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Former vice president says the ex-Republican nominee's choice was a 'mistake' because Palin wasn't qualified to take over the top job. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election-2012/dick-cheney-disses-john-mccain-pick-sarah-palin-vice-president-2008-article-1.1124347#ixzz221zlW4Kf Dick Cheney says that John McCain should have thought twice before naming Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008. The former Republican vice president told ABCNews that McCain made a "mistake" when he picked Palin to be his No. 2 on the GOP ticket in the last presidential race. "That one," Cheney said, "I don't think was well handled." Cheney, speaking to the media for the first time since he received a heart transplant in March, said that potential veeps have to prove that they are "capable" of serving as the president — a quality that Palin didn't have at the time. "I like Governor Palin. I've met her. I know her . . . Attractive candidate. But based on her background — she'd only been governor for, what, two years - I don't think she passed that test . . . of being ready to take over," said Cheney. "And I think that was a mistake." The 71-year-old said that Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney should avoid making the same error McCain did. He's reportedly offered Romney and Beth Myers, who is leading the candidate's veep search, advice on picking a running mate, though he didn't elaborate on what that advice was. Cheney has a great deal of experience in searching for potential vice presidents. Dick Cheney has some advice for Mitt Romney on choosing a running mate: Don't pick another Sarah Palin. In his first interview since receiving a heart transplant in March, Cheney told ABC News, that John McCain's decision to pick Palin as his running mate in 2008 was "a mistake" — one that it is important from Romney not to repeat. It's subject on which Cheney has some unique experience. He helped Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush lead their vice presidential searches and, of course, served as vice president for eight years. He's also privately offered some advice to both Romney and Beth Myers, who is leading Romney's search for a runningmate, on the process. Cheney would not comment on what he told Romney and Myers, but he was harsh in his assessment of McCain's decision to pick Palin. "That one," Cheney said, "I don't think was well handled." "The test to get on that small list has to be, 'Is this person capable of being president of the United States?'" Cheney believes Sarah Palin failed that test. "I like Governor Palin. I've met her. I know her. She -- attractive candidate. But based on her background, she'd only been governor for, what, two years. I don't think she passed that test...of being ready to take over. And I think that was a mistake." More of the exclusive interview with Cheney, which was conducted in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will air Monday on Good Morning America, World News with Diane Sawyer and Nightline. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election-2012/dick-cheney-disses-john-mccain-pick-sarah-palin-vice-president-2008-article-1.1124347#ixzz222004zqx