Jindal's Stock is on the Way Up

Adam Nossiter of the New York Times says Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is emerging as a leading candidate to be John McCain's running mate.

While Jindal's record in office -- so far -- has been impressive, I think he still needs some seasoning, needs to add a few accomplishments to his resume, before thinking about being a national candidate. He's only in his 30s, about half McCain's age.

McCain needs youth on his ticket -- as well as someone who appeals to social conservatives. Jindal fits the bill on both counts.

And he's got (limited) executive experience. With two legislators running against each other for the presidency, if one has a running mate who has experience on the executive side, that candidate has an edge.

If Jindal had been governor for a few years rather than a few months, he might be perfect for McCain.

Actually, speculation is running rampant among Republicans these days, even though it's early June and observers don't expect McCain to announce his choice until early August.

Matthew Cooper suggests, in Portfolio.com, that former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina could be McCain's running mate. Cooper says discussions linking Fiorina to the GOP ticket are "talk she discourages but doesn't dismiss, even if the chances of it actually happening are probably far-fetched."

There also has been talk of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but that's talk that has been drawing a decidedly mixed response.

Some bloggers have been giving Bloomberg a thumbs-down response. "No this would be a bad thing!! New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a huge anti 2nd Amendment person and therefore anti-gun!! McCain should not choose him as a running mate and it worries me to see this!!" writes MaddMedic blog.

Bloomberg's politics appear to be middle of the road, so much so that he's even being mentioned as a possible running mate for Democrat Barack Obama.

And word is that California Evangelicals' survey of its membership finds McCain will suffer a substantial drop in support from followers of that organization if he picks a running mate who is not perceived as a conservative.

I guess the wildest suggestion I've seen is that Geraldine Ferraro, who ran with Walter Mondale against Ronald Reagan in 1984 and supported Hillary Clinton in this year's Democratic race, could be McCain's running mate.

On the Democratic side, I have hesitated to speculate on running mates until I was sure who would be the nominee. It's not certain yet, but it sure looks like Obama will be the party's standard-bearer.

I think Obama should pick someone with executive experience, someone who has been a governor or is currently a governor. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is a strong pick.

A governor also has the advantage of having won a statewide campaign, just as senators do.

Aside from Obama, there aren't many blacks holding offices that are elected on a statewide basis.

And the one I can think of -- the governor of New York -- was actually elected lieutenant governor and rose to become governor when the incumbent resigned.

So the experience of having won a statewide race -- even in a relatively small state like New Mexico -- will be valuable to a national ticket.

Other Democratic governors Obama could consider are Ohio's Ted Strickland, Oklahoma's Brad Henry, Pennsylvania's Ed Rendell.

(As for McCain, there are quite a few other Republican governors in the South if Jindal doesn't suit him.)

But I would counsel Obama against picking a woman governor, on the grounds that a black man and a woman on the ticket would be change that is too radical for most voters.

Some of the polls suggest that voters are willing to consider voting for a ticket like that. But people have been known to misrepresent the facts to pollsters.

That's too bad because there are some talented women in Democratic politics -- Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas (can you imagine what Democrats could do with a Lincoln on the ticket?).

At some point, the Democrats will put another woman on the national ticket. It just shouldn't be this year.