Will McCain Pick a Pro-Choice VP?

Also would he select a socially liberal VP?

Two men that are speculated to be on his shortlist are former PA Governor Tom Ridge and Senator Joe Lieberman.

They are both pro-choice candidates. Joe Lieberman has scored high on ratings by pro-choice groups.

In 2006 he voted 100% with the interest Planned Parenthood. In 2005 he supported the interests of NARAL Pro-Choice America 75% of the time.

There is no doubt that a pro-choice VP will cause a rift with the more conservative base of the GOP.

However Tom Ridge doesn't agree with that.

“I think that would be up to, first of all, to John to decide whether he wants a pro-choice running mate; then we would have to see how the Republican Party would rally around it,” Ridge said. “At the end of the day, I think the Republican Party will be comfortable with whatever choice John makes.”

McCain now says he is against abortion rights. He didn't take the hardline stance he has now back in the 2000 primaries.

On one hand a pro-choice VP would attract centrist voters. Perhaps even a candidate who has socially liberal positions on certain issues like Sen. Lieberman would attract some liberals.

On LGBT issues Lieberman tends to take a liberal approach.

In 2004 he scored 88/100 by the Human Rights Campaign who are one of the largest LGBT civil rights groups in the country.

He also voted no on the constitutional amendment to ban marriage.

In 2004 Lieberman had this to say

"Although I am opposed to gay marriage, I have also long believed that states have the right to adopt for themselves laws that allow same-sex unions," his statement read. "I will oppose any attempts by the right wing to change the Constitution in response to today's ruling, which would be unnecessary and divisive."

On the issues of guns he received an F from Gun Owners of America in 2007. In 2006 based off of lifetime ratings the NRA gave him an F too.

How would the conservative base of the party feel about someone who has voted on hot button issues liberally?

I don't believe that many conservatives would be okay with Lieberman. I believe he would be a good choice for McCain, but it would infuriate the hard conservative base to know someone who has voted liberally on gay, gun, and abortion hearts is a heartbeat away from the presidency.

In my research for my blog I could not find where Tom Ridge stood on such issues.

A pro-choice candidate alone would be unacceptable for many Republicans. Especially for the evangelical and deeply religious voters that vote Republican.

Who will John McCain select as his VP? I will have a poll posted with the most likely candidates.