Senator John McCain has stood by his choice of picking Sarah Palin as his running mate during the 2008 presidential election.

McCain told Jake Tapper on ABC's "The Week" on Sunday that Palin’s qualifications are what earned her the spot as his potential VP.

Offering advice on choosing a potential VP for the presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, McCain said the "primary, absolute, most important aspect is if something happened to him, would that person be well qualified to take that place?"

The former presidential candidate said this was an important factor in choosing Palin.

"I happen to believe that was the ... primary factor on my decision in 2008," he said, "and I know it will be Mitt's."

He advised that Romney should pick someone he knows he can trust.

A former Alaskan Governor, Sarah Palin was criticized during and after the 2008 campaign over her lack of experience for the position. She was the first Republican woman nominated for the vice presidency role.