Thompson would appeal to the base.  But one has to wonder about his commitment to the campaign trail.

Gosh, we'd really be leaping off a cliff... I wasn't amused by Thompson or the hypocrisy of his far right supporters, but after watching him mope around in South Carolina, it became apparent that he wasn't cut out for the job. He was also the only candidate who tried to speak as Ron Paul was provoking open laughter... like Napoleon once said, if you enemy is destroying himself, don't interrupt.

Thompson was my favorite candidate, but McCain needs someone younger.

IMO, if McCain "plays it safe" and picks someone that the Republican base pushes on him (like Romney), it will make the Dem's charge of "McSame" more believable and he will fall to the overall aproval ratings of a generic Republican.

McCain must avoid at all costs making this election about Dems vs Reps or he wiill loose big.  He has done well so far because he has made the election about Obama the person vs McCain the person.  A pick like Romney (and to a lessar degree Thompson) would bring it back to D's vs R's.

If the base can't abide a pick like Lieberman then he should go outside the lines and pick someone from the private sector.  Maybe Carly Fiorina would do, though I imagine she has some baggage from her HP days as well.

I read a blog today that said he should pick Lynn Cheney.  How's that for thinking outside of the box?

It would be a hoot if he named Dick Cheney though.   No reason why he couldn't...

He would of course loose the election, but it would be a blast to watch

The best choice would be- hands down- COLIN POWELL.

McCain should choose Condoleeza Rice or at least attempt to. Both parties are struggling to acquire a good foreign affairs campaign platform and Condoleeza Rice is the face of it. Plus, it doesnt hurt that she is both african american and a woman, both of which the Democrats tried to sway the vote with.

Great idea except for the way the Bush Administration and the Republican Party stabbed him in the face during his tenure as Chief of State.

They were total douches to him, and I hope he doesn't forget it.

They don't deserve him in the slightest.

I vote for Thomas Sowell.  He would add some kick but economic streingth to the ticket. 

But out of the posible ones I like Romney, but hey, McCain wasn't my fifth choice.

Neither Rice or Powell would accept if asked, so I haven't even entertained the possibility.

Palin it is.

yep!  There's no way Obama will win this now.

Great first decision.