Mac and Huck?

More and more I'm hearing discussions of Huckabee as the running mate to McCain.

He fits the criteria as I see them, and as have been discussed here: a measurable conservative record, Southern, openly religious, with strong executive experience. In fact, his Southern background and religious affiliation probably are what kept him in the race as long as he was, over someone with all the money and charisma he faced from Romney, and the name recognition Mac had.

Is he the right choice though? I don't really have a problem with Huck... honestly. I certainly don't agree with him on the details of his faith, but his moral fiber has proven to be very impressive without taking over his image (as Pat Robertson and Jesse Jackson allowed to happen). He has a fairly good record as Governor of Arkansas, and can show leadership that brought about real fiscal progress in a state that was facing budgetary bankruptcy at one point.

Senators don't have a good record winning the White House, but this year one will. However, I am convinced that we are facing a one-term President in '08. Neither Dem will manage to deliver their promises in 4 years (or I pray they won't), and what they do deliver will NOT help the country. Mac's age may very well be a factor in his NOT running again in '12. That means that (if Mac wins) the GOP's best bet for a '12 victory is having a VP that is very nearly as popular as the President.

The Reagan administration made sure to keep Bush Sr. in the light for the better part of 8 years, and his active role in the administration won him (among other things) the election in '88. Quayle's less-than active role in the Bush White House had the opposite effect, and cost the GOP in '92. Clinton kept Gore by his side and on-camera for 8 years, and only Bill's stupidity kept Gore out of his own Presidency. Cheney... well, Dick has certainly had his share of the lime-light since '00, but it hasn't been flattering most of the time... and he didn't run anyway. He certainly wouldn't have won, if he had. That's the price of being the "voice behind the throne" when things go wrong.

Mac has shown himself to be a Republican that bucked Bush... so do the need another as VP? Wouldn't a popular, more conservative, younger (yes, I know nearly everyone is younger) running mate go further? I'm not in favor of "crossing the aisle" in VP selection... I like Joe Lieberman, but he'd kill the GOP ticket. So would any choice of VP seen as based on minority pandering... Michael Steel or Kay Bailey Hutchison, say.

What the McCain Camp needs is SUCCESS. Too much of McCain's past has come back to haunt him... campaign finance, immigration compromise, Gang of 14, etc. Why has no one spent any time discussing Crist, Barbour, Daniels or Perdue as running mates? All solid conservatives with good, measurable success as executives... and yes, Huckabee can be on that list too... but he is ALL you hear about.

Why do you think that is?