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Romney, Pawlenty on Attack in GOP V.P. Tryouts

DENVER – Final auditions for Republican John McCain’s running mate, perhaps? Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was in Denver on Tuesday to criticize Democrat Barack Obama on behalf of the GOP nominee-in-waiting. And another Republican said to be in serious contention for the No. 2 slot, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, was scheduled to play attack dog in the Democratic convention city on Thursday.

The Arizona senator is expected to name his vice presidential pick in the coming days, maybe even while Obama is holding court in Denver. Rallies in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, perhaps involving the complete GOP ticket, are planned for the run-up to the GOP convention that starts Monday in St. Paul, Minn.

Romney, a former McCain rival, would bring economic credentials and a battle-honed pitch from the rough-and-tumble GOP primary to the team, while Pawlenty, a longtime McCain ally, would bring a solid conservative resume and blue-collar roots.

But both men also present drawbacks for the GOP ticket.

Romney’s enormous wealth could exacerbate Democratic attacks on McCain’s gaffe over not knowing how many houses he owns. Romney also made unflattering comments against McCain in the primary that the opposition certainly would use against the ticket. Pawlenty’s relative youth, at age 47, could highlight McCain’s distinction of potentially being the oldest first-term elected president; he turns 72 on Friday. And Pawlenty isn’t as seasoned as others, including Democratic vice presidential pick Joe Biden, in the attack role a running mate typically plays.

Yet, both Romney and Pawlenty are said to be under serious consideration.

However, it’s possible that McCain could make a nontraditional selection for the GOP ticket, such as abortion-rights backers Tom Ridge, the former Pennsylvania governor, or Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. Both are close friends of the candidate.

Either of those options, however, would inflame the GOP’s conservative base and risk party-splitting acrimony at the Republican convention next week. Either move also would give Democrats a ready opening to attack the GOP for being divided, much like the story line McCain’s campaign is stoking in Denver by openly courting Hillary Rodham Clinton’s supporters.

On the other hand, such an out-of-the-box choice could send a message to the public at large — I’m no George W. Bush, and I’m no partisan — as McCain seeks to shake the association with the unpopular GOP president and bolster his argument that he would put “country first,” ahead of politics.

Given McCain’s reputation for doing what he wants, it’s also possible that any number of dark horse candidates could emerge. And party officials have been told to prepare for the possibility of an “unconventional” vice presidential nominee.

For now at least, McCain’s campaign is mum on the deliberations. Uncharacteristically, so, too, is the candidate himself.

And, McCain’s prospective candidates are trying to dodge questions about the process to avoid violating McCain’s demand for secrecy around his search. But Romney and Pawlenty appearances in Denver are only certain to stoke speculation and invite questions.

Likely by design so top McCain aides could gauge their effectiveness, both have emerged as top surrogates for McCain over the past few months as he has weighed his choice. Romney held an East Coast fundraiser for McCain on Monday before making his way to Denver, and Pawlenty is in the midst of a battleground state tour to promote McCain.

On Monday, Lieberman told reporters after a speech to a business group in New London, Conn., that he didn’t expect to be offered a spot on McCain’s ticket, and that he and others close to McCain should take a “vow of silence” concerning the vice presidential nomination.

Ridge, for his part, stayed in Washington.

(c) 2008 YellowBrix, Inc.

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