The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Editorial, 4/8/8
Talk that Gov. Haley Barbour could be presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s running mate is prevalent here at the Capitol.
It is mentioned almost daily in some forum. His name also is mentioned prominently on cable news shows as a possible running mate for McCain, who is an Arizona senator.
In many ways, a McCain-Barbour ticket makes sense. Senators historically have a hard time being elected president. Getting someone with executive branch experience – such as a governor – might benefit McCain, who by his own admission knows more about foreign policy than domestic issues.
Plus, Barbour would be a popular choice with many party insiders and many conservatives whose dislike of McCain has been well documented through the years. Barbour is probably more closely associated with the Bush wing of the party than any politician who is not named Bush or does not or has not had a Bush appointment.
For his part, Barbour says he is on hurricane duty – still trying to help the state overcome the ravages of Katrina – so he has no interest in running for vice president. Plus, he says as governor of Mississippi he would bring little to a national ticket. Any Republican presidential nominee who would need a running mate from Mississippi to carry Mississippi or Southern states probably wouldn’t win more than five states anyway, Barbour has said.
Magnolia Tribune
