The three states with the most electoral votes are often considered “done deals,” In the last four elections California (55 votes) and New York (31 votes) have both voted Democrat. The last time both states went Republican were in the 1984 election when Ronal Reagan won a record 525 electoral votes. Since 1984 California has voted Democrat, and often very convincingly. New York voted for George H.W. Bush in 1988, but since then has voted Democrat. Texas (34 votes), the other sure bet, hasn’t voted Republican since 1976 when they voted for Jimmy Carter over Gerald Ford. Behind California, Texas, and New York in electoral votes is Florida at 27, and Pennsylvania at 21. Both major candidates are considering picking running mates from these important battle ground states. John McCain is considering picking Charlie Crist, Florida’s current Governor as his number two man. Barack Obama is taking a close look at Ed Rendell from Pennsylvania as a potential running mate.
ity of Pennsylvania in 1965 and received a Juris Doctor from Villanova Law School in 1968. In 1977 his political career began as he was elected Philadelphia District Attorney. In 1987 Rendell ran for the Democratic nomination for the office of Mayor in Philadelphia, and lost. In 1991 Rendell fortune changed and he was selected to represent the Democrats in the election for Mayor, and rolled to victory to the fact his opponent died shortly before the election. He rolled to victory over the replacement candidate and was inaugurated as mayor of Philadelphia. Rendell was a popular Governor enjoying five years of budget surpluses. He won a landslide re-election campaign in 1995. In 1999 shortly before his term was up he resigned to become chair of the Democratic National Committee. In 2002 Rendell ran for Governor of Pennsylvania, and won with a comfortable majority. He continued his policies of cutting taxes and balancing the budget. In 2006 Rendell won re-election with sixty percent of the votes. Rendell is considered liberal, and has proven to be successful in dealing with fiscal issues. His popularity in an important swing state, and his national prominence make him a possibility as a VP candidate. Hillary fans would feel comfortable with Rendell on the ticket since he was a very early and vocal supporter of Clinton’s campaign. Rendell has appeared to be cool to the idea of being selected, and has not made any statements as to whether or not he would accept the position. At sixty-four Rendell has age, and has experience.
n 1956 in Pennsylvania. He attended Wake Forest University for two years while playing on the football team, and eventually graduated from Florida State University. He eventually received his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in Alabama. Crist began his political career in 1992 serving in the Florida Senate. In 1998 Crist won for the United States Senate seat held by Bob Grahm, but lost by twenty-six percent. In 1999 Governor Jeb Bush named Crist Deputy Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. From 2000-2003 Crist served as Education Commissioner of Florida. In 2002 Crist was elected to serve as Florida’s Attorney General. Crist used his popularity as Attorney Governor to catapult him to the position of Governor in 2006. His campaign was ripe with controversy over questionable donations, as well as his connection to well known Rev. O’Neil Dozier. Dozier made many questionable remarks that forced Crist to separate Dozier from being associated with the campaign. Crist was able to win with fifty-two percent of the vote, but not without being thrown into the national media due to the negative scandals. Charlie Crist has a very conservative voting record, and would appeal to Evangelical Christians due to his stance on abortion and same sex marriage. He is a safe choice that would help to energize the base, and would help land a key state.
Ed Rendell
– Rendell is an experienced politician who has proven he can win big in a competitive state. He is credited with helping Hillary Clinton win Pennsylvania in the primaries. He was born in New York City in 1944. He graduated from the Univers
ity of Pennsylvania in 1965 and received a Juris Doctor from Villanova Law School in 1968. In 1977 his political career began as he was elected Philadelphia District Attorney. In 1987 Rendell ran for the Democratic nomination for the office of Mayor in Philadelphia, and lost. In 1991 Rendell fortune changed and he was selected to represent the Democrats in the election for Mayor, and rolled to victory to the fact his opponent died shortly before the election. He rolled to victory over the replacement candidate and was inaugurated as mayor of Philadelphia. Rendell was a popular Governor enjoying five years of budget surpluses. He won a landslide re-election campaign in 1995. In 1999 shortly before his term was up he resigned to become chair of the Democratic National Committee. In 2002 Rendell ran for Governor of Pennsylvania, and won with a comfortable majority. He continued his policies of cutting taxes and balancing the budget. In 2006 Rendell won re-election with sixty percent of the votes. Rendell is considered liberal, and has proven to be successful in dealing with fiscal issues. His popularity in an important swing state, and his national prominence make him a possibility as a VP candidate. Hillary fans would feel comfortable with Rendell on the ticket since he was a very early and vocal supporter of Clinton’s campaign. Rendell has appeared to be cool to the idea of being selected, and has not made any statements as to whether or not he would accept the position. At sixty-four Rendell has age, and has experience.
Charlie Crist
– With twenty-seven electoral votes, and right now completely deadlocked in the polls, Florida is going to be an extremely important state come November. Republican Governor Charlie Crist could be a vital component in pulling Florida to McCain. Crist was born i
n 1956 in Pennsylvania. He attended Wake Forest University for two years while playing on the football team, and eventually graduated from Florida State University. He eventually received his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in Alabama. Crist began his political career in 1992 serving in the Florida Senate. In 1998 Crist won for the United States Senate seat held by Bob Grahm, but lost by twenty-six percent. In 1999 Governor Jeb Bush named Crist Deputy Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. From 2000-2003 Crist served as Education Commissioner of Florida. In 2002 Crist was elected to serve as Florida’s Attorney General. Crist used his popularity as Attorney Governor to catapult him to the position of Governor in 2006. His campaign was ripe with controversy over questionable donations, as well as his connection to well known Rev. O’Neil Dozier. Dozier made many questionable remarks that forced Crist to separate Dozier from being associated with the campaign. Crist was able to win with fifty-two percent of the vote, but not without being thrown into the national media due to the negative scandals. Charlie Crist has a very conservative voting record, and would appeal to Evangelical Christians due to his stance on abortion and same sex marriage. He is a safe choice that would help to energize the base, and would help land a key state. 
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