I got a look at a batch of the new pennies today. You know, the ones with scenes from President Lincoln’s life on the backs instead of the Lincoln Memorial. For starters, they feel different from old pennies. They seem lighter (although it could just be my imagination), as well as have a brighter hue than old pennies (which is likely simply because they’re new). I am fully aware that these pennies are chemically identical to their predecessors. No, this post is not a tale about the things that cross my mind while standing at a cash register.

Looking at these new pennies, I started thinking about the debate surrounding the penny’s production. For example, it actually costs the US taxpayer 1.23¢ for the Government to mint one penny. This is an enormous waste of money, especially considering that most Americans consider the penny a disposable article.

I also thought about the political landscape of the late 1960s and 1970s, when President Nixon received criticism for suggesting a reduction in size of the penny as a cost-cutting measure, while still allowing for the price-accuracy of 1¢ increments. “Lunacy!” cried the left. So much so that the DNC partnered with novelty interests to create the “Nixon Penny”—a tiny penny bearing the likeness of the 37^th President, which came in cardboard and plastic packaging bearing the words, “NEW: Nixon Penny and getting smaller… smaller… smaller.” The novelty item is shown below (courtesy eBay).

If john McCain was ever ahead of Barack Obama, he’s not now. And we, as a party are in trouble.  Senator Obama presents a dangerous combination for the world of politics: JFK’s personal presentation and media adoration, and political stances that make Jimmy Carter seem moderate. This could be detrimental to the future of America.

One Fox News analyst who appeared this week on The O’Reilly Factor claimed that the media loved the newly christened BHO more than they did JFK. So what can we, the Republican Party, do to ensure that there is never an Obama Administration? Well, first, we need to assess the situation from a campaign/PR perspective. And since the media wants Senator Obama to look like President Kennedy, we have to remember that Kennedy barely won the popular vote in 1960; he was only .1% ahead of Richard Nixon. Nixon had a “rough around the edges” manner about him, and he was less polished than Kennedy. But fortunately, our 2008 guy isn’t Nixon. He’s Eisenhower.

In the 1950s, everybody liked Ike. He had a public appeal that made him seem like everybody’s grandpa. America wanted to support the man in the wooden chair who had plenty of war stories, even if he didn’t necessarily want to tell them all. We have a personable, kindly, grandfatherly war hero on the ticket. That’s the side Senator McCain needs to play up right now. Because, sad as it is, most people couldn’t care less about politics. They vote for the candidate who seems relatable and can win their heart, if not necessarily their head. I truly believe that the new Ike can and will beat the new JFK, but McCain needs to snap to that transition quickly; voters will want time to adjust to a 1950s-influenced race.

Second, until Obama secured his party’s nomination, there was no rush for Senator McCain to pick a running mate. Technically, there still isn’t, but Ike needs someone who will clean up and polish the ticket, which means we can’t pick Dick. Also, if McCain picks a running mate soon (I know the convention isn’t until Sept. 1), he will temporarily upstage Obama and he will split himself in two. In this case, that’s a good thing. Two full-on campaigning machines are stronger than one. But whom would Senator McCain want?

Whoever Senator Obama picks to run with, the Democratic ticket will be polished and clean-cut. While Republicans will read this as elitism, the media will see it as presentation skills. Senator McCain already has somewhat of a coarser impression than most other politicians; he’s down to earth and real. McCain is eternally tangible. So the only thing that would logically balance that is a polished running mate. The best bet for this is Governor Mitt Romney.

Romney presents an element that no republican president or vice president has had in recent history: that same polished finish that our Democratic rivals have had a monopoly on for what seems like an eternity. Plus, Romney will win over the hard Right of the party and balance the ticket geographically. Northeast meets Southwest looks pretty good to the casual, superficial voter. I’m sure that certain elements of our party will have complaints against Governor Romney taking the VP slot, but this time, it’s truly what’s best for the McCain Campaign.

So these are the aesthetic choices that McCain has to tackle before September, and the sooner the better. McCain is an intelligent and capable man and the best choice for the next President of the United States. And it will take more than a few town hall meetings with favorable crowds to secure that position. Remember, the Dems think they’re running the new JFK. So we’ll show them that the new Eisenhower can do in 2008 what Nixon couldn’t in 1960. If McCain doesn’t take this advice (or any parallel advice), I’m willing to bet that his poll numbers will continue to fall, and victory will be impossible to ensure in November.