The Republican VP Contenders: The Rivals

Former Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.)

Former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee is the lawyer, turned actor, turned politician whose entry into the presidential primary last year was greeted with so much fanfare. Throughout the spring and summer of 2007, when former mayor Rudy Giuliani was leading the race and Sen. McCain's campaign was floundering, conservatives were clamoring for a true Reagan conservative to throw his hat in the ring. Thompson eventually did so in early September, after teasing Republican primary voters with a lengthy exploration period and a few false alarms. His campaign was never as popular after he announced, however, as it was before and he was unable to finish higher than third in any state before dropping out of the race.

Thompson, 65, did develop a consistently conservative reputation as a candidate and displayed a no-nonsense, if a bit laid back, style of campaigning. He was alone among the Republicans in developing plans based on issues and won high praise for his initiatives from socially and fiscally conservative interest groups alike. He won the endorsement of the national Right to Life Committee and numerous state committees as well. His immigration plan was the toughest of all the candidates, a possible stumbling block for him to a selection as McCain's running mate. He is a staunch supporter of the War in Iraq and the Bush tax cuts. Thompson endorsed McCain after leaving the race in his typically low-key style, issuing a press release on a Friday that received hardly any notice.

Thompson's main assets are his conservative positions and the respect he holds among members of the Republican Party's base. He would help McCain in the South, where voters are very conservative and McCain's history of working with Democrats could be a liability. His age makes a selection unlikely, however. But a position in a McCain Administration as a cabinet secretary or senior adviser is a real possibility.

Gov. Mike Huckabee (AR)

Mike Huckabee of Arkansas is the silver-tongued, folksy former governor of Arkansas whose unlikely nomination campaign lasted longer than any of his better known competitors. Huckabee remained in the race well past the time that it was mathematically impossible for him to capture the nomination, however, many observers believe that he did not hurt Sen. McCain in doing so. Huckabee rose to prominence on the strength of his debate performances, coming out of nowhere to have the most memorable quips and attacks on his rivals and Democrats. Huckabee's two signature issues on the campaign trail were Christian values and tax reform. He was a champion of right-to-life activists, who saw disturbing weaknesses in all of the other contenders and welcomed Huckabee's unashamed religious perspective on the issue. Huckabee was an early supporter of the Fair Tax, a national sales tax that would replace the income tax system, and abolish the Internal Revenue Service.

Huckabee, 52, served a governor for ten years, and during that time built a record that some fiscal conservatives questioned. The Club for Growth, a fiscal watchdog was unrelenting in its criticism of him, and the candidate responded in kind. Huckabee was criticized for raising taxes while governor, although he maintained that he actually cut more taxes than he raised and that the revenue was needed for core government functions like road building and infrastructure improvements. He was also criticized as being soft on illegal immigrants for advocating a plan to give the children of illegals the same financial benefits for education as the children of legal parents.

Huckabee's selection as McCain's running mate would help McCain among Christian conservatives and evangelicals. Huckabee is an ordained Baptist minister and has great respect in the devout community. But during the primaries, he was unable to reach beyond this group in significant numbers and may be seen as having a limited appeal. He could help McCain win the state of Arkansas, where he is broadly popular, however, Huckabee seems destined for a different role in the Republican Party, and may not accept an invitation to align with McCain right now.

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Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.)

Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, once thought to be the conservative standard-bearer in the Republican Party primary field, has been mentioned as a potential running mate for Sen. McCain. Romney has an impressive resume in private and public life. As the head of Bain Capital, Romney amassed a fortune in investments and through the chain business supply store Staples. He has a reputation as a legendary CEO and is a recognized expert on business efficiency. He turned around the struggling Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002 after an International Olympic Committee bribery scandal threatened to derail the games. He won election to the governorship in is adopted home state of Massachusetts, one of the nation's most liberal states, after a failed challenge to Sen. Ted Kennedy.

As a candidate for president, Romney, 61, was not able to settle on a consistent message until very late in the race. His past statements on abortion and immigration, and his Massachusetts health care plan, lauded as a national model when it was introduced, won him skepticism among conservative primary voters. He was viewed either as the conservative champion in the field, or an opportunistic politician saying what was necessary to gain the nomination. Toward the end of his run, he focused almost exclusively on the economy and developed some traction as a result, but it was ultimately not enough to undo the damage from a lack of an identifiable narrative earlier in the campaign.

Although many conservative pundits are pushing Romney as the ideal running mate for McCain based on the belief that McCain needs help on economic philosophy, his selection is highly unlikely. Romney and McCain fought a bitter primary battle that at times became personal. While Romney did endorse McCain in a Boston press conference after quitting the race, and has stated publicly that he would accept a selection as McCain's Vice-President, the two men are not close. Romney is young enough, and rich enough, to mount another campaign for president in four years if McCain is unsuccessful in November.

For profiles of additional contenders see The Governors, and The Conservatives.


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