#2 Romney? No way. Did you see the press conference when he endorsed McCain? Romney towers over McCain and makes McCain look like a little old man. Mitt looks much more presidential. McCain would never choose Romney for that superficial fact alone, not to mention the fact that the two can hardly stand being in the same room together.
McCain will pick whomever can help him win the race whether he likes him or not. John McCain has never been this close to winning the presidency before.
#2
At first I was opposed a McCain/Romney ticket but the more I think about it I think that ticket would really rally the base. That being said McCain’s dislike for Mitt will cloud his better judgement and I think McCain would have to be talked into it by his advisors.
I’m very strongly pro-life, so I would prefer to have both the Presidential nominee and Vice-Presidential nominee agree with me on this issue. For that reason alone, I don’t want Kay Bailey Hutchison. However, she does have a lot of spunk. I’ve always enjoyed her speeches at Republican conventions over the years. I know that my U. S. Senator, Judd Gregg, is very fond of her. However, a moderate Democrat I know says that she very much rubs him the wrong way. He thinks she comes across as status conscious. Furthermore, McCain doesn’t need a woman VP as much when running against Obama as he would against Clinton. Plus she is not regionally different from McCain. The biggest problem for me is her position on abortion though. All Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees since 1980 have been pro-life (Reagan, Bush, Quayle, Dole, Kemp, GWBush, and Cheney). We have won all but two elections that way, and I think we should continue that tradition.
I don’t think the veep has to be 110 percent pro-life, because there is a very low probability that McCain’s veep will ever be POTUS, for all sorts of reasons. That said, if Mac is going to go with a running mate who doesn’t excite the base, at least pick one who brings more swing voters into the fold. KBH does neither.
Illinoisguy does it again #2: “probably the smartest guy we’ve ever had run for the Presidency.”
JFK might have disagreed with you, since he told a group of Nobel Prize winners at a White House dinner: “There hasn’t been such an extraordinary collection of talent and knowledge gathered in this room since Thomas Jefferson dined here alone.”
(Or something like that — there are several versions of the quote).
But don’t let that undermine your hero-worship. I’m sure Mitt’s the smartest guy ever.
Clarence #7: “McCain doesn’t need a woman VP as much when running against Obama as he would against Clinton.”
I’m not sure I agree with you on this. If Hillary were the opponent, naming a woman as VP would be seen as a weak response (and not mean much). Against Obama, though, it might exploit a weakness.
When Teddy Kennedy endorsed Obama, a number of feminists complained that he was a traitor to their movement. If the Dems turn down Hillary and McCain runs a woman for VP, it might peel away a few percent of female voters.
I’m not saying hard-core feminists would vote for McCain under any circumstance short of a gun to the head, but some more moderate women, having had their hopes raised then dashed by the Dems, might give more consideration to a Republican than they normally would.
This isn’t necessarily an endorsement of Hutchison, by the way, although it’s hard to think of any other credible women he could name (other than Rice).
PS: By the same logic, if Hillary were to somehow get the nomination, a black VP candidate would be ideal for McCain (though I can’t think of any other than Rice).
One of the reasons I suggested Elizabeth Dole last fall was because she is one of the few Republican women in politics with the credentials to be President who is pro-life. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Condoleeza Rice are not. Elizabeth Dole would have been a better choice for Romney than for McCain though because of her age and her association with the establishment wing of the party instead of the conservative wing where McCain needs help.
The problem with the Republicans is most of the Republican women in politics are Christie Whitman types. Someday there may be a conservative woman who would be qualified for VP, but I don’t think there is now. McCain will have to settle for a man.
Kay Bailey is one of like three women in GOP politics that deserve to even be considered for VP. She might well be the highest woman on the “list”. Unfortunately, she’s probably around number 20. She makes very little sense frankly; she excites no one, she’s old, she’s not going to appeal to moderates, and she has her own problems with the conservative base (she’s moderately pro-choice). It’s the classic awful idea. It also seems to me that there’s an awful lack of critical thought going into some of these articles. Presumably, Hutchinson seems like an attractive pick to some because she’s a woman, and therefore can increase McCain’s percentage of that demographic. But, looking at the actual numbers, we’re left with a peculiar fact; in 2006 Kay Bailey Hutchinson ran better with men then with women. She beat her Democratic opponent by 27 points with male voters and only 22 points with female voters. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/TX/S/01/epolls.0.html
In the same state, in the same year, Rick Perry was re-elected, on the backs of a 12 point margin of victory with male voters and a 7 point margin of victory with women voters. I.e, they both ran 5 points worse with women. Women vote Democratic because they tend to be more liberal then men. When ideology isn’t at stake, i.e within the context of a Democratic primary, they’re easily susceptible to identity politics. But, in a general election, even a strong female candidate, at the top of the ticket, can affect only a swing of a few percent of women voters. At the bottom of a ticket, I suspect such a candidate would make no difference at all.
Think outside the box. McCain needs a solid conservative, preferably a Southerner, who can bring along that important group of evangelical conservatives who don’t trust Senator McCain. It should be someone who is prepared to take over as President immediately, given Senator McCain’s age. It should be a younger man, with unlimited energy. It should be someone who has proven fundraising ability, and his name can’t be Bush. It can’t be Crist either. I’m from Florida and I promise you, his popularity is not as overwhelming as the media trys to portray it.
“It also seems to me that there’s an awful lack of critical thought going into some of these articles.”
I concur that KB seems like a bad idea. But, hey, we’ve got 8 months to kill. A little open ended discussion never hurt anybody…
17 Ginny D
Just wonderin’, what part of FL you from? Does that have something to do with Crist’s perceived lack of popularity? I’m asking as a non-Floridian who is interested in getting some more info on just how strong Crist really is. Because unlike some on this board, I would be NOT AT ALL surprised to see Mac pick him, for better or worse. And I could at least make myself feel better about the pick if I really thought it was going to lock up a must-win, closely-divided state.
19 fredo, I live north of Daytona Beach. I am a member of the GOP Executive Committee for the County I live in. I wouldn’t be surprised to see McCain pick him either, but I think it would be a huge mistake.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:54 am
BOTH - TOO - OLD
February 20th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Why not Romney? His record is fabulous, he’s younger, and is probably the smartest guy we’ve ever had run for the Presidency.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Yay! Way to bring the swing state of Texas into the GOP column!
O wait…
February 20th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
#2 Romney? No way. Did you see the press conference when he endorsed McCain? Romney towers over McCain and makes McCain look like a little old man. Mitt looks much more presidential. McCain would never choose Romney for that superficial fact alone, not to mention the fact that the two can hardly stand being in the same room together.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
McCain will pick whomever can help him win the race whether he likes him or not. John McCain has never been this close to winning the presidency before.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
#2
At first I was opposed a McCain/Romney ticket but the more I think about it I think that ticket would really rally the base. That being said McCain’s dislike for Mitt will cloud his better judgement and I think McCain would have to be talked into it by his advisors.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I’m very strongly pro-life, so I would prefer to have both the Presidential nominee and Vice-Presidential nominee agree with me on this issue. For that reason alone, I don’t want Kay Bailey Hutchison. However, she does have a lot of spunk. I’ve always enjoyed her speeches at Republican conventions over the years. I know that my U. S. Senator, Judd Gregg, is very fond of her. However, a moderate Democrat I know says that she very much rubs him the wrong way. He thinks she comes across as status conscious. Furthermore, McCain doesn’t need a woman VP as much when running against Obama as he would against Clinton. Plus she is not regionally different from McCain. The biggest problem for me is her position on abortion though. All Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees since 1980 have been pro-life (Reagan, Bush, Quayle, Dole, Kemp, GWBush, and Cheney). We have won all but two elections that way, and I think we should continue that tradition.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
The comments over at RedState say it all.
I don’t think the veep has to be 110 percent pro-life, because there is a very low probability that McCain’s veep will ever be POTUS, for all sorts of reasons. That said, if Mac is going to go with a running mate who doesn’t excite the base, at least pick one who brings more swing voters into the fold. KBH does neither.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I saw the video of Romney endorsing McCain, and McCain didn’t look that all upset about it. Way too exagerated, and grandma T has it right.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
DaveG, having the VP be pro-life is just a personal preference of mine. I don’t think a pro-choice running mate would automatically doom the ticket.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Illinoisguy does it again #2: “probably the smartest guy we’ve ever had run for the Presidency.”
JFK might have disagreed with you, since he told a group of Nobel Prize winners at a White House dinner: “There hasn’t been such an extraordinary collection of talent and knowledge gathered in this room since Thomas Jefferson dined here alone.”
(Or something like that — there are several versions of the quote).
But don’t let that undermine your hero-worship. I’m sure Mitt’s the smartest guy ever.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Clarence #7: “McCain doesn’t need a woman VP as much when running against Obama as he would against Clinton.”
I’m not sure I agree with you on this. If Hillary were the opponent, naming a woman as VP would be seen as a weak response (and not mean much). Against Obama, though, it might exploit a weakness.
When Teddy Kennedy endorsed Obama, a number of feminists complained that he was a traitor to their movement. If the Dems turn down Hillary and McCain runs a woman for VP, it might peel away a few percent of female voters.
I’m not saying hard-core feminists would vote for McCain under any circumstance short of a gun to the head, but some more moderate women, having had their hopes raised then dashed by the Dems, might give more consideration to a Republican than they normally would.
This isn’t necessarily an endorsement of Hutchison, by the way, although it’s hard to think of any other credible women he could name (other than Rice).
PS: By the same logic, if Hillary were to somehow get the nomination, a black VP candidate would be ideal for McCain (though I can’t think of any other than Rice).
February 20th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
One of the reasons I suggested Elizabeth Dole last fall was because she is one of the few Republican women in politics with the credentials to be President who is pro-life. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Condoleeza Rice are not. Elizabeth Dole would have been a better choice for Romney than for McCain though because of her age and her association with the establishment wing of the party instead of the conservative wing where McCain needs help.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
The problem with the Republicans is most of the Republican women in politics are Christie Whitman types. Someday there may be a conservative woman who would be qualified for VP, but I don’t think there is now. McCain will have to settle for a man.
February 20th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
This will sound absurd….. what about a fusion ticket of McCain - Clinton?????
(Just wanted to get your rockets fired)
February 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Kay Bailey is one of like three women in GOP politics that deserve to even be considered for VP. She might well be the highest woman on the “list”. Unfortunately, she’s probably around number 20. She makes very little sense frankly; she excites no one, she’s old, she’s not going to appeal to moderates, and she has her own problems with the conservative base (she’s moderately pro-choice). It’s the classic awful idea. It also seems to me that there’s an awful lack of critical thought going into some of these articles. Presumably, Hutchinson seems like an attractive pick to some because she’s a woman, and therefore can increase McCain’s percentage of that demographic. But, looking at the actual numbers, we’re left with a peculiar fact; in 2006 Kay Bailey Hutchinson ran better with men then with women. She beat her Democratic opponent by 27 points with male voters and only 22 points with female voters. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/TX/S/01/epolls.0.html
In the same state, in the same year, Rick Perry was re-elected, on the backs of a 12 point margin of victory with male voters and a 7 point margin of victory with women voters. I.e, they both ran 5 points worse with women. Women vote Democratic because they tend to be more liberal then men. When ideology isn’t at stake, i.e within the context of a Democratic primary, they’re easily susceptible to identity politics. But, in a general election, even a strong female candidate, at the top of the ticket, can affect only a swing of a few percent of women voters. At the bottom of a ticket, I suspect such a candidate would make no difference at all.
February 20th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Think outside the box. McCain needs a solid conservative, preferably a Southerner, who can bring along that important group of evangelical conservatives who don’t trust Senator McCain. It should be someone who is prepared to take over as President immediately, given Senator McCain’s age. It should be a younger man, with unlimited energy. It should be someone who has proven fundraising ability, and his name can’t be Bush. It can’t be Crist either. I’m from Florida and I promise you, his popularity is not as overwhelming as the media trys to portray it.
February 20th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
#17 I agree he needs to solidify the base and come up with a plan to appeal to the blacks, women and hispanics.. yeah,,,,right.
Actually, just kidding and i do agree with you.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
16 Matthew
“It also seems to me that there’s an awful lack of critical thought going into some of these articles.”
I concur that KB seems like a bad idea. But, hey, we’ve got 8 months to kill. A little open ended discussion never hurt anybody…
17 Ginny D
Just wonderin’, what part of FL you from? Does that have something to do with Crist’s perceived lack of popularity? I’m asking as a non-Floridian who is interested in getting some more info on just how strong Crist really is. Because unlike some on this board, I would be NOT AT ALL surprised to see Mac pick him, for better or worse. And I could at least make myself feel better about the pick if I really thought it was going to lock up a must-win, closely-divided state.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
19 fredo, I live north of Daytona Beach. I am a member of the GOP Executive Committee for the County I live in. I wouldn’t be surprised to see McCain pick him either, but I think it would be a huge mistake.