Over the past several days, speculation as to who John McCain will select to be his running mate on the GOP ticket increased considerably when it was learned an announcement might come imminently. While as of this writing no announcement has been forthcoming, if nothing else, it has given the media an opportunity to take a cold shower from their fawning over Barack Obama.
So who will McCain select to be his Number Two?
Many believe it will be former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
I believe McCain will pick Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.
Here are six reasons why I think Pawlenty would be McCain’s best choice.
First, Pawlenty has been a loyal stalwart of McCain from the get go. Having known McCain since the early 1980s, he was named Co-Chairman of McCain’s Presidential Exploratory Committee in January 2007. Later he would become Co-Chair of the McCain Presidential Campaign. Pawlenty has stood by McCain in the best of times and in worst of times. It must be remembered that only a year ago, McCain was in the single digits in Republican polls and there was little money for campaign staff, advertising or travel. A lot of people, especially those with political ambition, would have jumped ship under those circumstances but not Pawlenty.
All politicians place great value on loyalty. But given McCain’s unique circumstances as a POW one might suspect that McCain places a greater emphasis on loyalty than most. Mitt Romney might be able to raise large sums of money and perhaps deliver Michigan but make no mistake. Romney is for Romney. However chummier McCain is with Romney these days one cannot help but think he doesn’t fully trust him and with good reason. There is no question on the other hand that McCain trusts Pawlenty both explicitly and implicitly.
Second, Pawlenty has been twice elected Governor of Minnesota. Mitt Romney cannot say the same thing about Massachusetts. If Romney had opted to seek re-election in November 2006 there is every reason to believe he would not have survived the charismatic, Obama-like onslaught of Deval Patrick.
Like Massachusetts, Minnesota is a proudly liberal state which has over the years boasted the likes of Hubert H. Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy and Walter Mondale. The fact that Pawlenty could not only campaign as a conservative and win but then govern Minnesota as a conservative and win is remarkable. Pawlenty was one of the few Republicans who did well on election night in 2006.
Meanwhile Romney campaigned in Massachusetts as a moderate in 2002 and only began boasting about his conservative credentials when it was clear he would not be seeking re-election in the Bay State and looking to the White House. With Romney, what you see in Massachusetts and Michigan isn’t necessarily what you see in Utah and South Carolina. Pawlenty is a conservative whether he is in Minnesota or Mississippi.
Third, Pawlenty would be ideally suited to serve as McCain’s point man on illegal immigration. It is no secret McCain does not take a hard line on illegal immigration and it would be disingenuous of him to pretend otherwise. Nonetheless, McCain knows illegal immigration is a national security concern and that it cannot be ignored. This is where Pawlenty comes into the picture. Unlike most Governors from northern states, Republican or Democrat, Pawlenty has taken a hard line against illegal immigration. Pawlenty went so far as to send the Minnesota National Guard down to the U.S./Mexico border to back up the U.S. Border Patrol when the Departments of Defense and National Security came a calling.
Pawlenty has taken measures to ensure that state law enforcement officials co-operate with federal immigration officials; crack down on fraudulent state drivers’ licenses and that new state employees and contractors are legally authorized to work in the United States. And unlike Romney, Pawlenty hasn’t relied on a company that hires illegal immigrants to maintain his lawn. (
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Pawlenty also wants to put an end to sanctuary cities. Minneapolis and St. Paul have been sanctuary cities since 2003 and 2004, respectively. Sanctuary cities prevent local law enforcement from inquiring about a person’s immigration status. Of course, the Democratic Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate are unlikely to let that come to pass. However, in light of last month’s killing of the Bologna family in San Francisco by an illegal immigrant now charged with three counts of murder the tragic fallacy of this policy has been exposed.
Whatever reservations some conservatives might have with McCain on illegal immigration will find little fault with Pawlenty’s stance.
Fourth, the Republican National Convention takes place in St. Paul. If McCain should select a favorite son to be his running mate he will be received with great enthusiasm by the hometown crowd. Granted this is short term reason but it would give Pawlenty the opportunity to address the nation in front of the friendliest Republican gathering possible.
Fifth, speaking of friendly, there is Pawlenty’s pleasant disposition. From time to time, McCain has been criticized for his occasional bursts of anger. Pawlenty, on the other hand, is even tempered and possesses a disarming charm. He’s smooth yet sincere. Unlike Romney, he doesn’t come across as slick and phony. Pawlenty could be an asset in smoothing out McCain’s rougher edges.
Finally, there is Pawlenty’s youth. In a presidential campaign that has pitted youth against experience, Pawlenty is a blend of both. Pawlenty will turn 48 in late November – just a little over three weeks after the election. In fact, Pawlenty is only eight months older than Obama. Yet Pawlenty offers the nation a lifetime more of public service.
Twenty years ago, at the age of 27, he was named to the City Planning Commission in his hometown of Eagan, Minnesota – a suburb of Minneapolis. The following year Pawlenty was elected as an alderman to Eagan City Council. By 1992, Pawlenty was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. When the GOP took control of the state house in 1998, Pawlenty was elected the House Majority Leader; a position he held until being elected Governor in 2002. Obama never attained a position of leadership during his seven years in the Illinois Senate. While getting elected to the U.S. Senate is no easy feat he has only served half a term. Besides Obama has never had to balance budgets without raising taxes as Pawlenty has been able to do. Pawlenty’s experience puts Obama to shame.
Tim Pawlenty gives John McCain youth without being wet behind the ears. Should McCain and Pawlenty stand together they would convey an image of father-son or teacher-A+ plus student. Their mutual respect and trust would be plain for all to see. Once McCain’s time in the White House reaches its conclusion, Pawlenty could pick up right where he left off. With McCain and Romney, you simply have two old white guys – hair dye or no hair dye.
John McCain will pick his running mate sooner or later. Should he pick Tim Pawlenty he will have chosen a man who has demonstrated unwavering loyalty to McCain. In Pawlenty, he will have chosen a conservative who has twice been elected to high office in a liberal state. In Pawlenty, he will have chosen a man who governs conservatively, pragmatically and above all else competently. In Pawlenty, he will have chosen a man not afraid to take a different view on a key issue like illegal immigration and yet in time might be the one person who could influence McCain to modify his position. In Pawlenty, he will have chosen a man with strong views yet friendly enough to earn the respect of his political opponents. In Pawlenty, he will have chosen a young man wise beyond his years.
In short, McCain has plenty of reason to pick Pawlenty.
Aaron Goldstein was a card carrying member of the socialist New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP). Since 09/11, Aaron has reconsidered his ideological inclinations and has become a Republican. Aaron lives and works in Boston. 
