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What does Sanford bring to the ticket?
May 7, 2008 — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford wants to be John McCain’s running mate so bad he can almost taste it, according to long-time friends and political acquaintances.
He is on nearly every Republican strategist’s short list for vice president this year. Even veteran political pundits are beginning to tout his name on the television talk shows – most notably Chris Matthews, moderator of MSNBC’s “Hardball.”
Sanford, a favorite of the Wall Street Journal editorial staff and other conservative groups, does nothing to quell the speculation.
In fact, he seems to enjoy it.
Would he accept the Republican nomination for vice president if it were offered?
He didn’t say no. He put it this way: “If that lightening strike comes, we’ll deal with it when we get there,” he told the Wall Street Journal in an interview last week.
Sanford deflects questions about a possible McCain-Sanford ticket, though he does allow that it is “flattering, surreal, all those different things” to be talked about as a vice presidential contender.
Sanford is popular with the right, especially such groups as the Club for Growth. They like his no-nonsense style of governing, his market-driven approach to solving problems.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former White House aide Karl Rove, and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina (a close confidant of McCain) have all floated Sanford’s name for vice president.
But questions remain. What would Sanford bring to the ticket? And the answer is nothing.
True, Sanford is a solid Southern conservative with executive and legislative experience. He also supported McCain for president over George Bush in 2000.
But Sanford would add nothing electorally for McCain. South Carolina has only eight electoral votes.
Sanford’s biggest drawback may be his six-year record as governor. It’s mixed and controversial at best. He has accomplished very little in his first term and a half.
Time magazine called him one of America’s “worst” governors.
What does a presidential candidate need in a running mate?
He should be scandal-free.
He ought to be able to carry his home state.
His prior office experience should complement those of the presidential nominee.
He should help to reunite the party by being from another faction than the presidential candidate.
He should bring regional balance.
There ought to be some personal chemistry between the ticket-mates.
Does the candidate appear potentially presidential in the eyes of the public and the press? This is critical in the case of McCain’s running mate given the fact he’s 72 years old, said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.
In the end, we need to remember one thing above all, said Sabato.
“When it comes to decision time, McCain will pick a human being he likes, someone he can work with, and a person he believes will help him win and govern,” Sabato said.
That person will not be Sanford. |
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