The New York Times is reporting:
Senator John McCain has narrowed his list of potential running mates to a handful of candidates and appears unlikely to select anyone who supports abortion rights, several advisers close to his campaign said on Thursday.
Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota are the top candidates as Mr. McCain and his advisers gather over the next several days at Mr. McCain’s cabin near Sedona, they said.
McCain associates recently put forth two other candidates, former Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, as possibilities. Both men support abortion rights.
People close to the campaign also floated a wild-card choice, Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq. They said it was not beyond the realm of possibility that Mr. McCain would ask him to join the ticket, although General Petraeus has no experience in elective government and has said repeatedly that he is not interested in the vice presidency.
One adviser characterized General Petraeus, who presided over a recent reduction of violence in Iraq, as more of a wish-list candidate for Mr. McCain, who, like the general, long supported sending additional troops to quell the insurgency. The adviser said the campaign was putting forth his name in part in a bid for attention at a time when Senator Barack Obama’s choice of running mate, which is to be announced in the next few days, was dominating the media.
Advisers cautioned that Mr. McCain had not yet made up his mind about a running mate and that he would listen to their opinions but ultimately do what he wanted. Mr. McCain has shared his thoughts on the matter with only a small group of top aides.
August 21st, 2008 at 10:58 pm
So, basically, it’s Lieberman?
August 21st, 2008 at 11:01 pm
It is Tim Pawlenty… a good choice.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Ordinarily I’d say Petraeus would be a great pick, but other than “Iraq,” what does he bring to the ticket? McCain is already the champion of the Iraqi surge and of the overall Iraq policy. Petraeus brings nothing new to the table. Besides, Iraq works for McCain as long as it ISN’T and issue in the general. Obama can’t make it an issue, and in the minds of voters, if Iraq is off the radar screen, they’ll consider McCain’s position a plus.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:04 pm
“…and appears unlikely to select anyone who supports abortion rights…”
It’s not Lieberman.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Sometimes I just wonder if, when they drop all these “he’s going to pick whoever he wants” lines, it really means that they haven’t the *faintest* clue as to who he’s actually considering, just who they’re telling him to consider. We’ll tune in on the 29th and it’ll be someone totally off the radar at this point, like Jeb Bush or something. Okay, so it wouldn’t be Jeb Bush, but you get the picture. Someone *no one* expects.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Please. Some advisor is going to admit to they NYT “We’re just floating Petraeus to use you and grab attention”. Come on. The NYT is just making stuff up now.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Seth, you might be right….we talk all these names and then McCain walks on stage in Dayton with Gingrich…….and the base gets fired up.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Ah, Gingrich… if damn Fred Thompson hadn’t gotten into the race I suspect we’d all be wondering who Gingrich’s veep selection was going to be… why didn’t you run, Newt? Why?
August 21st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Petraeus would be a game changer
I think he brings much of what Powell brings, and his social views are a blank slate so we dont have to worry about him being pro choice
He did say Petraeus was #1 last week in his administration
If McCain asked him and said he wanted him, I think he’d be hard pressed to decline
August 21st, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Fred Thompson,
Interesting pick…..you know all we keep hearing is that McCain may make a “personal” choice, sushc as Lieberman, Rudy, Pawlenty, etc…..but Fred is also a great friend to McCain.
What does everyone think?
What is really odd, is that Thompson joined the McCain campaign, appeared on TV, then all of a sudden, went missing.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:37 am
“why didn’t you run, Newt? Why?”
Because he has as many wives as Rudy Giuliani.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:46 am
Thompson showed during the campaign why he shouldn’t be picked. Lets see:
- doesn’t bring a state
- doesn’t campaign well
- old
- poor attack dog
Rudy ran a terible campaign, but at least he’s an aggressive attack dog who isn’t old (or as old as Thompson)
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:48 am
#11, that is so true. 3 wives is tricky when you’re the party of “family values”. And both were tricky from a storyline aspect as well:
- Newts affair while prosecuting Clinton
- Rudy’s 2nd divorce reality TV style.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:42 am
Quack, Quack
Quack, Quack
Honk!
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:11 am
Yeah, it’s Petraeus. ‘Hey, General, can you drop what you’re doing and make it over to St. Paul next week? Yeah, I know it would be abandoning the most important task of your life unfinished and would incent AQ to step up the attacks, but can you get on the next plane? That would be great.’
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:52 am
Lol old Fred Thompson – now there’s a blast from the past! Had forgotten old Fred.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:54 am
Yeah, the Petraeus thing is just messing with us.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:19 am
Hey, Iraq’s gotten to the point where Petraeus could probably leave it to someone else. I always thought he was a darkhorse. And he would definitely be a huge boon for McCain.
If the man’s conservative in his philosophy, we should begin grooming him for 2012/16.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
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