The evidence abounds. From Politico by way of Hot Air:
In a strong sign that John McCain has not selected Joe Lieberman to be his running mate, Republican members of Congress were told today by McCain’s campaign that the Arizona senator would tap a traditional number two, according to a GOP source.
Allah Pundit opines:
“Traditional” has a lovely connotation vis-a-vis Joementum and a not so lovely one vis-a-vis Gingrich’s warning to McCain last month about boring white guys. Drudge, conspicuously, is teasing a link to a weeks-old Journal profile of Pawlenty as I write this, and a reader e-mails to say that David Gregory was dropping heavy hints on MSNBC a little while ago about McCain’s VP possibly appearing on talk shows this Sunday (Pawlenty’s booked for “Meet the Press”). I can’t believe they’d be holding back if the pick had leaked, but clearly everything they’re hearing is pointing them towards Pawlenty.
I’m fine with this selection, and I think most McCain supporters will be, even if T-Paw wasn’t their first choice. That said, I’ll always wonder why Rep. Heather Wilson wasn’t vetted. She checked all of Pawlenty’s boxes, and a few more. Ah well. McCain/Pawlenty ‘08!
August 28th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
DaveG, 2 TERM GOVERNOR.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
McCain will live to regret this decision.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Nobody cares about Tim Pawlenty! The only people who know him are political junkies and Minnesotans. His foreign policy experience is eating at the international house of pancakes. What’s McCain thinking?
August 28th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
she likely screw herself making calls avoiding the DOJ firings of Proscutors.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
head-fakes?
August 28th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Sorry guys, but I’m not satisfied with Pawlenty. He does zip for me. So Big John, you are on your own in November. You don’t really give a damn what I think anyway, because you have your inner voice.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
recall the Mccain ad–”she recieved millions of votes” but was not chosen as Obama’s running mate.
Replace “she” with “he” and apply it to mitt.
T-paw is a lightweight. We need someone who can slash through the fanaticism associated with Obama.
We need Romney
August 28th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
If Pawlenty’s the pick, I think McCain will be in bad shape after the conventions – 6 to 8 points down in the polls.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
First a little background on my source:
Google Doug Kruse for NH State Senate. Look up his leadership team and steering committee. Then do the same for Mitt Romney’s NH campaign. Anyways – moving along.
Dateline: Dayton, OH. August 29th, 2008, 12noon, EST.
Sen. John McCain: “My friends, thank you for joining me this afternoon. As we all know when America votes on Nov 4th, they are not voting for just a President. They are voting for the next President and his advisers, his confidantes, and his Cabinet. It is with that in mind that I stand here today in Dayton with men and women who will fill my Cabinet and serve as as my closer advisers.
As Chief of Staff and COO of the McCain administration: Fmr. Gov Mitt Romney
As Attorney General: Mr. Rudy Guiliani
As Secretary of Commerce: Ms. Med Whitman
As Secretary of the Treasury: Ms. Carly Fiorina
As Secretary of State: Sen. Lindsay Graham
As Secretary of Defense: Sen. Joe Liberman
As Secretary of Energy: Gov _________ of ____
As Vice President: Gov ____________ of _____
August 28th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I’ve still seen no evidence, other than some unnamed source supposedly close to Romney.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I’ve been preparing for T-Paw for a while. I think he’s a fine choice, much better than the pastor from Arkansas or the liberal from Connecticut. I think it could be better (and still may- I’m not trusting any of these “sources”), but I think that Timmy is a relatively clean slate and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
So… let me just throw the question out there to any undecideds/independents/moderates:
Does Pawlenty as VP make you more likely to vote for McCain or less likely?
August 28th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
What does that purport to be Ray? You’re keeping us guessing.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I like him so far. I just read up on Gov. Pawlenty – he really has been very successful as MN’s Governor, what with
their $ 4.5 Billion deficit he inherited. He is of German and Polish descent in case anyone is interested, and his father
was a “milk truck driver” and his mother a housewife, so Dems cannot attack his background as being out-of-touch.
Also, here is his wife’s website: http://www.firstlady.state.mn.us/
What a lovely family !
August 28th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Pawlenty said “The era of small government is over”. That’ pretty much all I need to know.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
And- LOL – I checked his WIKI page to see IF there was a LEAK !
August 28th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Fred’s Fighter,
Way, way, less. Looks like Bob Barr for me this year. Have to stop and think of this guy Pawlenty as a president in waiting ? Be serious!
So, it’s been fun and lot’s of interesting guys and opinions. But its off to the real world again.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Bob Barr, that’s funny.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
#17: No serious Republican votes Bob Barr because he thinks the VP isn’t experienced enough.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Il guy,
what Ray is saying is that tomorrow McCain will announce his cabinet as well as his VP pick in an attempt to placate to every tom, dick, harry, mary, jane, etc.
In other words Mccain lacks the “fortitude” to make the right pick so he is going to try to make nice with everyone and put everyones favorite somewhere in his cabinet. Just so he doesnt piss anyone off.
that how I read it, But I better be careful because Kirstopher will run out and tell Kavon I am “swiftboating a good american”
August 28th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I’ll vote for McCain no matter who he picks, but I won’t make campaign calls or do any volunteering if he picks Huckabee.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
corep, thanks for the H/T, I will keep my eye on you.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
K- we gotta try for some humor dont we.
but on a serious note if what Ray says is accurate how do we think this will play?
August 28th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
#9
In this day and age, no candidate in his right mind would announce potential nominations two months before election day. If McCain does that, each of those individuals will become a target for Democrats, and each of their real or perceived transgressions will be laid at the feet of McCain. As long as they just remain advisors and surrogates, the incentive for the Obama campaign to attack them will be much lower.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
#17 What makes you think that craig is a “serious Republican”? I know I’m not one, whatever that means. The biggest issue now is whether Pawlenty can draw in “moderate”, “non-serious”, or “kinda” Republicans.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Pawlenty…
Too much like Quayle
August 28th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
corep, brilliant. 15 cabinet leaders campaining across the country for 70 days? Talk about making the news, and controlling it.
I am not sure that will happen, but……
Remember, the McCain message is that Obama is not ready to lead. McCain rolls out an impressive cabinet, filled with strong women and experienced leaders. We will see 15 bio’s written in newspapers, instead of one….and it gives the impression that McCain is READY to lead!
August 28th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
btw, if Mitt Romney was the COO, I would be really happy, because if all the Rombots are correct and Romney is a great Manager and business leader, then he might be the right guy to clean up the disaster of a Federal Government we have.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Big problem for me here.
Obama is signing up 40,000 Colorado campaign workers (as we speak) in a critical battleground state. Whatever the baseline was before, add thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of voters to the Dem side come November. What does this pick do to improve McCain performance in CO? NOTHING!
McCain had no presence in NV for the caucus. The organization that built a volunteer base was Romney’s. McCain hung a millstone around his neck when he supported Yucca Mountain. Might as well support abortion on demand in South Carolina. What does this pick do to improve McCain performance in NV? Nothing!
I’m just as copncerned about MI. What does this pick do to demand that Obama put considerable resources into MI? NOTHING!
I’m not predicting defeat. I’m saying that the path just got much tougher. Remember this when we are looking for EC votes in November.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
RyanInNH,
As a Mormon I am so relieved that Mitt will not be the VP. All the polygamy jokes at work were getting old. At the same time, I would be very happy to see him as Chief Staff/COO role where his skill can be put to use. But who knows maybe the Evangelicals will still freak out knowing that a Mormon is managing the presidency. Egads! Maybe I am not too excited about the idea.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
#28 I’d even be willing to have Romney in as “COO”. I’m not really comfortable with him making foreign policy decisions or court appointments, etc. But as a guy whose sole job is to streamline and optimize the gov’t beaureacracy, he could maybe work some magic…
August 28th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
#12 wrong question. We’ve all drunk the kool-aid. The question is what does it do to the inclinations of the 25% that are still making up their minds? My answer is that the choice does NOTHING for them.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Where is this Quayle crap coming from? Embittered Rombots?
Someone explain to me how Pawlenty= Quayle?
August 28th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Intrade update:
Romney 10
Pawlenty 72
August 28th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
#12
I’m a moderate, and would be LESS likely to vote for McCain if Pawlenty is the VP nominee.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Rick the first-
not to sure that all those people werent already campaign people here in CO already. I work in Boulder and the town was like a ghost town after 11AM today. I swear I saw them all getting on Hwy 36 and heading to Invesco. I am worried but maybe not to the degree you are.
Now NV is a different story completely. last poll has us down 5% and that will only get worse over the next week. McCain has no operation there at all.
This is why I have long advocated for Romney. He has the built in apparatus out here that can be turned on so very quickly and is very very effective. I am just not sure yet that a potential position as US COO is going to be enough to get us all working hard enough to make up the gap and push Mccain ahead
August 28th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I just saw an article suggesting that McCain might struggle in his home state. If that is the case, will Pawlenty help him. (strong conservatives, independents …?)
August 28th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Sorry, Ray. Doesn’t fly for me. You have the wrong idea about what made Mitt so successful in Business, and it wasn’t “minding the store.” Meg Whitman and Rudy are both deeply involved in preparing for running for governor.
And Big S is absolutely correct in that you give Obama lots of targets, confuse the crap out of people about who you are as a candidate, and give people a lot more reasons NOT to vote for you. Not a good isea if your objective is to get elected. But it’s a heck of an idea for the American Political Idol Tour, so you can see all of the candidates that lost just one more time.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
MWS,
Quayle=Pawlenty because Quayle was unknown and Pawlenty is unknown. Duh. Kinda of like Romney=Bush because Romney is a businessman and Bush was a businessman. Geez, you’d think these connections would be OBVIOUS.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I think the quayle comparisions are that Pawlenty like Quayle is a relatively unknown midwest policitian used to balance out an old guy to make him look not so out of touch with the young people of America. Neither has accomplished anything of national note and neither is going to kickstart anyones heart
August 28th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Big S,
You’re a neo-con, social liberal, fiscal con, as best as I can remember. Despite what Alex and Metro would have us believe, your brand of moderate is fairly rare. And they’re almost all voting for McCain anyway, since the alternative is laughable.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Corep,
Completely with you. McCain has no following left in NV.
Part of the built in organization in the west with Romney as VP is thousands and thousands of college students at Utah universities, public and private, that will (and have) manned phone banks and deployed.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
For all wondering: Sec of Energy: Gov Tim Pawlenty of MN
Sec of Health and Human Services: Fmr Gov Mike Huckabee of AR
Kristofer – you are spot on. What I’m hearing is that Nominee McCain wants to show that he is ready. He will show that he has already put much thought into his role as President. As Kristofer said the media will be saturated with 15 names and bio’s. These individuals will spend the next 70 days traveling the country (well, mostly just the battleground and their home states) as surrogates and official spokespeople of the McCain campaign/administration.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Oooh! If Mitt is the COO that would mean he would run McCain’s campaign from here on out. That totally boosts my confidence in McCain’s chances for November. Expect some lights out, innovative campaigning for the next 70 days. That’s exciting!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I like the “Team of Rivals” concept. That would really endear me to a McCain presidency if he really adopts that model. That sure sounds like a Mitt idea he had. Maybe, we are going to see alot Mitt’s ideas implemented. The Mittbots should be happy that he would influence McCain with his ideas. Afterall, it is the ideas that really count not the person who implements them.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Those are certainly my tendencies, but I’m not extreme in any of them. Once you take a few steps away from the edges of each of those ideologies, the combo is not as rare as you might think.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Ray you just took everyone off the short list of VP with these last two .
who are we missing? Cantor, Palin, Jindal?
August 28th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Kasich, Ridge, Palin
Someone remind me who won the Alaska Congressional primary …..
August 28th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Don’t forget about Blackburn (someone I have been touting for a while now on here).
August 28th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Kasich said in an interview the other day he was more intersted in GOV. Palin is possible- the woman vote. Ridge would be bad-pro choice. Blackburn way too unknown.
If McCain is going for the women HRC voters then Palin is the pick.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
My sources very close to McCain are saying it’s not Pawlenty; it’s Ron Paul.
You heard it from me first…
August 28th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
The rumor is it’s Pawlenty. Forget getting Hillary voters. How stupid is McCain……