  Other than McCain, he was the strongest candidate in the
Republican primaries. While he and McCain were bitter rivals, Romney has since
been quite helpful to the McCain campaign.  He was elected governor in an even
more heavily Democratic state.  He, too, is acceptable to conservatives. A
self-made millionaire, Mitt Romney has a record of success in the business
world.  His turnaround of the Salt Lake City Olympics was exemplary.  Pawlenty
was unable to influence the Republican caucuses in his own state:  They went
for Romney rather than McCain.

This is a political year which ought to trend Democratic.  The Bush-Cheney
administration has been one of the worst in U.S. history and the Republican
candidates feel obliged to stick with the Bush policies.  On the other hand, we
are living in the entertainment age.  Political campaigns are big dance
contests; the best dancer before the TV camera usually wins.
Barack Obama is clearly the best performer in that environment.  His cool,
cerebral manner of speech is enormously appealing, and he has a good message.
His departure from the Bush policies is also a powerful reason to vote
Democratic this year.

That’s the main reason why I think McCain should pick Mitt Romney for VP.
Romney is the second-best dance contestant.  However, since the Obama routine
has been in the public view for more than a year, it has become a bit stale.
After a half year’s absence, Mitt Romney will come roaring back.  When the
voters see this shiny “new” candidate giving Obama a run for his money in the
“superstar” category, they may be more inclined to vote for McCain.

The other reason, of course, is Romney’s business experience.  McCain has
admitted that he knows little about economics and economics will be the main
challenge of the new administration.  I would point out, however, that Mitt
Romney’s experience is in finance rather than in managing a productive
enterprise.  His father, George Romney, showed managerial prowess on an
enormous scale - successfully competing against the Big Three automakers, being
one of the chief architects of America’s “Arsenal of Democracy” during World
War II - while Mitt’s accomplishment consists chiefly of deciding to invest in
Staples.

It is debatable, however, which set of managerial skills best suits a top-level
U.S. political leader as our nation sinks into economic decline.

(I am the Independence Party candidate for Congress in the 5th District.)