Dear Mr. Fantasy

Is it a "fantasy" that John McCain might pick John Thune as his running mate?  An objective view of the matter suggests otherwise, although I have already suggested here that there are better picks than Thune.  What are Thune's strengths and weaknesses as a VEEP candidate?

Strengths:
1. He has enough experience.  Must it be pointed out that John Thune, while not having has much governing experience as some, has more than Barack Obama?  If Barack Obama has enough experience to be president, Thune has enough to be Vice-President. 
2. Thune's relative young age and energy make up for a weakness for McCain. 
3. Ditto Thune's popularity among conservatives. 
4. Thune is tested in tough campaigns.
5. Objective viewers will not deny Thune extensive political skills.  I have seen Thune mesmerize crowds with detailed and inspiring rhetoric and with no script in front of him.  I have seen him give solid policy answers to obscure questions.  He knows policy and he knows how to communicate to people.  In short, Thune is a good campaigner.  To compare him to Dan Quayle is unfair.

Weaknesses:
1. Thune comes from an electorally marginal state that will surely go to Thune's party anyway. 
2. Thune has no executive experience excepting a brief time in a low level Reagan administration post.
3. Thune has no major legislative accomplishments.  Granted, this is true of most legislators (quick, name Tim Johnson's biggest legislative achievement), but that's why most legislators are not considered for VP. 
4. Whatever his experience, Thune does not bring Cheney-like gravitas. By this I mean you don't look at John Thune and go, "Now there's a president!"  Still, McCain has gravitas to spare, so this is not the biggest problem, and Thune, I believe, would rise to the occasion. 

While by no means being a perfect pick (no such person exists) Thune would be a sound choice for McCain.  Still, I'd recommend against it as I think McCain would do well to chose a governor such as Tim Pawlenty or Mark Sanford.  But Thune makes the grade that any Veep pick must: he would not hurt the ticket even if he doesn't help it much.