Rumors of the McCain Short List

Rumors are swirling around Washington that John McCain has now put together a short list of preferred running mates. Despite quick denials by campaign staff and some political pundits, it is hard to believe that candidates at this stage have not thought about who they would consider for the Number Two position on the ticket.

The long version of the list includes names such as Condi Rice, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, Senator Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, and even Mitt Romney.

Fred Thompson has stated unequivocally that he is not interested in the job.

Interestingly, Mike Huckabee stated on Sunday that he would like to be McCain's running mate. But we doubt that Huckabee would be a top choice, simply because the former Arkansas Governor would not help McCain in areas where he needs it the most.

When the list of potential running mates is narrowed down to those McCain would prefer, and those with whom he would feel most comfortable, one name keeps rising to the surface--Senator Joseph Lieberman.

In spite of being a lifelong Democrat, Lieberman got shafted by his own Party in the last election due to his support of the War in Iraq. Lieberman lost his bid in the Democratic primary to a staunch anti-war Democrat that the DNC desperately wanted to win.

But Lieberman has been around long enough to know a few things about politics in his home state of Connecticut.

Instead of acquiescing to the dictates of Democratic Party bosses, Lieberman ran as an Independent and defeated the Democrat--and the Republican--in a landslide.

Lieberman has also stated that he supports John McCain for President.

The two have worked together in the Senate for many years and are great friends. Insiders state that of all of the potential running mates, Lieberman is the one with whom McCain is most comfortable.

And in choosing Lieberman, McCain would automatically capture more Independents and moderate Democrats, particularly in the wake of the extremist-Left candidacy of Barack Obama.

The problem, however, is that in choosing Lieberman, McCain would most certainly be giving up any hope of gaining the support of the GOP base. Conservatives will not like a McCain-Lieberman ticket at all.

There are a couple of other possibilities on the McCain short list, but given the high priority of putting together a McCain-Lieberman ticket, the other two take second priority. That we will discuss later.