[Carling]

See my #51. I was impressed by him, but he has literally zero name recognition to the average voter. I didn't even know who he was on sight and I supposedly follow politics. heh

[MARTIAL MONK]

McCain is the last of the old line Republicans. I want to see these young turks duking it out. We all benefit.

[chiller]

HIs zero name recognition is a bonus. McCain needs fresh. Too many hate Romney's Mormonism, though he'd be the guy I'd want on my team. Ridge is boring...and he's synonomous with the ridiculous color code alert levels of Homeland Security.

Cantor's a go getter.

[Sal]

I was impressed by him, but he has literally zero name recognition to the average voter. I didn't even know who he was on sight and I supposedly follow politics. heh

Absolutely true, but specifically McCain's VP choice has implications that do not normally apply. Most especially because so many of us can hardly stand the thought of voting for McCain and will only do so as a vote against Obama (or more likely as every Obama deflating moment goes by, Hillary).

If he picks Crist, Huckabee, Kasich, Ridge, etc., he'll lose Conservative votes--how many is hard to say. Palin doesn't want to leave Alaska right now, Jindal is needed in LA and will be great for the future. Romney is personally admirable and I don't care about his religion, but his record is just too liberal for me. Fortunately, very seldom (except in this special case) will a VP choice sink a candidate. People vote for the #1.

McCain's age requires someone people can feel safe with if he has to take over. I didn't know who this guy was before today either, but apparently he has been in GOP leadership since 2002 so he has some experience--a hell of lot more than Obambam and actually more than Her Heinous.

The fact that he showed fight yesterday is also very encouraging for me, but it also looks like he hasn't done anything that--as #2--would scare off the PUMA types and Conservative Dems who are potential McCain voters. They wouldn't vote for him as #1 I'm sure, but he'd be #2...

Bottom line: We'd better pick somebody who won't continue the destruction of the Republican Party if he inherits the position in midterm or who would be a horrible choice to carry on as the incumbent VP and almost certain party leader in 2012 if/when McCain chooses not to run for a second term.

IOW I guess I'm finding this possibility a very good surprise and I'm hopeful and could vote FOR this team, especially as Cantor apparently does NOT share McCain's worst (IMO) position--Amnesty.

OTOH your point is a good one and I just "met" him today electronically.

[penelopesire]

Here is a video of him at the presser for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoHV1DuxnZA