gop has always gone in the direction of so-called idealogical balance. is that where you see this going this time? first of all, there are as many theories about how the vice president gets picked as there are people mentioned to be the vice president. but yeah, i do think this kind of idealogical mixing does have some real heft to it. mccain was in a similar position to where romney is now. won the nomination but distrusted by the conservative base and he picks palin. in 2000, bush picking cheney was more of a gravitas pick, but i don t think bush could have picked somebody like a tom ridge for example. keep going back and go all the way back to ronald reagan it s amazing. mccain and palin, bush and cheney. dole goes to kemp. bush senior goes to quayle.