Now that John McCain has been all but dubbed the Republican nominee for president, he must begin trying to convince conservatives of the party exactly why they should go out in November to vote for him. Obviously, he can’t run on his record as a conservative because, truth be told, very little separates him from the Democratic hopefuls.

How will McCain inspire loyalty, something he has demonstrated very little of, from the conservatives among the party? He must pick a running mate, a vice presidential pick or veep, that the conservatives can embrace and thus, stomach a vote for McCain. But whom will he choose from the would-be contenders?

Obviously, Mike Huckabee wants the job, which explains his desire to stay in the race hoping that he will draw enough support to force McCain into teaming with him. Though the Huster, no pun intended, plays well among the evangelical vote, some wonder if he has what it takes to garner the full support of Reagan conservatives within the party. Let’s face it, Huckabee has problems. He raised taxes within his home state of Arkansas while governor, doubling the size of the state’s government. This doesn’t sit well with fiscal conservatism, which craves the downsizing of government. And, his pardoning of notorious felons while governor has even caused many evangelicals to do the unthinkable, support Mitt Romney, a Mormon.

Among local Republicans, the talk has been that perhaps McCain would pick Haley Barbour, sitting governor of Mississippi. Mr. Barbour has the conservative credentials, however some have suggested that he is weighed down too heavily by lobbyists, which McCain has a reputation of disliking. Another name mentioned is Tim Pawlenty, the governor of Minnesota. But I’m not convinced that Southern voters would back this ticket. One reason is that Minnesota and its governor are known to be somewhat liberal. With McCain’s already liberal voting record, this would not win him the conservative, let alone the Southern vote. Before some of you diminish the Southern vote, understand that no Republican president has won the White House without it since the Reagan revolution.

So, whom does McCain pick to balance this Republican seesaw? Who will the chosen one be that will restore order back to the force, party that is? Sorry.

Well, there is talk of a McCain-Gingrich ticket. Yeap, I said it, Newt Gingrich, Georgia’s own son who served as Speaker of the House during the first Clinton regime. I know that Newt is as polarizing to some Democrats and independents as Hillary is to many Republicans. However, he is a true conservative in the order of Reagan, fiscally and socially. He is anti-big government, anti-abortion, pro-Jesus, and a Second Amendment supporter. Newt appeals to Republicans and to many independents as well. Remember, he led the conservative revolution in the nineties and defended the country against the encroaching agenda of socialism championed by the Clintons.

Would Newt entertain such a notion of becoming McCain’s counter-balance?

I suppose the real decision behind this possible ticket will come down to whether Newt is willing to risk his reputation as a staunch Reagan conservative for a possible shot at holding the second-highest elected office in the land, while supporting one of the country’s most recognized liberals, and his agenda, as president.

Larry Brooks is a staff writer for the Walker County Messenger. He can be reached by email at lbrooks@walkermessenger.com.