This summer the favorite pass time of everybody who is the least bit political is speculating about who McCain and Obama will chose as there running mates.

In order to have even a chance of winning the election McCain has to win most of the battle ground states of Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. To do that he has to win the votes of working class people in those states, so does Obama. How to win those votes is the critical issue confronting both campaigns.

I suggest that McCain chose a black running mate. This will probably not garner him much of the black vote. Obama has those votes. It will however allow those white voters who have sympathy for Obama as a symbol somewhere else to go. Many voters in the middle are concerned about Obama’s liberalism and Jimmy Carter like naivety. A black on the Republican ticket would allow these swing voters to choose McCain without guilt.

My candidate for VP on McCain’s ticket has been Condoleezza Rice because I think she will make a brilliant President. But since she is associated to much with the Bush doctrine I now propose Lynn Swann. Swann was a famous football player and after retiring ran for governor of Pennsylvania. He is articulate, experienced, has good name recognition and is black. His name recognition is particularly high in Pennsylvania and among football fans and they just happen to be the demographic where McCain needs to do well.

Brilliant.