January 30, 2008
The Ticket?
Senator John McCain’s acceptance speech following Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s endorsement:
“I thank you Rudy and I am deeply honored. I am deeply honored by your friendship, which has been for many years. I, like all Americans, will never forget the defining moment of recent American history - the tragedy of 9/11. And I saw Rudy Giuliani unite this nation in a way that made us all proud. And all of us were recommitted to defeating the terrible evil that attacked New York City on September 11th. I had the honor of spending time with him in New York City as he not only restored the spirits and the courage and the commitment of the people of New York City, but of the people of the United States of America.
All life is full of anecdotes. My favorite anecdote was in the World Series of that year when Rudy came with me to Phoenix, Arizona - a packed stadium of 40-some thousand rabid Diamondback fans. On the Jumbotron was the face of Rudy Giuliani. Every one of those fans stood and applauded and cheered and cheered and cheered because this man is a national hero. And I’m honored by his friendship. And I’m honored to know a person who played such a great role in uniting the United States of America after one of its greatest tragedies was inflicted on it.
So, I want to say, I not only thank him for his friendship. I want to thank him for his leadership of America. I want to thank him as we wage this struggle to secure the presidency of the United States. It will be a clear choice this November and I believe that my life has prepared me - a life of service and a life of dedication to lead this nation in the transcendent challenge of the 21st Century: the great threat, and the evil of radical Islamic extremism which threatens everything we stand for and believe in. And my strong right arm, and my partner, and my friend in this effort will be the former mayor of New York City, an American hero - Rudy Giuliani. I am deeply honored. Thank you very much.”
So, what was the first question McCain was asked by the media following his speech?
“Could this be the Republican ticket this fall?”
McCain tried to deflect the reporter’s question with self-deprecating humor, quipping “You know, my ego is rather massive, but not quite so large as to be thinking about that likelihood at this time.”
UPDATE (1/31/08): Just Like Matthau and Lemmon
In a joint appearance on The Tonight Show with John McCain, Rudy Giuliani leaves the door open for a run as McCain’s vice president.
http://race42008.com/2008/01/30/the-ticket/trackback/
January 30th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
“My strong right arm, and my partner, and my friend in this effort will be ____insert politician here____” (Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Charlie Crist, Tim Pawlenty, etc.)
January 30th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Haley Barbour, don’t forget him
January 30th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Can John McCain run with more than one runningmate?
January 30th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Haley Barbour isn’t going to be the VP nominee, unless you want Jack Abramoff tied to the campaign, which the GOP can’t afford, at this point.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
He called him “my friend”. My friend, Aron.
My friend.
You’re reading way too much into John McCain using the term “my friend”!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
McCain needs to run with a strong conservative who has economic expertise.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Everyone is John McCain’s friend.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Rudy would make a fantastic Attorney General. But VP? I think there are better options when considering geographic and ticket balancing, many of whom have been mentioned here on this site.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
alaska jake, McCain and Rudy would be acceptable in the South, since the top of the ticket would not be a Yankee and it would have a strong military focus.
Also, Rudy’s and McCain’s departures from conservative othodoxy are in different areas. It’s very workable, and highly electable.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
what’s the huckster gonna think?
January 30th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
My friends, frankly I don’t understand what problem you have with McCain’s use of “my friends.”
January 30th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
If Rudy switches his position on abortion from pro-choice to pro-life, similar to what George H.W. Bush did in 1980, Rudy might find himself on the top of a lot of GOP V.P. shortlists.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
10. SDGOP Good point, Huckster might be jealous … especially with McCain saying “my partner” - which around these parts is what a same-sex couple refers to each other as. Dated Huckster, married Giuliani?
January 30th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
#7
I dont think Romney is John Mccains “friend”- do you?
January 30th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
The list of John McCain’s useful idiots expands by one more my friends. And one more later tonight with Gov Ahnold.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
9. . . I’m not saying it’s the worst idea, and I’d personally be ok with it, but I think McCain needs someone with a stronger socon background to unify the party. That’s been the historic way we’ve coalesced around a ticket in the past (Dole/Kemp, Bush/Quayle), and it may be more important this year. McCain needs to show the right wing of the party that they have a place at the table, and I don’t think a Rudy VP, with his personal issues and abortion stance, would do it. I think there are others who compliment the ticket as good or better than Rudy which would satisfy all side of the GOP.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
JA Pruce #12,
Not gonna happen.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Ooops … I didn’t mean to say “married.” Replace that with “entered into a civil union.”
January 30th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
nah we can’t put Rudy on the ticket with McCain, there would definitely be a third-party movement. We need Sanford or Palin. Pawlenty would be acceptable. Jindal would be ideal if he had a little more experience. We’ll see.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
19. Neorep04, why would Jindal be ideal?
January 30th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
SDGOP - Huck is totally jealous and sooo wants to be the one heaping the praises on John McCain tonight.
Wait, there’s a debate shortly, so Huckabee will be able to share of his kind words for Sen McCain and make sure that John doesn’t get to friendly with Rudy. Afterall, Mike brought John to the dance and it is downright rude not to dance with the one who brought you and I’m sure Mike will do what he needs to tonight to make sure that John wandering eye doesn’t do any more than window shop.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
21. Jeffrey lol
January 30th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Good point, Huckster might be jealous … especially with McCain saying “my partner†- which around these parts is what a same-sex couple refers to each other as. Dated Huckster, married Giuliani?
LOL.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Huckabee is McCain’s lap-dog, and McCain just pat’s him on the head after every primary, and says, “Atta Boy!†Huckabee pants to his master and looks at him with those puppy-dog eyes. I think I found the perfect clip that shows the relationship between McCain and Huckabee SO well.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x40oih_tree-for-two-scene_shortfilms
January 30th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
It’s funny how the open threads always come up 40 or 50 minutes later than the primer thread says they will.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
#20, he is Catholic which would help solidify that group, but he’s also a charismatic Christian and strongly pro-life. Also, his youth would combat Obama’s strength and bring charisma to the ticket. And then there is the Indian vote…
January 30th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
26. Oh yes, the Indian vote. How did I forget that?
Thanks,
January 30th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
24. Jared
:) I don’t think I’ve laughed this much reading a thread for a long time.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
#28 - Isn’t it hilarious how accurately the video in #24 portrays the McCain/Huckabee relationship?? Funny stuff!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
McCain/Huckabee 2008!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yHLr5AYl5f4
January 30th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
#30 - Hilarious!!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
This is one of my favorites here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-Z0CngDuHcc
January 30th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Oh no, now it’s Brokeback McMountain. What’s next?! This thread is seriously degenerating.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Tony 28,
You laugh but the Indian-American vote has become a growing and important constituency and has been moving to the GOP in recent years. We ignore them at our peril and that is one of the reason’s that Jindal’s rise has been so necessary to balance out the unfortunately misinterpreted remarks of George Allen. In many States the Indian-American vote can put the GOP over the top.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
#30. . . No Tommy. That’s just wrong. (I need to go watch Showgirls. . .quick!)
January 30th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
JA Pruce #34,
+1
January 30th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Tommy #32,
McCain/Swayze ‘08!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Jared 24 - that was hilarious! Sooooo true!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
On #34. I’m Indian and know for a fact that many indians don’t like Jindal because he converted to Christianity. It wouldn’t be much of a boost.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Swayze would B-slap all them fools! I’m gonna start using random philosophical quotations from Roadhouse n all my posts from now on.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
34. JA Pruce
Sure, you’re right. In a close election, the Indian-American vote could put a candidate over the top. But so could any other group with similar numbers. If you’re doing it for those reasons, it makes much more sense to focus on European-Americans or some large EA sub-group, or even Hispanics (a 1% shift in the European-American vote would be equivalent to, what, a 75% shift in the Indian-American vote)?
January 30th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
“McCain needs to run with a strong conservative who has economic expertise.”
If we make the Mcstake of nominating him, then I would agree, but ad somebody who has the ability to bring along the CONSERVATIVE base.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
John McCain can have lots of running mates if he gives them different positions, i.e. announce cabinet in advance)
Rudy can be AG
Pawlenty can be VP
Crist/(insert other here) can be SoS.
That way he gets three running mates for the price of one (VP).
January 30th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I like Rudy a lot…but putting hime in the Veep slot could create a bottom-heavy ticket and possibly lose som So-Con votes. The veep job also does not seem to jive with Rudy’s qualifications as a chief executive. I’d rather see him running the Justice or Homland Security department…maybe even Sec. of Defense.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I have to reluctantly agree with Palin #44 — and Rudy was my first choice as well. McCain would be better off nominating Pawltney or Bobby Jindal — solid conservative governors who complement McCain’s Washington experience and will reassure the more conservative side of the party.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
On the point of Rudy for VP-
it would be too bothersome for those who already have doubts about McCain (and Rudy was my second choice). I don’t think it would happen. (I’ve noted #44’s screen name previously and expressed optimism that the Alaska governor is a rising star, but not in this cycle…)
January 30th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Jindal would be a risk, just one year into his Governor’s term…
January 30th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Jindal would be terrible if up against Obama. The best argument McCain has against Obama is “inexperience”, and picking Jindal as your back up negates that.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
there is no one else. mccain will be 72 in 09, and his running mate will need to be thought of as an equal commander in chief who could lead if something happened to mccain. the death of the aging president would be a national crisis, and who better to rally the nation then rudy. he underscores mccain’s strengths, he appeals to swing state voters, he helps to raise tons of money, has vast intelligence on executive office and economic issues, is perfect to help pick judges, and is perfectly built to be an attack dog vp, countering bill clinton’s every punch rather then sitting there and take a beating like obama. mccain/giuliani has always been the best chance to win, and now its a reality.
mccain’s age will be a factor, which is why his veep will need to be seen as ready on day 1 to take over. can pawlenty or palin or crist win the war on terror? the answer is clearly ‘no’.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Excellent posts guys. However, would Rudy give up his business ventures (Giuliani Partners, Giuliani Security) to take a VP position? Also, doesn’t Rudy stand to make money if McCain is President in the form of contracts, lobbing and consulting?
January 31st, 2008 at 1:31 am
Rudy would make a fantastic Attorney General. But VP? I think there are better options when considering geographic and ticket balancing, many of whom have been mentioned here on this site.
Geographic balance is over-rated. Bush/Cheney (Texas/Wyoming) and Clinton/Gore (Arkansas/Tennessee) weren’t exactly balanced, and won four out of the last four elections, sometimes in the face of a great deal of controversy, and while being up against “balanced” tickets from Texas/Washington/Indiana, Kansas/New York, Tennessee/Connecticut, and Massachusetts/North Carolina.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:13 am
I agree with Matt (post #49). I think Rudy would be a great choice. With McCain’s age, I think it is essential to have a VP who is prepared to take over immediately. And when you who would be able to handle the crisis of the death of a President, well Rudy knows something about crisis.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:56 pm
it has to be rudy for mccain to have a chance. the ‘dream team’ vs the clinton machine.