In selecting a vice presidential running mate, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says that Mitt Romney should make his pick based on who he believes "fits best in shaping a winning campaign."
The Arizona senator and former White House candidate discussed the matter in a Q&A with Charlie Rose. He said he would advise Romney to consider the factors of trust and friendship in making his decision, "particularly the trust side of it because, obviously, that running mate would be next in line for the presidency."
Asked if he had those qualities in Sarah Palin as his running mate during the 2008 presidential campaign, McCain said, "Absolutely." He explained, "One of the factors with Sarah Palin that was so important was that she galvanized our party, got everybody fired up. I have great confidence Mitt has a strong team to choose from."
McCain recently came to Palin's defense after former Vice President Dick Cheney characterized her role in the 2008 campaign as a "mistake."
Cheney told ABC News, "I've met her. I know her. She -- attractive candidate. But based on her background, she’d only been governor for, what, two years. I don't think she passed that test ... of being ready to take over."
Palin herself said the real mistake would have been not answering the call to run alongside McCain.
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