by WonkoKevin

The so-called presumptive nominee lost in West Virginia by 51%.  Wait a second you say–I thought Obama lost by 41% to Clinton, 67% to 26%?  You are correct, that was the score on the Democratic side.  On the Republican side, back on Super Tuesday Feb 5 (doesn’t that seem like a year ago?), John McCain got 12 votes–one percent–losing to Mike Huckabee by 51% and behind second place finisher Mitt Romney by 46%.  McCain’s campaign could only muster 12 votes?  Doesn’t the McCain campaign staff collectively have more that 12 friends or relatives in West Virginia?  Now, what does that say about the Fall? That Huckabee and Romney supporters are going to vote Democratic instead? Kind of puts the spin from yesterday in some perspective…

by WonkoKevin

It’s just about time to start speculating on John McCain’s Vice President choice. McCain can either go after the electoral map, or balance the ticket ideologically or personality-wise. Here are the odds right now at BestBetting:
Romney (4:1), Pawlenty (6), Crist (8), Rice (10), LGraham (12), Jindal (12), Palin (12), Portman (12), Sanford (12), Ridge (14), Cox (16), Huckabee (16), Kasich (16), Lieberman (16), Hutchinson (2), Barbour (20), Coburn (25), Giuliani (25), Perdue (25), Watts (25).

I put my early money on Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. His fiscal restraint theme would probably play well this campaign season, and his stance on illegal immigration shores up a potential weak spot of McCain’s. And, he potentially puts Minnesota and perhaps Wisconsin in McCain’s electoral column. Along, the same logic, McCain could go for Florida Governor Charlie Crist for much the same reasons, although McCain may believe the already have Florida in the bag. The St. Petersburg Times puts the Crist VP meter right now at “Talk up those 27 electoral votes”. Romney odds on favorite? He might bring help in the West, but this is a tough marriage to see working. Romney has already raised his hand: “I think any Republican leader in this country would be honored to be asked to serve as the vice presidential nominee, myself included,” Romney told FOX’s Sean Hannity in a broadcast set to air tonight. “Of course this is a nation which needs strong leadership. And if the nominee of our party asked you to serve with him, anybody would be honored to receive that call … and to accept it, of course.”