Second banana is important too

While we await the outcomes of the Democratic and Republican presidential primary season, it's not too early to begin contemplating who the two conventions will pick as vice presidential candidates.

Much was made of Fred Thompson's quick swoon from the race, fueling speculation he might have been after the #2 spot all along. Others are suggesting Mick Huckabee (who appears on the verge of dropping his quest for President) would make a good running mate for Mitt Romney. I don't see either one getting the VP nod, no matter who eventually wins the Republican nomination. If not Huck or Fred, then who?

For now, we can rule out Mitt Romney, if John McCain (if you believe the MSM it's no longer "if") wins the GOP nomination. CBS quotes Romney, "I'm not going to be any vice president to John McCain." It would appear Jeb Bush, the former Florida Governor and brother of President Bush will not push for the number two spot on the Republican ticket. He was nowhere to be seen in the Sunshine State in the run-up to the Florida primary.^.

Others being mentioned here and there include several state governors, South Carolina's Terry Sanford, Georgia's Sonny Perdue, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, and Alaska's Sarah Palin. "Alaska?!?", you ask. From what I've read about her, Governor Palin is a common sense conservative. She even stood up against Senator Ted Stevens' "Bridge to Nowhere" earmark. And a "Draft Sarah" blog has joined the blogosphere.

Betsy Newmark is also looking at the nation's GOP governors, mentioning Pawlenty and Sanford. Gina Cobb offers Condi Rice as a great choice, especially for Romney. Meanwhile, the Anchoress suspects something is afoot to engineer a brokered convention and deny McCain the nomination.

Now to the Donkeys.

State governors are likely to dominate the long list of potential Democratic VP nominees as well. Pennsylvania's Ed Rendell does not really make a lot of sense for either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama, although it would not be a far stretch to see the former Philadelphia District Attorney as Attorney General in a Democratic administration. BlogKC reports that it appears Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is being groomed for the national stage, but the Democrats are more likely to seek demographic balance with a tried and true white male. New Mexico Governor (and now withdrawn presidential candidate) Bill Richardson would provide demographic and geographic balance.

Over at Outside the Beltway, the speculation centers on Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen, Virginia Senator Jim Webb, or Indiana's Evan Bayh.

Anybody have some insight or opinion? Share them in comments.

UPDATE:

The Governor of our 49^th State appears to be getting more attention, at least within the blogosphere. There’s a report out that somebody at the Daily Kos suggesting a McCain-Palin ticket would be a team the Democrats should fear. I haven’t tracked down the Kos entry to confirm. Meanwhile, over at the New Conservative, there’s a good post highlighting Governor Palin’s conservative credentials.

It is refreshing when, especially in the GOP, there is a politician willing to stand up for ethics, and against corruption... especially in Alaska, where corruption in the government is a common occurrence.

She has a 90% approval rating in her state, and has a broad appeal across the conservative board. She is an outdoorsman, an ACTUAL lifelong hunter, a
conservationist, pro-life, pro-marriage, and a defender of capitalism.

Alaska news media are reporting that the governor remains coy about backing a particular candidate, but has narrowed her choices to John McCain or Mike Huckabee. She is quoted in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, saying, “I would ideally love to speak with them personally on their positions on resources and national security.”

We may be on to something here.