Barack Obama’s selection of veteran Senator Joe Biden is an attempt to plug a very real problem – Obama’s own lack of experience. Conversely, John McCain has much experience, so a younger person with practical experience is needed.

If McCain picks the right person, his VP selection will help to energize the base, win the election, assist McCain to govern effectively; and – we have heard no one include this consideration – develop a solid conservative candidate to head the Republican ticket in 2012 or 2016.

There are several individuals who potentially fit the needed VP profile. Here, we will focus on one person who clearly fits the requirements: Richard John ‘Rick’ Santorum.

Rick Santorum is young, energetic, articulate, and has strong conservative bona-fides. He is engaging, intellectually oriented to vital public policy issues; and, he listens. Also, Santorum, a former Senator from Pennsylvania, is Catholic and pro-life.

These are just a few of the reasons why McCain’s selection of Santorum checkmates Obama, and neutralizes Obama’s political calculations in picking the very liberal Joe Biden.

Here is another reality: Rick Santorum will excite the conservative base nationally, strengthen appeal with Catholics and evangelicals everywhere, and help in Pennsylvania.

Let’s calibrate this further.

Biden’s selection is said to be designed to appeal - in general - to women, blue-collar workers, and Catholics; and, geographically to shore-up Pennsylvania (Delaware essentially being a suburb of the greater Philadelphia area).

That’s precisely what Santorum does for McCain, and social conservatives and the Republican Party.

Is there a downside for McCain if he were to select Rick Santorum? I believe not.

That’s especially so if John McCain thinks strategically, and of the values he has personified over the years. Continued...