Reply #12: Forced to lay down real money, I would agree with you, Oregonian.

[saltpoint]

But if McCain plans on smearing Obama with the "Muslim" fear tactic, some of that punch is lost if he chooses Mormon Romney.

There are an awful lot of hyper-Protestant fundamentlasts who will not show up to vote for any ticket with a Mormon on it.

There's a potential that McCain would depress his own vote totals by picking Romney, although I can't think of anyone else he might realistically choose at this point (from McCain's point of view).

I think Fiorina, Huck, and Rudy are all curtains. Pawlenty's still in the mix, but he's such a wash-out, plus Obama leads in Minnesota by a near-landslide. Pawlenty won't reverse that.

I guess if it's not Romney, it will be Portman, Thune, or Jim Talent. Possibly Haley Barbour.

But Franklin Graham is McCain's only real chance at turning out the fundie base.