Huckabee for VP?

For what it's worth, according to a "source".  James Pethokoukis:

Mike Huckabee short list for a running mate. At least that's the word from a top McCain fundraiser and longtime Republican moneyman who has spoken to McCain's inner circle. The fundraiser is less than thrilled with the idea of Huckabee as the vice presidential nominee, and many economic conservatives, the former governor of Arkansas and defeated contender for the GOP presidential nomination, is currently at the top of John McCain's—turned off by the populist tone of Huckabee's campaign and his tax record as governor—are likely to share that marked lack of enthusiasm...

Consider me less than thrilled as well.  Pethokoukis goes on to list the logic of picking Huckabee, he's a great campaigner who would appeal to working class voters in key states, as opposed to Mitt Romney, the millionaire investor.  Pethokoukis also believes economic conservatives will suck it up and vote for McCain regardless of how they feel about Huckabee.  But what about those working-class voters?  (By the way I consider myself one but I wouldn't vote for Obama if he showed up in Alabama wearing a houndstooth hat and walked across Smith Lake).  Obama has definitely lost ground with many thanks to his clinging to guns and religion gaffe.  Could Huckabee help deliver those votes?

He is a great campaigner and communicator who could both shore up support in the South among social conservatives (Huckabee is a former Baptist minister) and appeal to working-class voters in the critical "Big 10" states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

Current polls show McCain leading Obama in Michigan and Ohio, with Obama ahead in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

I hope McCain will wait and see who Obama picks before making his decision (assuming he is the nominee).  Huckabee would not be my first, second, or third choice but winning in November is the goal and if he could somehow deliver some key states we might not otherwise get?  Well, that's what we need in a VP. 

Pethokoukis cites another source who believes Huckabee is the leading VP contender:

Let me add that a top Republican political strategist told me about a month ago that he also believed Huckabee to be the leading veep contender.

If these sources are correct, we could be looking at a McCain-Huckabee ticket.

Comments

[Scott Allan]

I would think McCain would find Huckabee a pain in the ass who wouldn't get out of the race costing McCain tons of money to campaign against him until he clinched the nomination.

[Julie]

I tend to agree with you Scott, but as they say, politics makes strange bedfellows. I, of course, would like McCain to pick Mitt but I wonder how much that would help him??? You remember I also liked JC Watts but his name is never mentioned. I'm just a little mixed up about it, as you can probably tell from that post!

I really do like Bobby Jindal. Here's a good article from The American Spectator.

Jindal can balance the ticket. At 36, he has the accomplishments you would expect at 47. Obama, at 47, has the accomplishments you would expect at 36.

[Don]

"I wouldn't vote for Obama if he showed up in Alabama wearing a houndstooth hat and walked across Smith Lake."

Funniest thing I've heard lately!!

[Scott Allan]

I would rather have Lieberman than Huckster.