The Candidates
Over at The Corner, Larry Kudlow writes that sources have told him the the “Final Two” are Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Byron York wrote earlier this afternoon that the McCain Campaign held, perhaps, the final meeting regarding the Veep selection.
I believe that we have entered a 24 hour window in which the identity of Sen. McCain’s selection will become known (ahead of the official announcement.) It’s not much longer now folks…
August 27th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Tim Pawlenty is the better pick. We will win MN.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I’m not sure Hutchison would accept. All signs point to her running for Gov of Texas in 2010. If this story is at all accurate, that would likely mean Pawlenty is the choice. I shudder at the prospect… A conventional choice that doesn’t have any advantage as far as identity politics go (ugly thought, but identity politics are critical this year). I have always wanted McCain to choose a shocker/game-changer and I have to still hope he will.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I think the Thursday announcement is another headfake designed to get the media talking about McCain on Obama’s big day. I think the announcement will come Friday.
My hunch is that it’s Palin, Giuliani, Lieberman, or Pawlenty.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I’d vote for Kay. I think we need a woman VP and as far as white men go, T-Paw is actually quite boring. Why not Palin or Blackburn if it’s a woman? As far as I know, they’d be more dynamic than Ms. Hutchison.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Mitt is falling fast on intrade, so somebody believes this
August 27th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Intrade backs this up. We’ll know soon enough. If Hutchison is picked, I guess Mac’s people have concluded that she’s conservative enough that there will be no revolt. But picking someone who doesn’t want Roe overturned seems foolish. Even some pro-choice people think Roe should go. Maybe she has modified her position since she no longer belongs to the wish list. I don’t know what her recent statements have been. She would be a better political pick as long the base stays put, but they may not be energized now. But then again, they won’t be energized under Pawlenty either.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Completely agree with York on logistics. An 11:00 event on Friday gives plenty of time to fly in the morning, as we saw with Biden. Less than a 2 hour netjet flight for most of the names mentioned. (KBH would have the farthest to come, but rumor is she was never vetted and lots of acrimony between her and JM.)
Whether or not the SS needs to be deployed prior, I don’t know. I have a brother that was on the Bill Clinton detail in ‘92 and I think that its probably a requirement as soon as someone is declared a candidate. (They need time to organize and deploy as well.)
So, I don’t think there is any way to avoid this leaking out on top of Obama’s event.
As far as Kudlow, if KBH hasn’t even been vetted, how accurate can his whole report be? Doesn’t pass the smell test for me.
Look for a jet coming out of the west.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
If it comes down to those two, it will be Pawlenty, which sucks, because I was hoping for someone exciting and bold.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
hutchison closing on pawlenty on intrade, romney is down 20
August 27th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
mccain has chosen! - drudge
August 27th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
KBH would shove tons of Hillary supporters into the McCain camp.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
#5 could just be profit taking, or reducing to the level of risk.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I still think that picking an old rich southern woman doesn’t make a great deal of sense. That said, there are worse choices than KBH.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I don’t really believe Kudlow - I’ve always thought him to be a bit of a clown. Pawlenty has been a likely choice for a while, but the Hutchison thing just doesn’t make much sense (putting aside the fact that the only evidence for her impending selection is rumors being spread by pundits). We’re going to see a rapid-fire succession of reports based on different guesses (They’re printing bumper stickers!!! It’s a head fake!!! Listen to what ______ didn’t say!!!!! etc. etc.) One of them may be right, but calm down everyone - we’ll know soon enough.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
If it’s Rudy, it makes sense to leak it early, because Rudy’s dirty laundry will get aired on the first day, and it could be drowned out by coverage of Obama’s speech.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Drudge has a headline-
MCcain has decided on his Vp- Developing
August 27th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
#14 - I like you.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Metro: Pawlenty is boring. Anyway, i read that McCain will be going to 2 baseball games with the VP pick at the end of the week. McCain likes going to baseball games with Rudy.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
the thing with hutchison is how will the media go at her? attack her could simply reopen or amplify the charges of sexism against the obama campaign. KBH would disarm biden and open the door to hillary voters.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Well, I guess it is a done deal whoever it is. I never thought I would say this, but Mr. Romney is probably my second choice out of who’s left.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
hutchison has passed t-paw on intrade, mitt is falling fast
August 27th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Illinois,
“Mitt is falling fast on intrade, so somebody believes this”
At least you’re reporting the down with the up. Hat tip for a little intellectual honesty.
For the record, Romney’s going for about half of what he was yesterday.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
18. I heard McCain will pick Rudy because they can go to baseball games together and that he won’t choose Pawlenty because he doesn’t like hockey…
August 27th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
22, The smart money was just waiting for the rumor mill to bid xyz candidate up so they could bail out. For them, the game doesn’t have anything to do with politics. They’re just looking for ways to play human nature against itself.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I hope it isnt KBH- She looks like the Crypt Keeper- (jk)
Smart move putting up our oldest possible looking ticket against the young notion of change. We totally play into the DEM mantra again, and really how does KBH help us?
August 27th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Boy, when I said “if I was already signed up for intrade, I’d put some money down on Hutchison” a couple days ago, I was sure right. I would have increased my money 7 fold.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I seem to remember that McCain generally does better with men versus women (both in the primary and general election). If McCain has a “woman problem” then choosing a women would be a two-fer (the other factor being Hillary).
August 27th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
It’s going to be Pawlenty.
He has 8 letters in his name.
http://townhall.com/blog/g/f31be67b-9a57-4c2d-a42e-f3f6b52cde57
Or it could be Huckabee
August 27th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
get ready for a shocker folks… one you should’ve seen all along because its the only pick that makes sense
It’s Huckabee.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Mitt down 36, KBH up 31.9, Huckabee up 6.9, Cantor down 4.3, Giuliani up 3.5
August 27th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
According to “On The Issues” KBH is actually more conservative than Ronald Reagan, and Mitt Romney. And thats with 3 terms in the Senate. SO, that’s cool. She gets an A from the NRA, and is pro choice, but has a bunch of pro life votes. She stradles the fence and is pretty much where the country is.
She doesnt really deliver states, but thats always a crapshoot anyway.
The media likes her
Shes older, but that probably plays well with women
between her, tpaw and mitt, i go with mitt, but she’d be ok
August 27th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I really hope it is KBH.
Listen, I admit that I am selish. I want my Governor to stay here in Minnesota. We NEED him. He is the only thing that is standing in the way of European Socialism here. We are sooo screwed if he leaves…
On KBH… We need to cap off the end of the Democratic convention by giving American Women a qualified and accomplished female to vote for in November. Yes, I know it’s “Identity Politics”. I don’t care.
As a married man, I know that sometimes you just have to bite the freakin’ bullet and give the ladies what they want.
You single guys will understand someday…
August 27th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I hope it’s KBH. Does this sign thing from townhall (#28) mean anything? Nothing again TPAW but the VP should be something that changes the game. All this for him?
-
August 27th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
In one days time we will have no more:
- “hot tips”
- “inside sources”
- “rumors within the McCain camp”
- “speculation from an insider”
- “shortlists”
- “my pick is …”
- “I reckon McCain will pick …”
- “McCain needs to pick …”
I’m telling you, I can’t wait!
August 27th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I’m going to be really unhappy if its not Mitt folks. I honestly feel he is a wonderful man and the most qualified we have had run it a hundred years.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
She has lead the way on a bunch of non-partsin women issues (Like making sure kiddies get their shots).
August 27th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Kavon if the whole reason for KBH is to attract the DEM clinton voters McCain is going to be very very sorry for that decision. They may be mad today but they wont be mad in a few weeks and CLinton is doing all she can to make sure all is going to be smoothed over.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
It is not hard to imagine Biden making a sexist comment in a debate with KBH.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
By the way where is the Real Bill. This is a joke right now.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
IllinoisGuy,
Lots of people will be unhappy if their favorite isn’t picked. Aron will be beside himself when Lieberman isn’t selected. But, party’s ought to be about unification and you have to learn to be a little flexible. Pawlenty has been my favorite choice for months, but after the Hillary snub I rethought some things, and moved more towards female choices, in the interest of winning, party unification, etc. Romney supporters are bound to always be disappointed if they don’t let themselves get excited about someone else every once in awhile.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
35: Mitt Romney is indeed a big asset to the GOP. But don’t be disappointed if it’s not him — sometimes political necessity trumps all other considerations.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
BTW, if it’s tpaw I’m sure we’ll be seeing those videos of all those great things he said about Obama a few weeks back
KBH is fine by me.
If it is KBH and its because he wants a woman, I feel bad that Palin got screwed over by this trumped up scandal. she’s superior to KBH in a number of ways and it may well have been her if it wasnt for that.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
#32, that comment may be moot if the DFL gets a veto proof majority this fall. Let’s hope not.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
ROMNEY: CHANGE TRUMPS EXPERIENCE
fast forward to minute 6.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euJ0z4xG73k
we can only hope mccain doesn’t go with romney.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Gov Mitt Romney was on fire today making grand slams left and right on MSNBC, CNN, etc. If Mitt isn’t picked for VP, I’ll be scratching my head for a real long time. Scratch that… I’ll be ticked. This “news” just ruined my Wednesday night, so hopefully its not true.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
KBH has come from nowhere. Is that just a distraction to try and make the Hillary supporters think that McCain supports females (if he isn’t really interested in a female VP)
Of all the females, KBH is the one I’m most hesitant about. She strikes me as an affirmative action pick, picked for her gender. At least with Palin you get this excitement about her popularity & anti-corruption fight (which is gender-neutral). And Meg Whitman provides business gravitas (which is also gender-neutral).
There are better Senators than KBH. Its just that they’re men.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
jim,
You’ve said you prefer Mitt to Pawlenty, but apparently you don’t remember all the glowing things Romney said about Obama post-Iowa. How he tried to use Obama’s victory, to piggy-back to some sort of coherent “change” narrative? You know, the whole “Americans were inspired by Obama, because they thought he offered change, and Americans desperately want change now” schtick.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
#17
Hey, thanks. I appreciate it.
***
#31
Um, “more conservative than Ronald Reagan, and Mitt Romney” is not “pretty much where the country is”.
***
#35
Most qualified in a hundred years? I understand that you like the guy, but it’s statements like this that make us non-Rombots think you guys are a little nuts.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
This is probably just mac’s final head-fake before he shoots
August 27th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Well I guess the DNC wasted a lot of money attacking Romney in Michigan! If it’s KBH, this will be the first time Republicans
have put two Senators on a presidential ticket. Maybe we are the stupid party.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
#35, Romney is not the most qualified in 100 years. There have been previous successful businessmen, and previous Governors of MA!
The easiest case to make is Al Gore in 2000 (that’s 8 years ago). Senator, then 8 years as a successful Vice President. He was unquestionably qualified (ignoring policy positions for the moment).
Then there’s Bush in 88 (or 92, as incumbent President). Reagan in 84. The list goes on. Nope, Romney wasn’t the greatest ever.
Incidentally, was there any particular reason you said 100 years? Teddy Roosevelt perhaps? Mitt’s not in that league.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
By the way, it’s Romney. You can quote me on that.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Word has spread the race42008.com is rabid anti-Romney even to the point to ban some pro romney users. I’d like to hear some thoughts on this from the people the comment on this site?
Personally, I do find a couple of users very anti-romney. Overall, I think there are more anti-romney than pro romney people on this site, As a Romney fan, I like to hear the negative side that Romney has. So far most of the negative comments againts romney have mostly been baseless.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
#49
Don’t assume this rumor is coming from the campaign, or even if it is, that it is organized. The last few days before the VP selection is named is kinda like last few seconds in a round of Taboo - pundits without good info will just start naming people, in hopes of getting it right and upping their own score. If they get it wrong they’re among many and nobody notices, but if they get it right, more people will start listening to them and its good for their careers. We do the same thing here, but there’s nothing in it for most of us other than blog bragging rights.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Let us don the black early then. The GOP is doomed and I kid you not. If you are watching Bill Clinton, it is only a prelude to Joe Biden and it is a suicide watch if this is the best the GOP can do.. McCain has NO CHANCE with either of these two ” kind hearts.” But, they do not cast shadows, so they perfectly define the McCain strategy. Let no one close to me cast shadows, regardless of what the voters tell me. I know best. Goodnight America.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
“Word has spread”, deg?
By whom? One random commenter?
August 27th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Aron will be beside himself when Lieberman isn’t selected.
Matthew,
Only if it was revealed that McCain picked Huckabee over Lieberman would I be beside myself. Joe is 4th on my list. You should know by now that this agnostic Jew doesn’t play identity politics. I recognize politics as the art of compromise, but don’t lose sight of the fact that reaching that far across the aisle is likely a bridge too far to fairly ask fellow Republicans to travel.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
This website is not anti-Romney. It seems to me to be 30% Rombots (”Romney is the greatest thing that has happened to the GOP for 100 years”), 30% anti-Rombots (”will you Rombots just shut up, you’re embarrassing yourselves”), and 40% who want to talk about something else (”anything, please, even Lieberman speculation. But not another Romney good or bad VP post!”)
In short, a diverse selection of the GOP electorate.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I think this is nonsense. Hutchison only makes sense in that she posseses a vagina. Otherwise it’s a totally uninspired choice that will do more to divide the party on abortion than anything else. And yes, that would be a big deal that would hurt the campaign, I’m not being a one-note Charlie.
This is just last-minute rumor BS I think. People see Clinton voters and start looking around the room for any available woman. Last I heard Hutchison’s people say they haven’t been asked for any paperwork from the campaign. That I believe.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
#60
The three legs of the race42008 stool!
August 27th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
[...] I guess I’ll use this to comment for now, but…you all know my position, a pro-abortion Veep is a non-starter. A pro-choice woman, much more, because of the damage that they could do to the pro-life movement. McCain picks KBH, I stop supporting McCain. link [...]
August 27th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
HMMMMMM, Mitt is rising fast on intrade again, back over 40 after hitting around 25
August 27th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
From KBH’s senate biography page:
With Texas’ strong independent spirit, Hutchinson must be doing right things to receive such a overwhelming support. I suppose if she is conservative enough for those Texans, then she should be conservative enough for most of us.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Dimmitt will not be VP…I think…maybe.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
More rumormongering! Enjoy:
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/capital-commerce/2008/8/27/sources-romney-is-out.html?s_cid=rss:capital-commerce:sources-romney-is-out
Not that I think this is necessarily true (see my comment above), or even a new development if it is. I just though that I’d spice up the party a little bit.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
If this is true (big qualifier), of the two I would much prefer Hutchison.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I hate to be a pessimist…but I guess I am. All of the ” lightweights” , the “One Ballooners” that are being proffered on this blog for VP, will almost guarantee a huge GOP loss in November. But maybe that is O.K. If we win in November, we’d probably never win a 4th term in 2012. So, maybe this is the sacrifice year. McCain seems to have a political death wish, so perhaps he really understands that he probably can’t win , but it will be fun to try.
I can’t , for the life of me, understand how this guy’s mind works…or if it works. Every single poll tells him to pick Romney , not because of Romney, but because Romney helps him the most. If he doesn’t do this, he has a Political death wish, some morbid
fascination with the hidden lucidity of his inner self that blinds him to reality.
That’s O.K. We’ve had these guys in politics before. Nixon was one. He never ever though he was really a crook. He always understood what he did was fine and that the public never quite understood.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
#51: Of course you’re right, JayPe, there have been numerous candidates far more qualified than Romney. You left off your list probably the most qualified candidate (excepting presidents seeking re-election) of the 20th century: Henry A. Wallace.
Wallace served as VP, and in two cabinet posts — Agriculture and Commerce. (Pretty well trumps one term as gov of Massachusetts, doesn’t it?)
He was also a successful journalist, scientist, and businessman. He was editor and publisher of a leading farm journal, invented a new variety of hybrid corn, and created a company to market the corn that grew into the leading business in its field.
I would never vote for the man, but he was eminently qualified — far more so than Mitt Romney.
As Big S pointed out in #48, “it’s statements like this that make us non-Rombots think you guys are a little nuts.” But this is fairly mild for Illinoisguy — in the past he has claimed that Romney is the smartest person to seek the presidency … ever!
Thomas Jefferson, eat your heart out.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
If it’s true, give me Hutchison. Even though she is rather old. A combined age on the ticket of 137? Yikes.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
George H.W. Bush was pretty damn qualified, people.
Vice-president, RNC chair, CIA head, UN Ambassador.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
#70: Agreed, Alex. When he was running in 1980, somebody called him “the man with the world’s longest resume.”
August 27th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Steve Forbes (former co-chairman of Rudy’s campaign and senior economic advisor) was an early advocate of Kay Bailey for McCain’s VP.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I really like Steve Forbes — too bad he proved to be such a poor candidate when seeking the presidency.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
WEll Folks,
We might be all faked out.
The speakers list for the GOP Convention was released and every prominently mentioned candidate for VP had a speaking slot assigned but for one glaring exception: ERIC CANTOR.
Why would one of the top leaders in Congress and a up and comming star in the party be left off the speakers list?????
There is only one speaking slot left to fill:VP Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
#68, no I haven’t…show me the post…that’s right you can’t.