As the Democrats gear up for their final night in Denver, the Republican Party is planning out its own convention. However, before they gather in St. Paul, presumptive nominee John McCain will make perhaps the most important announcement of his campaign - his running mate.
With Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama preparing his acceptance speech, Arizona Senator McCain prepares to announce his Vice Presidential pick. With reports mixed as to whether or not he has decided on a partner, McCain is expected to announce his choice Friday in an attempt to blunt some of the momentum from rival Obama's eagerly anticipated keynote speech Thursday night.
There are three major candidates left in the running to round out McCain's ticket and, save a dark horse candidate, the Arizona Senator will be vying for the White House with former rival and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, or possibly Independent Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.
McCain is expected to make the announcement Friday at 11:00 am ET at a rally in Dayton, Ohio.
The Arizona Senator may feel pressure to choose a running mate with more conservative values than his own. This makes Lieberman a long shot, because although he plays to McCain's bipartisan "maverick" image, has a pro-choice record that could severely upset the Republican base. Lieberman's staunch pro-Iraq war stance has separated him from fellow Democrats since he was Al Gore's Vice Presidential pick in 2000. Still, McCain has been said to be entertaining the idea, opening the door for a possible second time on the VP ticket for the Connecticut Senator.
Mitt Romney, on the other hand, appealed to conservatives during the primary. The former Governor, who was elected Governor of Massachusetts with conservative values as a member of the Mormon Church, has a "maverick" like image of his own. Romney and McCain clashed during the primary, each attracting a different set of voters. However, like Barack Obama and Joe Biden, who switched from trading blows during the primary to trading praise at the convention, a McCain-Romney ticket could be part of the necessary balancing act.
Pawlenty, who at 47 is the youngest of the contenders, has been a steadfast supporter of McCain for many years. Although he is relatively inexperienced compared to Obama's pick, Joe Biden, his youth could be seen as a benefit to McCain's campaign.
Although they are not at the top of the speculated list, a pair of female candidates have been mentioned in recent days with increasing frequency. They include McCain's economic advisor Carly Fiorina, who served as chairman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005. Ms. Fiorina is considered strong on economic issues, and putting a woman on the ticket could add life to McCain's campaign as he faces a historic opponent in Barack Obama, the first African-American to be nominated on a major party ticket.
Another possibility is Texas Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, known for her conservative politics, staunch pro-life stance, and experience. Hutchison, who was first elected to the Senate in a special 1993 election, is the most senior Republican female senator. Should either she or Fiorina be named to the ticket, it would mark the first time a female has been named to the Vice Presidential slot on a Republican ticket.
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