Newsflash - Expect McCain to Punt on 3rd Down

With 2 VP picks that could have some significant advantages, but some obvious downsides (Mitt Romney and Joe Lieberman), expect John McCain to name Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Pawlenty's biggest downsides are that he is much younger than John McCain and will highlight McCain's age as the oldest non-incumbent to be nominated by a major political party for President, he also is not as experienced in foreign affairs as Democratic VP candidate, Joe Biden and could get hammered in their debate. Since McCain won't stop anyone from thinking that he is relatively old, the age contrast doesn't hurt as much as some may think. As a governor, he has actually run a government unlike the 3 other major party candidates, all of whom are senators.

Pawlenty would make it 2 VP candidates this year who were raised Catholic, although he has long ago moved to an Evangelical Christian church. He is also considered fairly conservative, so that will appeal to the Conservative side of the Republican party who would have had trouble with either Romney or Lieberman.

As the Hippocratic Oath says, "First, do no harm" and that seems to be what McCain will be swayed by in picking a VP.