TennesseeTicket

A McCain-Romney ticket is terribly soft on credibility for the evangelical Right. The most ardent may either sit the election out or cast a protest vote for Chuck Baldwin; but many heartland Americans, faced with a pair of country-club denizens or a couple of candidates who'd appear, by contrast, to be more sympathetic to voters' current economic plight, would choose checkbook over church, especially since the latter would be lacking. (Besides, Americans seem to be backing away from wanting religion to play such a heavy role in politics.)

Yes, Romney's millions would provide somewhat of a buffer against the fund-raising maelstrom that Obama's supporters will undoubtedly unleash this fall; but remember, Romney lost the primary, too. And whose fault was that? Mike Huckabee's, many say: and Huckabee appealed to the very voters we're talking about here, who wanted neither McCain nor Romney to be the GOP nominee. Part of that appeal, of course, was faith-based; but I'm not convinced that another strong component wasn't the former Arkansas governor's economic "little guy" rhetoric.

If Obama were to choose, say, Senator Evan Bayh, a popular Indiana pol, two things would happen. One, the Democratic insiders who once backed Hillary Clinton would get the memo that, as Bayh was to have been her VP pick, the ticket would now have the Clintons' blessing. And secondly, there would begin a significant exodus by those famous "white working-class voters" from the McCain column to that of Obama, despite the latter's skin color or funny-sounding name.

Naturally, this is all still speculation until the choices are announced. I don't think I've seen a more suspense-filled "veepstakes" before, but it may as well be enjoyed while it lasts.

(An aside: as he is a CEO, I'm certain that Mitt Romney knows exactly how many houses he owns. Regardless, though, that number is more than the one that many are struggling to keep, or the one that many only yet dream of owning.)

Joe, I really enjoy reading your work, but the thought process behind this post really undermines the average American and personally offends me.

When it comes to a Presidential election, everyone has money. It's true that Romney probably has more money than Obama, McCain and Biden all put together, but that shouldn't overlook the fact that they are ALL wealthy compared to the average American.

Are you saying that since Obama only made $1,000,000 last year that he can relate to the average American better than Romney or McCain? Give me a break.

I would consider myself one of those on the "evangelical Right," and maybe McCain and Romney were not my favorite to win the Republican primary. But I can speak for many of the "evangelical Right" when saying I'd rather have both of them than Barack Obama.

He's no more in touch with the average American than Romney or McCain, and his resume is literally zilch. What is a community organizer? He's had less than 200 days in the Federal government. I think he's a nice guy, but he's not ready to lead our country.

McCain has a proven record (whether you or I agree with it) and Romney is a very successful business man (executive) who has first hand experience in a governmental executive branch.

I really see no positive in Barack Obama. I'm even trying to be objective.

Wait a second, there is one positive. Obama's running mate, Joe Biden, did say that John McCain would be a good president, that he'd love to serve with him as president, and that the country would be a better place with a McCain presidency.

Oh, and he said Obama was inexperienced, and that the president's job was not one that was good for on-the-job training. Good VP pick, Barack.