The soon-to-be Democratic nominee John Kerry has asked the popular Arizona Senator John McCain seven times if he would consider being his running mate on a bi-partisan ticket, but the latter has unambiguously refused. CBS News polls show that a hypothetical Kerry/McCain ticket is likely to defeat a Bush/Cheney ticket by a significant 14 point margin.

It is undeniably more advantageous for McCain, who wants to be Commander in Chief rather than hold the traditionally symbolic but ineffectual supporting role, to use this leverage to negotiate with the Republican party for unconditional backing in four years, regardless of the outcome of the November election.

Yet there is a more interesting scenario that should be considered. What if McCain were to negotiate a mutually favorable deal with Kerry and the Democrats instead of the Republican Party? The first four years could be a Kerry/McCain ticket, but after the first term, Kerry would retreat to the secondary position as the Vice-Presidential candidate and allow McCain to take the lead as the party nominee. This would be a truly cooperative and bi-partisan way to approach politics.

The country would have what it wants: a collaborative effort between the two perpetually clashing parties. It would give Kerry the edge he needs in numbers to comfortably defeat Bush, plus it would alter the perception that so many Americans have of him as a "typical politician."

Of course, McCain would have to switch parties as the veep in order to be the Democrat's endorsed candidate, but it would almost certainly hand him the presidency in four years, and he could run for a second term himself. This scenario provides a win-win-win for McCain, Kerry, and the Democrats, the latter who could easily retain power for a full 12 years, thus in effect "stealing" the white house back. It would be a fascinating and progressive twist, an historical event, and bring the excitement and voters back to a process that can only otherwise be described as "business as usual." 

ARTICLE PUBLISHED: OPINION EDITORIALS

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