Speculation about vice presidential candidates for each party is reaching a fever pitch in Washington. Many observers think that one or both candidates will make a move before the Olympics begin Friday and suck the oxygen out of media coverage for the next two weeks.

I’m no political genius. I’m not even a political strategist, although that moniker is used so much around town that its value has diminished substantially.

So, the advice I’m about to offer Sen. John McCain about his running mate is not likely to be original. He has already thought of it, or his advisors have. But it is worth noting.

If McCain is going to choose a woman as vice president, he should definitely go with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin instead of former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina. The reason is simple: Palin is a politician.

Often, hotshot CEOs are celebrated as hard-charging, tough-minded leaders who know how to implement a vision and deliver sterling results for shareholders. Hosannas for Jack Welch are ringing in my ears now.

All of that is well and good. You would think many CEOs would have what it takes to whip government into shape and run the country efficiently, making decisions that improve the economy.

Perhaps they could bring those abilities to office. But they lack something critical in their background.

They have never run for office. They don’t know what it’s like to make themselves vulnerable to the whims of the electorate. They don’t know how to compromise with foes to accomplish goals—a common occurrence in political battles.

CEOs exist in a world where they call all the shots. Often, they select compliant boards that won’t stand up to the CEO unless some billionaire threatens to take over the company. Yes, shareholders can exact a steep price for failure. But CEOs don’t have to deal with them as individuals.

There are vast differences between the command-and-control corporate environment and the hurly-burly of politics, where the “board” (voters) determines your fate every two, four or six years.

Believe it or not, most politicians have to have humility as one of their character traits. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of arrogant pols running around Washington. Humility may be buried under layers and layers of hubris.

But if you’re going to succeed here, you also need to be willing to prostrate yourself and raise money. A politician running for most offices has to spend countless hours at fundraisers (or on the phone) pitching himself or herself as a leader who can be trusted.

Then, when they’re in office, they have to deal with the public. Washington and state capitals are not hermetically sealed universes. Politicians must stay in tune with public sentiment and adjust to it. They also must have the ability to compromise when they see their original position is a loser.

These are skills that aren’t necessarily developed in a corner office. True, many businesspeople have succeeded in politics. But they have started somewhere lower in the food chain than on a national ticket—perhaps as a mayor or governor.

Leaving aside the individual merits and drawbacks of Palin and Fiorina, which could consume an entire blog posting, Palin is clearly the one who is best qualified to be vice president.

If you’ve never sought a vote from a fellow citizen, you have no business being a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.