Senator John McCain has narrowed his list of potential running mates to a handful of candidates and appears unlikely to select anyone who supports abortion rights, several advisers close to his campaign said on Thursday. Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota are the top candidates as Mr. McCain and his advisers gather over the next several days at Mr. McCain’s cabin near Sedona, they said.
Each has their own advantages. Romney could help compete not only in Michigan (where his father was governor) but also in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada (all of which are swing states this year and have significant Mormon populations). On the other hand, it is sometimes reported that McCain and Romney do not get along very well. Though they had a testy primary battle, it is not uncommon for a nominee to name a rival as a veep (e.g., Reagan – Bush, Kerry – Edwards). Pawlenty, on the other hand, has a long-standing record as an evangelical and a social conservative, not to mention a history of loyalty to MCain. Pawlenty gets along very well with McCain, but is less well known outside Minnesota (which could be difficult to put in play even with Pawlenty on the ticket). We should know a week from today (McCain has said he’d reveal his selection on August 29, his birthday).