Gingrich Tells McCain to Avoid a ‘Boring, Normal, Mainstream Republican White Guy’ for VP

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) is telling John McCain to steer clear of a “boring, normal, mainstream Republican white guy” in his vice presidential selection.

“What I’m afraid of is that if Sen. McCain picks one more relatively boring, normal, mainstream Republican white guy who would be like, you know, a cookie cutter…he just makes the ticket seem boring compared to the level of energy and drive and excitement that Obama has,” Gingrich says in an audio recording made Monday and posted on his website Wednesday.

“This fall there is going to be a lot of energy surrounding the Obama campaign, and we need to find ways to generate a substantial amount of energy around the McCain campaign. And an effective, dynamic, different kind of vice presidential nominee I think would make a difference.”

The two possible Republican veeps who Gingrich thinks could make a difference are Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Gingrich said Palin “has a great reform reputation” and would “bring a level of excitement and uniqueness that people would have to stop and stay ‘boy this is kind of intriguing, this is something new.'”

Gingrich also had very high praise for Jindal, but the Louisiana Republican took himself out of the running shortly after the recording was posted, saying, “I’m not going to be the vice presidential nominee or vice president.”