![Former vice president Dick Cheney](https://cdn.govexec.com/media/img/cd/2012/07/30/073012cheneyGE/860x394.jpg?1626911358)
Former vice president Dick Cheney Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP file photo
Cheney offers views on veep search
Former vice president says running mates should be qualified to be president.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday offered his views on what's most important when it comes to a vice presidential search, queuing on some of the missteps that have been made in the past.
Cheney highlighted Sen. John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin in the 2008 race as a mistake. "That one I don’t think was well handled," he said in an interview with ABC's Jon Karl that will air on Monday.
Cheney said that any presidential nominee should consider the ability of a potential running mate to handle the office of the presidency, as well as the running mate's attractiveness to voters. Palin was widely considered a brilliant choice initially, as she provided a much-needed shot of enthusiasm into the Republican base, but later became a liability when she revealed her lack of knowledge on a range of foreign and domestic policies and issues.
Cheney said "one of the problems that McCain had" was just that: Palin served him well on the campaign trail, but wasn't ready for the presidency.
“I like Gov. Palin. I met her. I know her. She is an attractive candidate, but based on her background – she had only been governor for about two years – I don’t think she passed that test of being ready to take over," he said.