According to a Politico exclusive:
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plans to celebrate his 72nd birthday on Aug. 29 by naming his running mate at a huge rally in the battleground state of Ohio, Republican sources said.
That’s a week from this Friday, and the day after Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) accepts the Democratic nomination at a 70,000-person spectacular in a Denver stadium.
The campaign has begun building a crowd of 10,000 for Dayton, Ohio, according to an organizer. McCain is scheduled to appear with his running mate at a large-scale event in Pennsylvania shortly thereafter.
Senior Republicans are in the dark about who he’ll name, although they say former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty are prime contenders after a trial balloon by McCain gave him very negative feedback about the idea of picking a pro-choice running mate like former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.
Sources close to McCain say he has wrestled with the choice, torn between a high-stakes, high-reward pick like Ridge or Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman or a safer and more conventional selection such as Romney or Pawlenty.
But McCain friends emphasized that he talks about the decision with almost no one, and could even change the announcement plans and go sooner.
“McCain views this as the one decision that he has total, utter, non-negotiable control over,” one campaign official said.
The announcement strategy – provided McCain doesn’t change it – calls for naming the pick early Friday morning to try to suppress Obama’s bounce coming out of his convention.
“You’re going to own the weekend,” a McCain official said.
The Republican convention begins the following Monday in St. Paul, Minn.
McCain advisers say they don’t think it would make sense to name the pick earlier because the impact would get diluted by Obama’s selection. And since the GOP convention is second, they have the advantage of knowing the opposition ticket before showing their own cards.
“You can fire the bullet once,” said one key Republican. “You want the most meaningful target.”
August 18th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
DAYTON, OHIO?!? :O
MY BACKYARD!
August 18th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
This is really the only date left that makes any sense if he’s going to choose before the convention. It’s pretty much Friday or at the RNC at this stage in the game.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Amen, brotha! Take a hike Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rove.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Portman? Kasich? Who?
My guess is Kay Bailey Hutchinson for McCain.
Bill Richardson for Obama.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Do not forget Michigan and Penn are also Friday two for big rallies.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
After five months of fighting, crying, tears and laughter, we finally have a date, and a few posts?
August 18th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Well….it looks like we know one VP: CNN is reporting Obama has picked Bayh as his running mate – though they pulled the article.
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7930/cnnkm8.jpg
It looks like we’ll have to deal with half the story until tmrw.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Looks like Florida’s Nelson for Obama. See my comments at then end of that discussion page. Type: http://www.obamanelson.com
August 18th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I almost don’t care anymore…I’m pretty burned out following all of the pebbles thrown in the pond for the last month. For what its worth, Romney is up on intrade.com by 15 points in the last two days, up 9 today.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
COPP, what the heck?
August 18th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Nelson is picture perfect all-american hero astronaut handsome. Pawlenty seems a bit cross-eyed goofy. Romney gets the nod!!!!
August 18th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
FWIW, Bayh is trading at only 20.1 on intrade.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Someone needs to look at this.
http://www.obamanelson.com
August 18th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Did any of you click on the link in #7?
The Email had Bayh’s name in it.
I don’t know about the Nelson thing.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Act,
Smells like BS. Did you not notice the three spelling errors in that “CNN article?”
August 18th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
act, did you control-print screen that yourself?
August 18th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Nelson is an idiot.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
The gamblers out there need to buy Bayh. Heh.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Kristofer,
You can do that without actually owning the site you redirect to. It may still mean something, but it doesn’t have to mean anything. Check out timkaine.com
Act,
You don’t really believe that some intern knows who the VP is do you? If someone that low knew it that would mean upwards of 100 people know right now, not the handful that have been reported.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
“Smells like BS. Did you not notice the three spelling errors in that “CNN article?””
I didn’t read the whole thing
But if that is a fake, its a darn good one.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I dunno.
we should know soon.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
#19, Bill Bolling actually ownes the domain “timkaine.com”. You cannot redirect buddy.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
“You don’t really believe that some intern knows who the VP is do you?”
I don’t think just an intern would know – but if this wasn’t intended for release yet, it would explain it.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Perhaps we need a front-page post with both the Bayh and Nelson rumors?
August 18th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I checked in to “obamanelson” and the domain is owned by a private citizen who owns several other sites.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I checked in to “obamanelson” and the domain is owned by a private citizen who owns several other sites.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
#15- Seriously. The pranker didn’t even bother to spellcheck it.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Well, I certainly am no expert on this, but there was a story from townhall awhile back about how this works. Check it out.
http://townhall.com/blog/g/690e8c93-61de-412c-a0cd-0cfe41a0976c?trackbacks=true#commentAnchor
August 18th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I’m not going to stake my life to the authenticity of that – but I wouldn’t discount it because of typos.
Just today, Fox was reporting that Obama had been at the 1904 DNC conventions…
August 18th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
scratch that – they are still reporting it was 1904
http://media.myfoxny.com/special/politics/nyindex_conventions.html
August 18th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Luntz just had an interesting idea on Hannity and Colmes. He thinks that McCain should do away with a teleprompter for his speech at the convention and instead do a townhall format where after he speaks, he actually takes questions from the delegates.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
#28, this guy Joe Chan purchased most of them. He bought “obamanelson” and others.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
[...] Aron Goldman from http://www.race42008.com pointed out that the CNN article contains a couple of typos, suggesting [...]
August 18th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I’m not sure what to think about that CNN page – of course it could be a fake – but Bayh doesn’t exactly seem like ther person who would inspire that kind of move, dose he?
August 18th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Which Nelson is it? My guess:
http://op-for.com/simpsons_nelson_haha2.jpg
August 18th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Corny Camelot Redux
vs
Washington’s Broken
August 18th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Luntz’s idea is excellent!!!!! Elizabeth Dole Plus! Very, very smart move!
August 18th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
saddleback revisited:
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/saddleback_bloopers.html
mccain not only sounded better last night, he was more honest than Barry. Can anyone say “And one”?
August 18th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
John Kasich was born and raised in PA, went to University in Ohio, and is from a battleground part of Ohio.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Hope this is not true. It is the liberal news media are doing the story. I thought they are going to make announcement at the GOP Convention.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
kristopher, you down with kasich?
August 18th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
John Kasich would be an excellent choice, but his name has not been mentioned much. Pawlenty the more likely choice. Much media speculation now that Obama’s choice will be Biden.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
“Hope this is not true.”
What?
August 18th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
btw, if you go to yahoo.com they’re linking up to this story:
August 18th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
i think kasich is an excellent choice. i just don’t know how much mccain feels he can trust him. as far as i know, they aren’t really even acquaintances.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
The announcement will be in OH, followed by swings through PA and MI – and then, of course, the GOP convention.
So that seems to narrow the list to Ridge, Romney, Pawlenty, Portman, and Kasich
August 18th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Is it unusual to have a VP announcement in a state the vp candidate is not from?
-
August 18th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Kasich is friends with Cindy McCain.
Yeah, I would be happy with Kasich. McCain is clearly makign Ohio his top priority. I still have hope for Palin, but Kasich has the experience and georgraphy.
watch this; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbZK8zxEEXM
August 18th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Kasich is friends with Cindy McCain.
Yeah, I would be happy with Kasich. McCain is clearly makign Ohio his top priority. I still have hope for Palin, but Kasich has the experience and georgraphy.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
geography* making*
August 18th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
ohio should decide the election. it makes sense to make the announcement there even if the VP guy isnt from there.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
So he is not announcing in Arkansas? Impossible. Doesn’t he know Huck is going to form a 3rd party if ALL his demands are not met in full?
August 18th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Kasich is more kid-like than Bush. Not presidential. He’d seem almost Quayle-like. Schedule says Portman or Romney. Washington’s Broken is McCain’s theme. Those two fit it. Ridge doesn’t.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
#53, I am not going to even both with you…..watch this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjKJzAe_cDo
August 18th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
John Kasich is annoying. I’d obviously vote for McCain/Kasich. I’d just use the mute button whenever I saw Kasich about to speak.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Doug, Kasich is a Gingrich Republican, but is blue-collar.
http://www.issues2000.org/OH/John_Kasich.htm
August 18th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
BTW, if anyone is interested. We Floridians are not having any issues with TS Fay, despite what the media will tell you. I remember 4 years ago when Hurricane Charley hit and this is a rain storm at best compared to Charley.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I love Kasich! That would be an awesome pick.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Kavon, would it not be awesome to have Contract with America policies in the White House?
Kudlow is suggesting Portman. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDYzYjhiMmI2MzMwYjU1NmU1NDdiYzRlNzc3MzBmZTY=
August 18th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Kristofer #59,
It would be great!
August 18th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
i dont think pawlenty can handle biden in a debate. romney, however, despite not having as much experience, is always well prepared for debates and i think he could embarrass biden. i think mccain/ridge would stand head and shoulders above obama/biden, i mean two straight talkin’ war heros vs two big mouths.
i mean if ridge pledges to uphold mccain’s pro-life policies, then whats the problem? i have no doubt ridge polls better then mitt, so if he stands by mccain’s positions, then why can’t he be the pick?
August 18th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
This would be a perfect time to make the announcement,on his birthday. Oh I can hear the whinning from the Dems. McCain’s announcement at this time is an attempt to steal the spotlight from their guy. Yeah, that’s what makes it perfect.
I saw that McCain sighted Meg Whitman as one of his choices for three wise persons he knows. Where is Meg from?
August 18th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
#63-
Long Island, NY
August 18th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Rats! I was hoping she was from Ohio. Thanks.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I may be totally wrong, but this smells like Kasich.
Dayton is the congressional district next to Kasich’s. Then the campaign makes its way through Columbus on the way to Pittsbugh (both home towns of Kasich), finishing the trip in Michigan.
All blue collar towns/states, with a blue collar VP.
The only major GOP politician from Dayton (just outside) is Mike DeWine, who happens to be great friends with McCain. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_rcToY95Ms
August 18th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Maybe you have already seen this, but Evan Bayh and Pawlenty were on Face the nation Sunday. I have to say I was impressed with both of them.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/17/ftn/main4356339.shtml
August 18th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Kasich – I kinda doubt it; however he’s been curiously absent in the media the last few weeks, hmmm. If Biden is Obama’s pick then I’d chose Romney, pit bull vs pit bull. Personally I think Biden is a mistake for Obama as he could very well overshadow obama both on the trail and in experience not to mention he ability to put his foot in his mouth. Bayh or hildabeast.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Doesn’t Kasich often fill in for Bill O’Reilly on FOX? The last thing a Republican candidate needs to do is actually *run* with someone from what most liberals, independents, and even many conservatives see as a news network that whores itself out to the Republican Party, even if that running mate has the experience to be VP. Just my opinion, though…
August 19th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Kasich follows the Reagan doctrine. I am sold.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Kasich – I kinda doubt it; however he’s been curiously absent in the media the last few weeks, hmmm.
Kasich filled in for O’Reilly on Friday.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Kasich was in Rwanda with Cindy McCain last month. http://www.one.org/blog/category/people/john-kasich/
August 19th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Aron thanks – missed it. Inserts own foot into own mouth.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:25 am
As Seth points out that’s exactly why I’d doubt it’s Kasich, had he *not* had his own show on fox and filled in from time to time I could actually see it as a possibility, but that’s just too much video to hang out there for the dems to play with.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:35 am
“Schedule says Portman or Romney.”
And Pawlenty… MN is not too far from OH, MI, and PA. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Dayton in Western Ohio (even closer to Minn.)?
August 19th, 2008 at 4:29 am
Yes Dayton is in the west, but still a drive from MN, I take your point though, I think they could sell Mr. Pawlenty in Ohio.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Economy, economy, economy…. that’s what I think of regarding Ohio, Michigan and Penn. Looks like its a Mitt Romney pick. That will be an awesome complementary team for the Presidency to tackls both security and economic issues.
Although I suppose it could be Portman too.
Guess we’re in for 10 days of continuing specualtions.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I really dislike the timing of the pick coming the day after the Dem convention. There’s going to be a few days of convention coverage regardless, so why let your pick get lost in the confusion. Wait a few days for things to die down, and then make the pick and get your own media cycle going.
Besides–it’s speculation and mystery that really get people revved up–if you want to take people’s minds off of the Dem Convention, they should be dropping contradictory hints on Friday of who the pick will be on Monday. Let people spend the weekend trying to guess.