Einy Meiny Miney Mo – Catch a VP by the Toe

Economic conservatives cringe at Mike Huckabee. Conservative evangelicals like Huckabee but wince at Mitt Romney. Gay rights activists are trying to rule out Sam Nunn. The women’s movement is wary of several prominent Democrats who support abortion restrictions.

That’s the minefield Barack Obama and John McCain are tiptoeing across as they choose their vice presidential nominees. The goal of each: to find a running mate who adds appeal to the ticket — while steering around the candidates who would leave key groups angry and ready to abandon the party.

The tension is most pronounced among Republicans, a reflection of long-standing fault lines between the party’s social conservatives and the faction that focuses more on economic issues.

Conservative evangelicals, in particular, have a history of animosity toward McCain, the presumed GOP presidential nominee. Looking for a sign of commitment to their causes, many of them have urged McCain to choose Huckabee, a longtime pastor and former Arkansas governor with solid antiabortion credentials. Some are actively campaigning against Romney, who as Massachusetts governor had a mixed record on abortion and gay rights.

Get the rest of the story from latimes.com.