Cheney says Romney should avoid Palin 8216;mistake8217;

Cheney qualified McCain8217;s choice to run with Palin as a 8220;mistake,8221; in an interview with ABC News,broadcast in excerpt today.

8220;I like Governor Palin,8221; Cheney said,8221;But based on her background,she had only been governor for,what,two years?8221;

8220;I don8217;t think she passed that test 8230; of being ready to take over8221; as president,he added.

Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney has yet to choose a vice presidential candidate,roughly three months before the vote.

If Romney heeds Cheney8217;s warning,he may not choose potential running mates whose experience levels may welcome unfavorable comparisons to Palin8217;s,such as New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez,South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley or New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

The two leading contenders to share Romney8217;s White House ticket are slightly more seasoned Ohio Senator Rob Portman,who may secure popularity in the crucial swing state,and former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty,who was elected twice.

In May,the last Republican candidate McCain offered his own advice for the Romney campaign.

8220;I think it8217;s a person that he knows he could trust,and the primary 8212; the absolute,most important aspect is,if something happened to him,would that person be well qualified to take that place?8221; McCain said,in an interview with ABC8217;s 8220;This Week.8221;