Republican Party vice presidential candidates, 2008

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Republican nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 2008 election. On March 4, 2008, Senator John McCain of Arizona won a majority of pledged delegates for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, and became the presumptive nominee.

McCain held an event with Alaska governor Sarah Palin, revealing her as his vice-presidential running mate on August 29, 2008 (the date coinciding both with McCain's 72nd birthday and the Palins' 20th wedding anniversary), at the Ervin J. Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio, the day after Barack Obama's acceptance speech.^[1]

Contents 1 Selection process 2 Media speculation on John McCain's possible running-mates 2.1 U.S. Senators 2.2 U.S. Representatives 2.3 Governors 2.4 Former governors 2.5 Others 2.6 Denied interest 3 Candidates gallery 4 See also 5 References

Selection process

Sarah Palin was the GOP choice for Vice President. At a speech in Norfolk, Virginia, McCain told supporters that regional considerations would have less bearing on his decision than the candidate's perceived ability to take over the office of the presidency–and the candidate's "values, principles, philosophy, and priorities."^[2] One factor that McCain had to consider, more so than does his opponent, is age. Had McCain won in 2008, he would have (on January 20, 2009) been the oldest person to assume the Presidency in U.S. history at initial ascension to office, being 72 years old. His running-mate was scrutinized more heavily in general, and was considerably younger.^[3] Other factors that contributed to the decision were shoring up the conservative base, choosing someone with executive experience, expertise in domestic policy (to complement McCain's foreign policy focus), and electoral college calculations.^[3] Any closely contested general election will inevitably draw attention, as it does in most general election years, to the swing states, with high-value prizes in Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.^[4]

McCain had been rumored to be down to the names of Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Charlie Crist of Florida, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Sarah Palin of Alaska, and Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania. McCain initially wished to choose Lieberman, his close friend and the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee, as his running mate; however, Lieberman's liberal record (voting with Democrats 86.9% of the time in the 110th Congress^[5]) and pro-choice stance led McCain's aides to veto the choice.^[6] McCain, rejecting 'safer' choices such as Pawlenty or Romney, instead chose Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Media speculation on John McCain's possible running-mates

After his selection as presidential nominee, news sources and political pundits began to speculate on whom McCain would or should choose, based on the candidates' ability to enhance the Republican ticket, personality (ability to work well with McCain), and preparedness for assuming the office of the presidency. The Associated Press reported that McCain had composed a list of 20 or so potential running mates.^[7] Over two dozen names had been offered as viable potential running mates by the Kansas City Star,^[8] the Salt Lake Tribune,^[9] the New York Sun,^[10] the Indianapolis Star,^[11] the Saint Louis Post Dispatch,^[12] the Times of India,^[13] and the Globe and Mail.^[14] This list includes both names that had been mentioned in several sources and some much less likely candidates:

U.S. Senators

• Sam Brownback - Senior U.S. Senator from Kansas, 2008 presidential candidate^[15]
• Lindsey Graham - Senior U.S. Senator from South Carolina and long time McCain friend^[16]
• Lisa Murkowski - Junior U.S. Senator from Alaska^[17]
• Olympia Snowe - Senior U.S. Senator from Maine^[18]
• John E. Sununu - Junior U.S. Senator from New Hampshire^[19]
• John Thune - Junior U.S. Senator from South Dakota, endorsed McCain^[16][20][21]
• Joe Lieberman - Junior U.S. Senator from Connecticut Lieberman is an independent who caucuses with the Democrats. He was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000.^[22]

U.S. Representatives

• Eric Cantor - U.S. Representative from Virginia^[23] (in May 2009, a source who claimed affiliation with the McCain campaign denied the reports of Eric Cantor being considered as McCain's runningmate, calling them "a complete and total joke", and blaming "Cantor’s PR people" for being responsible for the false reports.^[24])
• Paul D. Ryan - U.S. Representative from Wisconsin

Governors

• Haley Barbour - Governor of Mississippi^[16]
• Charlie Crist - Governor of Florida^[16][20][25]
• Sarah Palin - Governor of Alaska.^[16][26] Sarah Palin became the GOP Vice-Presidential nominee in 2008.^[27]
• Tim Pawlenty - Governor of Minnesota and Co-Chair of McCain for President^[16][25][28]
• Mark Sanford - Governor of South Carolina^[16][25][29]

Former governors

• Mike Huckabee - former Governor of Arkansas, 2008 presidential candidate^{[16][20][21][25]}
• Mitt Romney - former Governor of Massachusetts, 2008 presidential candidate^{[16][20][21][30]}
• Tom Ridge - former Governor of Pennsylvania and former Homeland Security Secretary^[25]
• Christine Todd Whitman - former Governor of New Jersey ^[31]

Others

• Carly Fiorina - former Hewlett Packard CEO^[20]
• Tommy Franks - former U.S. Army General and former Commander of United States Central Command
• James L. Jones- former Supreme Commander of NATO and Commandant of U.S. Marine Corps
• David Petraeus - former Commanding General, Multi-National Force - Iraq; Commander of the United States Central Command^[32]
• Meg Whitman - former eBay CEO^[20][21]
• Mike Bloomberg - Mayor of New York City^[33]

Denied interest

• Kay Bailey Hutchison - Senior U.S. Senator from Texas^[34]
• Bobby Jindal - Governor of Louisiana for only a year, who said he wants to complete two terms^[35]
• Condoleezza Rice - U.S. Secretary of State^[36]
• Colin Powell - former United States Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff^[37] Powell later endorsed Democratic Nominee Barack Obama^[38]

Candidates gallery

See also

• Republican Party presidential candidates, 2008
• Democratic Party vice presidential candidates, 2008

References

John McCain Life Early life and military career · Cultural and political image · Hanoi Hilton · The Nightingale's Song Books authored Faith of My Fathers · Worth the Fighting For · Character Is Destiny · Hard Call Political activities House and Senate career, until 2000 · The Keating Five Scandal · International Republican Institute · Presidential campaign, 2000 · Senate career, 2001-present · Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act · Climate Stewardship Acts · McCain Detainee Amendment · 2008 opposition to limiting interrogation techniques · List of bills sponsored · Political positions · Presidential campaign, 2008 · Presidential campaign endorsements, 2008 Elections Electoral history · House of Representatives elections, 1982 · House of Representatives elections, 1984 · Senate election, 1986 · Senate election, 1992 · Senate election, 1998 · Senate election, 2004 · Senate election, 2010 Family Cindy Hensley McCain (wife) · Carol McCain (first wife) · Meghan McCain (daughter) · John S. McCain, Jr. (father) · Roberta McCain (mother) · Joe McCain (brother) · John S. McCain, Sr. (grandfather) Book:John McCain · Category:John McCain

Sarah Palin Political office Early political career · Governor of Alaska · Resignation as Governor · Political positions Campaigns Electoral history · Alaska gubernatorial election, 2006 · McCain-Palin 2008 Other Political action committee · Mama grizzly · Death panel Books and media by Sarah Palin Going Rogue: An American Life · America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag · Sarah Palin's Alaska Family Todd Palin (husband) · Bristol Palin (daughter) · Levi Johnston (father of grandson)   Public image Book and media coverage about Sarah Palin Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down · Public image and reception · Katie Couric interviews · Going Rouge: Sarah Palin, An American Nightmare · Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime · The Undefeated Parodies and pranks Saturday Night Live parodies of Sarah Palin · The Masked Avengers' prank on Sarah Palin Related articles Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal · Gravina Island Bridge · Sarah Palin email hack Conservatism Portal · Book:Sarah Palin · Category:Sarah Palin

United States presidential election, 2008 United States elections, 2008 Candidates Comparison) Debates Congressional support Fundraising Ballot access Timeline Super Tuesday Potomac primary Super Tuesday II General polls Statewide general polls International polls International reaction Democratic Party Convention Primary polls General polls Debates Primaries Primary results Superdelegates Democratic candidates Nominee: Barack Obama (campaign positions) VP nominee: Joe Biden (positions) Other candidates: Evan Bayh campaign) Joe Biden (campaign) Hillary Rodham Clinton (campaign) Chris Dodd (campaign) John Edwards (campaign) Mike Gravel (campaign) Dennis Kucinich (campaign) Bill Richardson (campaign) Tom Vilsack (campaign) Republican Party Convention Primary polls General polls Debates Primaries Primary results Republican candidates Nominee: John McCain (campaign positions) VP nominee: Sarah Palin (positions) Other candidates: Sam Brownback John Cox Jim Gilmore (campaign) Rudy Giuliani (campaign) Mike Huckabee (campaign) Duncan Hunter (campaign) Alan Keyes (campaign) Ray McKinney Ron Paul (campaign) Mitt Romney (campaign) Tom Tancredo (campaign) Fred Thompson (campaign) Tommy Thompson (campaign) Draft movements Democratic Party: Al Gore Mark Warner (movement) Republican Party: Newt Gingrich Condoleezza Rice (movement) Independent: Michael Bloomberg (movement)   Third party and independent candidates Constitution Party: Convention Nominee: Chuck Baldwin (campaign) VP nominee: Darrell Castle Candidates: Daniel Imperato Alan Keyes (campaign) Green Party: Convention Nominee: Cynthia McKinney (campaign positions) VP nominee: Rosa Clemente Candidates: Elaine Brown Jesse Johnson Kent Mesplay Kat Swift Libertarian Party: Convention Nominee: Bob Barr (campaign positions) VP nominee: Wayne Allyn Root Candidates: Mike Gravel (campaign) Daniel Imperato Michael Jingozian Steve Kubby Wayne Allyn Root Mary Ruwart Doug Stanhope American Party Nominee: Diane Beall Templin America's Independent Party Nominee: Alan Keyes (campaign) VP nominee: Brian Rohrbough Boston Tea Party Nominee: Charles Jay New American Independent Party Nominee: Frank McEnulty Peace and Freedom Party Nominee: Ralph Nader (campaign) VP nominee: Matt Gonzalez Candidates: Gloria LaRiva Cynthia McKinney (campaign) Brian Moore (campaign) Prohibition Party Nominee: Gene Amondson Reform Party Nominee: Ted Weill VP nominee: Frank McEnulty Socialism and Liberation Party Nominee: Gloria La Riva VP nominee: Eugene Puryear Socialist Party Nominee: Brian Moore (campaign) VP nominee: Stewart Alexander Candidates: Eric Chester Socialist Workers Party Nominee: Róger Calero Alternate nominee: James Harris VP nominee: Alyson Kennedy Independent / Other Earl Dodge Bradford Lyttle Frank Moore Joe Schriner Jonathon Sharkey Other 2008 elections: House Senate Gubernatorial