Veepers, Creepers
A running mate for Bob Dole: Is it Powell or bust?
This time of year is about the only time that the words "Vice President" really put a sparkle in the public's eye. Once a veep candidate is chosen, who cares? But until then, veep's the word. Dole's dilemma when selecting a running mate illustrates his overall dilemma, and that of the Republican Party. If he picks a mainstream or economic conservative, he alienates the social conservative Pat Buchanan wing of the GOP. If he picks an anti-abortion rights hardliner, he loses votes he'll need to beat Clinton and opens himself up to charges of "extremism" (a term Clinton has used effectively of late). What's more, both Pat and Newt Gingrich are disliked by the electorate at-large, so Dole is in the tricky spot of pleasing both of them while distancing himself from them for the network news cameras.
But pretty soon Dole's gotta choose. And here's where the MoJo Wire joins the media chorus, giving you our list of possible Veeps and what they would mean to Dole's campaign, and American politics.
Colin Powell
The guy is first on everybody's short list, including Bob's. Dole's team will grovel and plead with Powell until he gives a definite answer. Pat Buchanan has said he will run if Bob chooses the "pro-choice" Colin. But Powell's popularity could more than make up the votes that Pat would take from Dole. All this could be a moot point: So far, Colin says he's not interested.
Christine Todd Whitman
The overconfident Governor of New Jersey was an early favorite, but lately her stock seems to have fallen. Like Powell, she'd pull in votes from a constituency that Clinton is counting on. But here again, Christie is not a social conservative, she's a Gingrich, tax-cutting fiscal conservative. If Bob chooses Christie, the GOP's pro-choice poster child, the chant "Go Pat, Go" may ring in his ears come October.
John Kasich
John is widely perceived as the Gingrich acolyte with the brightest political future. The 43-year-old House Budget Chairman from Ohio, would give Bob's campaign more appeal to younger voters. Pundits love Kasich, but he doesn't guarantee Dole any of the national electorate. And Dole will want to attack Clinton's marital difficulties (ahem) and the divorced Mr. Kasich will make that a wee bit difficult.
John Engler
Assuming Powell is a no-go, Dole will probably pick someone like Michigan Governor John Engler. Yawn. He's well-liked by the mainstream Jack Kempian wing of the GOP for his focus on Renaissance Zones (Empowerment Zones only harder to spell) and he's a pro-lifer. Any politician that can garner endorsements from both Phyllis Schlafly and Jack Kemp is a safe bet for Dole.
Tommy Thompson
While Steve Forbes and Buchanan were busy running presidential campaigns, Tommy boy's been running a VP campaign -- and he might end up in the White House before them. But the Wisconsin Governor and Dole supporter overdid it a bit when declaring his affection for the veep slot, and that could be his undoing.
Dark Horses
Former Tennessee guv and GOP Presidential candidate Lamar Alexander has been given some play by the media as a potential veeper; as has California Governor Pete Wison. But neither of them balances out Dole's moderate image, or adds any real spark to the ticket. And just how popular are they in their home states? The relationship between Californians and Wilson has been less than harmonious. And is Lamar a more favored son of Tennesse than Al Gore?Unless Powell gives in to Bob's pleadings, Dole will probably play it safe with someone like Engler. (He really --really-- wants to live in the White House.) He'll pick someone who, like himself, doesn't stir up any real emotion among the voters -- rounding out a solid, electable, but utterly bland GOP ticket.
Previous Report | Next