Cobbling together a dream ticket

John McCain and Barack Obama need to err on the side of caution in choosing their running-mates

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Readers' comments



Ulrich123 - you write: "I suggest that they make a popular Hollywood actor or pop musician VP, since this election is without any substance why not go all the way ?"You forget that it has already happened, he was named Ronald Reagan!!

Miss Rollie

McCain could give the electorate a real shot in the arm by taking Condolezza Rice on as VP. She would give the black population a real choice (most are conservative). She has shown her diplomatic prowess, she's young & unbelieveably experienced in international affairs. By the way, the primary role of the Presidency is internatonal affairs. I persnally like Sen. McCain and find his bloopers no worse than Sen. Obama's.


To those saying that Bill Richardson is not white:

Hispanic or Latino--however you describe it--is not a racial classification; it's a cultural/ethnic one. Latinos can be white, black, Asian, Native American, or mixed race. Now, Richardson's Latino heritage does matter in the grand scheme of things, so it probably would be better to say that he is a Latino; but he is most definitely a white Latino. Given the fact that he does not have a Spanish surname, I'd be willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of Americans would not identify him as a Latino unless he came out and told them he is.

Richardson also would make an excellent VP choice for Obama. Although, I do think Evan Bayh would be the best choice. There really are no strong options for McCain at this point. All of the top possibilities have some significant deficiencies. The best possible choice for McCain is someone who wouldn't take the job in the first place: Colin Powell.


What I find amazing is that the article talks about how it is important that the vice president needs to be somebody with experience, yet for the actual president this is not necessary ???I suggest that they make a popular Hollywood actor or pop musician VP, since this election is without any substance why not go all the way ?


Can we trust McCain's mental status? This is serious. I think his ability to sound judgment is diminishing with age, he is losing hie cool all the time, and he certainly doesn't have a coherent campaign message. So, the GOP should be shopping for VP who could become the candidate, should McCain keep forgetting stuff by the Fall.

First of all, judging from the recent evens on camp McCain, I think the GOP should be really be worried about their presidential choice. This is serious - McCain has not only made "gaffes" He has made huge missteps. As a young citizen, I am really worried that McCain cannot hold his temper, which means, when faced with a stressful situation, he will not be able to handle it with a cool head! Just look at the stupid accusations he's making on his opponent while abroad.

Be careul what you wish for. Don't tell me that camp McCain, with all their experience/ judgment didn't foresee that Obama's trip was going to be beneficial! What were they tinking? McCain keeps "forgetting" stuff, which he adamantly claims to be "historical facts!" He is clearlu grappling for ideas, words, which he most of the time confuses. Something is wrong with McCain.


Big Miiiike,

Jim Webb ruled out the VP slot about a week or so ago. He doesn't want it, and honestly, the man does a lot more good in the senate than he would in the VP slot. He isn't the type to take too well to authority. I think people like Webb are the future of the Democratic party. He represents the underdogs in the U.S. The poor, rural whites who have been neglected by government programs, abandoned by corporations for the cheaper labor abroad, and maligned by the media as rednecks and racists. Many have voted Republican because they feel that government will rob them one way or the other, and they might as well vote for the group that historically has taxed less and not given handouts to "bums" in the form of welfare.
I think that now, they are beginning to realize that while the Dems have favored minorities and kept taxes, the Republicans lowering of taxes without reducing spending has caused a less obvious form of wage theft: inflation.
Obama would do well to get Kaine on his ticket. A competent governor from what is considered by experts to be the best governed state in America, Virginia. It is also going to be a swing state for the first time since the 60's. The northern part of the state has finally grown enough to counterbalance the southeastern part of the state, which has a very high military population who view Democrats as a threat to their military-industrial livelihoods.


Carly Fiorina is an idiot. If she manages this country the way she managed at Lucent and HP, we'll all be speaking Chinese by 2012.I hope McCain picks her for a running mate, because she'll be the Democrats' best friend come November.


are you sure you have your facts straight? atleast Obama isn't talking about countries that don't exist anymore. He might be inexperienced, but he's competent

Big Miiiiike

Dear Sirs,

Why not mention Jim Webb as a choice for Obama? He certainly has the foreign policy experience. He will help Obama carry Virginia, and he too is a fairly boring, white male.


Dear astute Economist readers, Sebelius will be back on the American political scene in four years, write her name down on something that you'll be sure to look at in 3 and a half years.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk

Mac Gyver

Not surprised at your endorsement of Romney. It would certainly help this undecided voter cast his ballot for the Obama ticket.Mitt Romney has proven himself to be a worm in the primaries. Whether it be lies in campaign ads, 'doubling the size of Guantanamo,' or promising to wave his magic wand and bring auto jobs back to Michigan. He has proven totally incapable to stand up to even the most whimsical demand from his party base, what will he morph into next?Choosing Romney would solidify the rich white guy ticket. A sure recipe for disaster in a year like this.


I agree with your column, " a boring white man " would be the best and easy answer to Obama's running mate choice.
But, how about adding a new face to the list like Caroline Kennedy ?


I distrust polls just as I do HealthScare reports. The margin for error in polls and the p-values in putative scientific reports are entirely too sketchy.I'll be more than a little interested in the final vote results, especially in what we call "fly over" country. The elitists on the right and left coasts deeply feel they know what is best for me. I disagree. Obama seems to know what's best for everyone, which leaves me more than a little skeptical of his philosophy if not his morality. His wife is a definite drag. When, exactly, did wives become a factor? My husband might accept 2/3s of my views but veers off sharply on many as I do with his. I deeply admire Laura Bush, Barbara Bush and Cindy McCain for keeping themselves to themselves... in sharp contract to Billary and Michelle Obama. Indeed, I find riding one's spouse's coattails to notoriety deeply offensive. Whatever did happen to being gracious and not shrill?Gonna get interesting. Don't think there'll be a landslide on either side. Our country and indeed the world has become tribal. Makes a bit of an embarrassment over whinging about the middle East.Finest weekend to all.


I have such mixed feelings about this election. Feel as if I'm making a choice between the lesser of two evils. On the whole, I think that Mr. McCain is the better choice. Mr. Obama is utterly inexperienced, both legislatively and as regards management and executive experience. He seems uninformed and more than a little jejeune. He is certainly a fine orator, but short on depth. One wonders if he ever took a world history course.Mr. Romney? I just don't know. He has an impressive resume as an executive and businessman. This is important to me, being a supply/demand, less government is best adherent.Don't think the race/sex issue is an issue. We finally seem to've gotten past this in the U.S. Tip of the hat to UK for choosing Margaret Thatcher. As well, although I didn't agree with his philosophy, Tony Blair. Eloquent and informative doesn't begin to describe him. As well, I don't think that age is much of an issue. Life expectancies are rising and Mr. McCain has introduced us to his witty 89 year old mother. Sharp as a tack and better on her worst day than I am on my best.As for Mrs. Clinton, she simply comes with too much personal baggage and the added weight of a nasty tempered, shoot-off-his-mouth husband. Liability.I'd think that Mr. Lieberman would be an excellent choice for either ticket. One could wish that Jesse Ventura were still in the political market place. I do get weary of our creeping socialism.Guarantee you one thing. No over weight candidate who smokes will ever be elected. Too bad. We're eliminating some brilliant, capable people I'm sure.


Sir, You recommend Mitt (I'll say or do anything to get elected) Romney to McCain, but note that "running for the White House is not a road trip". I assume this is because it eliminates Mitt from the need to tie the family dog to the roof of the Campaign bus?I also wondered if having Mitt on the ticket would further postpone the need for his five strapping sons to serve their country in Iraq in a war that Mitt wholeheartedly supports?I can assure you that Mitt has very few friends in "liberal" Mass. We see more than unreal hair in this robot.

brendan steuble

The article states that "Mr Obama also has striking weaknesses of his own. He is a first-term senator with few legislative accomplishments and no executive experience. He has a wafer-thin foreign-policy résumé." Additionally, other articles in the Economist currently state: "But with the worst news on the economy yet to come, Mr Bernanke can only keep his fingers crossed that inflation does not become ingrained."I am unsure why inexperience and charisma should be confused, sir. Additionally, I use my own name.


brendan steuble,I fail to see how having a minority and a woman as President and Vice President in itself would be a "large risk."

brendan steuble

Dear Lexington-I fail to see why it would be a good thing at all to have a minority and a woman in charge. America leaves the large risks to entrepreneurs, not its leaders.My best wishes,Brendan SteubleGainesville, USA


I vote Mitt. He's successful, he's sharp, he has executive experience, he'll get the conservative vote, and he's strong on the economy. (Plus he's great at fundraising, money gets votes). He's a Mormon, but that didn't stop liberal Mass. from electing him. I don't think it's a problem.

For either party I think it's smart to add a former governor onto the ticket. They have executive experience and they bring a fresh face to the table. People are sick of DC politicians and want change, a fresh face would be nice. No one wants to be staring at Al Gore for 4 more years. Plus Governors make more important decisions in a week than a Senator does in a year. That's a nice resume.

Should be interesting.



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