2008 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection

Selection process

Sarah Palin was the GOP choice for Vice President. At a speech in Norfolk, Virginia, McCain told supporters that regional considerations would have less bearing on his decision than the candidate's perceived ability to take over the office of the presidency–and the candidate's "values, principles, philosophy, and priorities." One factor that McCain had to consider, more so than did his opponent, was age. Had McCain won in 2008, he would have (on January 20, 2009) been the oldest person to assume the Presidency in U.S. history at initial ascension to office, being 72 years old. Other factors to be considered were shoring up the conservative base, choosing someone with executive experience, expertise in domestic policy (to complement McCain's foreign policy focus), and electoral college calculations.

McCain initially wished to choose Lieberman, his close friend and the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee, as his running mate; however, Lieberman's liberal record (voting with Democrats 86.9% of the time in the 110th Congress) and pro-choice stance led McCain's aides to veto the choice. Close aide Mark Salter preferred Pawlenty, while the campaign manager Steve Schmidt preferred Palin. By picking Palin, Schmidt argued, McCain could snatch the "change" mantle away from Obama. McCain, rejecting 'safer' choices such as Pawlenty or Romney, instead chose Palin as his running mate.

Shortlist

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Media speculation on John McCain's possible running-mates

After his selection by Republican primary voters as presumptive presidential nominee, news sources and political pundits began to speculate on whom McCain would or should choose, based on the candidates' ability to enhance the Republican ticket, personality (ability to work well with McCain), and preparedness for assuming the office of the presidency. The Associated Press reported that McCain had composed a list of 20 or so potential running mates. Over two dozen names had been offered as viable potential running mates by The Kansas City Star, The Salt Lake Tribune, The New York Sun, The Indianapolis Star, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Times of India, The Globe and Mail, and CBS News.This list includes both names that had been mentioned in several sources and some much less likely candidates:

Members of Congress

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Governors

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Federal executive branch officials

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Other individuals

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Declined interest

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Notes

References

References

1. (August 29, 2008). "Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is John McCain's VP choice". [[New York Daily News]].
2. (August 29, 2008). "Longview Palin family proudly hears news that relative is McCain's pick for V.P.". [[The Daily News (Longview).
3. Mooney, Alexander. (2008-08-28). "McCain settled on VP pick, sources say". CNN.
4. Bosman, Juilie. (2008-02-09). "Dems stump hard, McCain talks running mate". San Francisco Chronicle.
5. Hillyer, Quin. (2008-02-14). "Who Wants to Be a Vice President?". The American Spectator.
6. "The U.S. Congress Votes Database". The Washington Post.
7. Evan Thomas. (2008-11-06). "Campaign 2008 Secrets: McCain Gambles on Palin". Newsweek.
8. [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-04-04-3117825175_x.htm McCain Easing Into Role of GOP Leader]
9. (2008-02-13). "Who should be McCain's running mate?". Kansas City Star.
10. Burr, Thomas. (2008-03-02). "Could dogged devotion earn guv a VP spot?". Salt Lake Tribune.
11. Geraghty, Jim. (2006-12-06). "McCain Hints Minn. Governor May Be His Running Mate". The New York Sun.
12. (2008-02-11). "Pence suggested as McCain running mate". Indianapolis Star.
13. Mannies, Jo. (2008-02-12). "Blunt in running as McCain's running mate?". Saint Louis Post Dispatch.
14. (2008-02-10). "Jindal can be McCain's running mate?". [[The Times of India]].
15. Agrell, Siri. (2008-02-14). "Age and identity politics likely to influence choice of running mate". CTVGlobeMedia.
16. "GOP VP Hot Sheet: Lieberman Moves Up".