Obama’s gotta lose, Santorum said according to this transcript of an interview the former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania gave to The American Spectator. Asked who John McCain should pick as a running mate, Santorum replied:

“It doesn’t matter. I’m a believer that John McCain can’t win the race, but that Obama has to lose it. This is not a knock on McCain; I don’t know of any Republican candidate who can overcome the Democrats in this environment without the Democrat disqualifying himself. But McCain has to remain an acceptable alternative if voters do disqualify Obama, so his V-P choice has to be safe — somebody who can’t disqualify McCain. At the same time, he can’t tick off conservatives. The answer, long story short, he’s got to pick a safe, conservative Republican. There are probably ten members of the U.S. Senate, and some governors, who are conservative, who have solid records, who are good people, who would not stir controversy.”

Pressed, Santorum mentioned as examples Richard Burr of North Carolina, John Ensign of Nevada, John Thune of South Dakota. He said Pawlenty “wouldn’t hurt.” Two other names he liked, once he was asked about them: former House Budget Committee chairman John Kasich of Ohio, and current House Budget Committee ranking Republican Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. “I like Paul Ryan. He’s a great guy. I think he would be a good choice.”