Now that McCain’s Veep selection has been made, we get to be privy to the process he used in selecting Sarah Palin. The Weekly Standard, The Washington Post, and New York Times piece together the general timeline:
- McCain started looking for a Vice President shortly after securing the nomination in February with a list of 40 names.
- By early Spring, he had cut that list down to 20. That list of 20 had 5 women on it: Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina, Condi Rice, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, and Sarah Palin.
- A few weeks ago, McCain cut the list again, this time from 20 down to 5: Pawlenty, Romney, Palin, Ridge, and Lieberman. Those five were all equally vetted.
- McCain and his staff had come to the conclusion as he winnowed down the list further that his “experience versus change” argument had “run its course” and McCain told his staff he “hated running as the wizened old hand of experience.” This led McCain away from Pawlenty and Romney as choices, and led his advisers to begin telling news outlets that McCain’s VP pick would be “transformative” as the list narrowed to Lieberman, Ridge, and Palin.
- Lindsey Graham pushed incredibly hard for McCain to choose Lieberman - so hard that he “vexed” some of McCain’s other advisers. In fact, Graham called prominent social conservatives such as Huckabee, Blackwell, Huntsman, and Bauer to try and win their support for a McCain-Lieberman ticket. Giuliani also pressed hard for McCain to take Joe.
- In the end, McCain’s advisers told him the “base would revolt” if he chose Lieberman, and to a lesser extent, Ridge. He then chose Palin because she reinforced his persona of being a reform-minded, anti-establishment maverick, because she was “transformative” and an “attention getting” pick, and also because he was highly impressed with her “directness and knowledge” when he met her at an RGA meeting in February. All while being someone conservatives would be satisfied with.
- McCain called Palin on Sunday and got her on her cell while she was at the Alaska State Fair. He invited her to Arizona for a “job interview” and reportedly said his mind was made up in a matter of minutes and that he viewed Palin as a “kindred spirit” in politics.
So there you go. It’s always interesting to get a glimpse into the private world of politics. Someday, it would be really interesting to see who the other 11 names on that list of 20 were…
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
What the heck was Rudy pushing Lieberman for ?
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I don’t think the media is ready for the kind of applause Thompson will get tonight when he talks about Palin, it will take them aback.
And when Palin speaks on Wed. night it’s going to bring the house down. The media has made Palin a lightning rod for the entire GOP to rally around.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Fred is going to talk about Palin.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Interesting to learn the insides of McCain’s VP process. So glad they didn’t go with Lieberman or Ridge. The base would revolt to Lieberman and be depressed with Ridge.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
#2, you are correct, the media is pushing more and more Republicans in to her corner.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Also,
Palin interviewed with Culvahouse, Davis (several times), submitted all personal and tax information, questionnaire, etc…..
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Graham proves again to be a creep. I can only imagine the ****-off he got from Huckabee.
Surprising that Palin became the only viable person on the short list.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Uggh!! Nice to know that Romney and Pawlenty didn’t make the final cut while Lieberman and Ridge did. Reinforces that I will be voting against Obama more so than voting for McCain. I’m just not confident in McCain’s loyalty to the conservative cause.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
At 72 years old, one man gets to choose who the next President could be - I didn’t vote for McCain in the primary because McCain/Feingold, McCain/Kennedy, McCain/Lieberman, gang of 14, and now we have McCain/Palin - I don’t know if I bring myself to vote against my conscience - I’m starting to feel that maybe this fight is over before it’s even begun - let the democrats screw it up for four years and then come back in 2012.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
interesting stuff. Thanks.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Then why the sloppy VP rollout if they were so prepared? They should have had a half-dozen high-ranking elected GOP officials to be out there on-message defending her with tightly disciplined talking points. This almost makes it worse - I don’t know which is worse: McCain being blindsided or him knowing all this and not being prepared. You get one chance to make a first impression. That impression has been made.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
What Rudy wasn’t vetted!!!!!!!
LOL
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
The impression hasn’t even been made yet. Only for those of us obsessed with politics and on these boards. Most people will see the first of her Wednesday night.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Where did all these whiners and weepers come from?
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I’ll say.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
#5 the media is pushing more and more Republicans in to her corner.
But in order to win, we need the independants. Base alone isn’t going to cut it.
And it’s the moderates and independants who are being turned off Palin.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Well said Dotan!
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I’m suprised that securing the most electoral votes to win the election wasn’t a consideration.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I can understand if she doesn’t want to, but I hope Bristol Palin will stand proud and unashamed on that stage with her family. It will put the MSM to shame and will rally supporters to the Palin family.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
All the other women were mildly pro-choice. I think Palin was the best choice, but I don’t get how Romney or Pawlenty would be out because McCain was dropping the experience issue.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Imagine the room if Bristol really does take the stage. There won’t be a dry eye in the house.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Um, and Biden is supposed to help Obama reach out to independents? My point: you depend on the top of the ticket to reach out to independents, you super genius. And McCain does that.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
#5 - great, Republicans are in her corner. Meanwhile, independents are deserting to Obama. Both Gallup and Rasmussen have him over 50%, and it’s absolutely due to Palin.
What a friggin’ debacle. She better give the Speech of the Century tomorrow, or it’s all over.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
For Alex and all of the guests on this site, I have a warning for you. If you allow the liberal media to get away with this, the GOP is in big trouble. We need to push back and fight for fairness. If not, then anyone considered a ‘conservative’ is dead in the water. Forget Mitt, or Huckabee, or anyone else.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Obama just made a huge mistake in saying he has more experience than Palin:
http://www.drudgereport.com/
Can we have a thread on this??
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Anyone that McCain would have picked would have been torn to shreds.
Let’s get behind Governor Palin and fight for this ticket.
She is so much more qualified than Obama, that Obama is now running against her. And Joe Biden is calling himself the nominee for President.
Guess that means that BO is now the nominee for VP?
Interesting election!
We cannot let Obama become POTUS.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
It is so kneejerk for the Right to accuse the media of being unfair and bias. The media is being unfair to Palin and the Right predictably is responding in kind. Unfortunately this goes WAYYYY beyond what the media historically does. What they’re doing now is absolutely sick sick sick sick. I could spend some time saying just how sick they are, but I’m too sick of the media to channel it into a more pithy soundbite. I want to see some heads roll. I hope we see at least 20 Dan Rather’s when this anti-bullcrap stuff is finished.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Would the NellyCon (or perhaps FauxCon?) in post #23 please sit down?
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
WiseGuy - what is dumber is the reasoning that Obama gave for his experience… he claims that running for office is what gives him the experience. Although somewhat on the surface, that is a true statement, the way it comes across is way dumb.
I’d love to see McCain’s ad team rip Obama up one way and down the other…
“Hey, I filled out the job application - that makes me experienced” Lol… keep talking Barack
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
#25 Wiseguy,
“Obama just made a huge mistake in saying he has more experience than Palin”
I can’t believe Barry thinks he is running against Sarah Palin, someone needs to remind him who he is running against! Oh, McCain is going to take him apart in the upcoming debates.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I’m so right there with you.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
The problem with Obama’s argument is that Palin is accruing experience in that way also, and so by his own logic by the end of the campaign she will have gained considerable experience too.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Tucker Bounds and Ed Morrisey made short work of Obama’s latest verbal burp. Links available here:
http://hermeticfront.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/tucker-bounds-%e2%80%9cfor-barack-obama-to-argue-that-he%e2%80%99s-experienced-enough-to-be-president-because-he%e2%80%99s-running-for-president-is-desperate-circular-logic-and-it%e2%80%99s-laughable/
I heard an FAA person articulate the operational concept used by pilots with compromised gear: “you land with what you have.”
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Obama had the lowest dem convention bump in modern history - you have to go back to 1964… Obama had 1/3 the bump of Algore… lol.. and that is scaring the weak-kneed repubs into the bushes… hahah..
The Dems will take so much fire the next couple days - it will be great to watch
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
(To what extent Obama is really running his campaign, as opposed to people like Axelrod and Plouffe, is an open question.)
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Obama is a gaffe machine.
McCain will dismantle him in the debates.
If Obama can’t answer Rick Warren’s softball questions well, how will he do against McCain?
I can’t believe that Obama is trying to put himself on equal footing with Sarah Palin, experience-wise! What a blunder!
Any thoughts, lurking trolls?
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Hey Barry! Last time i checked you aren’t running for Vice President of these 57 United States of America.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
How come Rudy is not giving a speech??
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Because Rudy is so good that he doesn’t even have to give a speech. That’s how good he is. Damn he’s good.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I’ll miss him too. But he was probably preparing a red meat speech, so dropping him makes sense given the convention’s paired-down tone.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Rudy’s rescheduled for later in the week.
Rumor is he may be introducing McCain.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
so mccain chose palin because of his latter life crisis complex? he didn’t want to be teh old guy.
there is some good solid reasoning by our possible commander and chief.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
i disagree that the experience versus change argument had run its course personally. I think it was just starting to do some real damage. we will never nkow.
one thing is for sure, mccain neesd to start hammering harder that they aer the true outsiders and change agenets before this experience thing now gets out of hand against him. the media is going crazy.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
And the big bad media scares you apparently. Here’s a thought. Back your Yugo over your cable-box. For those of us who expected a media feeding feeding frenzi this is no big deal.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
#41 Metro,
“Rudy’s rescheduled for later in the week. Rumor is he may be introducing McCain.”
If this is true, does it make you happy? I was getting pissed thinking they had bumped him.
Rudy should have a place a McCain administration, how about US Attorney General?
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
41
I would prefer he introduced Palin. One mayor to another.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
45:
Homeland security.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
The “selection process” was a sham. No more than one person connected to the McCain campaign went to Alaska to vet Palin and the final decision was rushed and very haphazard. That’s what GOP strategists are now admitting.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
They’ve “admitted” precisely the opposite.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Intrade is taking bets on a Palin withdrawal - it’s a long shot - but it is money well spent to defend the GOP’s traditional values.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Rudy is speaking tomorrow night during a primetime slot. He’s on Fox right now.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:27 pm
#48 Matt, looking at your blog it is clear that you are a FauxCon (i.e., troll). Get. Outta. Here.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
#50 JamesB
“Intrade is taking bets on a Palin withdrawal - it’s a long shot - but it is money well spent to defend the GOP’s traditional values.”
That would be political suicide, for her political future and for McCain in this general election. Left wing nuts (try as they might) would love to see a withdrawal, NEVER going to happen.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
#41, uh, what are you talking about? Whether I watch cable news or not, the average person does, and what the average person thinks matters in how they vote. and how they vote determines the outcome of an election.
there you go. That is why it matters that mccain gets out and fights through the crap so he can define his ticket and message, not the idiots in the media. what are you talking about? Whether you expect this or not is irrelevant to what my comment is getting at.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Kavon, come on, what have I done? I have not done anything knowingly to get myself banned. Why has there been no singular comment made by me posted for the past week?
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Ok, this is the first comment that made it through the whole week! Sorry, everyone!
I did not copy my comment as warned by Kavon, but I was saying in so many words that McCain has shown with his final three choices that he is as much of a Washington insider as anyone. He would do the same as he has been doing the past few years, expanding programs in various areas. He won’t make it easier for the energy industry to grow aggressively, nor would he strengthen the dollar. He’s too much in the groove. And he has shown that experiences (meaning the knowledge or understanding on how to aproach issues) do not matter. I was all set to vote for McCain only because of Palin, but now McCain has just shown she is nothing more than an image!
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
What’s with the rumor that Palin was involved in a group related to a senator up there. Heard a snippet on the radio, but I had to get out of the car. Is there a summary of what this new issue is?
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
SGS, I like it better when you could not post.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
#57, group? She is a Republican, Ted Stevens is a Republican.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:56 pm
This is the reality I see, now a couple days later.
1) McCain (the candidate, the campaign, the message) came to the conclusion that he could not beat Obama. This whole episode we’re going through can’t start without conceding this point. John McCain of the last quarter century was not going to beat Barack Obama of the past 4 years.
2) No other traditional and known running mate was going to sufficiently redefine John McCain in the public’s mind. The choice has to force a dissonance on the mind of the middle so powerfully that they come away thinking that the real John McCain (the current one) is different from the old one, and the old one is gone or never was. Sarah Palin is being used to redefine John McCain as younger, more change-oriented, more inclined to women’s issues, more inclined towards kitchen table and lunch box issues.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
#57 - Greg, this is from the Washington Post - read it carefully. The story is from yesterday, and no longer linkable:
ST. PAUL — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin began building clout in her state’s political circles in part by serving as a director of an independent political group organized by the now embattled Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens.
Palin’s name is listed on 2003 incorporation papers of the “Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc.,” a 527 group that could raise unlimited funds from corporate donors. The group was designed to serve as a political boot camp for Republican women in the state. She served as one of three directors until June 2005, when her name was replaced on state filings.
Palin’s relationship with Alaska’s senior senator may be one of the more complicated aspects of her new position as Sen. John McCain’s running mate; Stevens was indicted in July 2008 on seven counts of corruption.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Rudy on CNN right now, confirming he will speak at 10pm ET tomorrow and will be on the attack.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
continuation;
3) This is a very risky strategy. It relies on the hope that people will like the new McCain and accept it as genuine. They pray that the people won’t judge this a cynical manipulation. The current softness in his numbers are testament to people taking some time to let the picture resolve and figure out if they a) believe it, b) like it, c) support it.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
#61, more smear. Palin broke with Stevens when he becmae corrupt.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Hell yes, Rudy makes the right-side up vs. upside-down argument on the tickets regarding experience!
Just like I’ve been saying the GOP needs to do.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Rudy should be AG then he may run for Governor or NY and beat that liberal Cuomo Jr.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
#64 - it certainly is a smear - they’re using something from 2003-2004 to try to smear Palin with Stevens’ 2008 indictment.
I’m hopng the reason it isn’t linkable is because they pulled it for the nonsensical stetch that it is.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
62: Thanks Metro!
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Thanks, Lucy. That makes sense. It sounds like the dems are trying to create some negative momentum, and are throwing in the kitchen sink as well.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Don’t blame the media for McCain’s blunder.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
We can argue all we want, but Palin wasn’t vetted like the other candidates. Only one McCain campaign member even went to Alaska. I can already feel the luster of the selection starting to wear off.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13801
Scroll down to “Gloves Off”
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Oh boy, now they are trying to sew the seeds of unrest. I already heard one source that said Pawlenty’s supporters were trying to damage Palin, and now they say that Romney’s people are at it.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
GLOVES OFF
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney may be putting on a brave face for the cameras after losing out to Gov. Sarah Palin for the veepship, but his ever-loyal cadre of aides and consultants and conservative media types continue to work for him.
Almost every critical remark made about Palin on a recent briefing call about her selection came from political consultants with ties to Romney. Those comments were planted, says one, because they knew that reporters would be on the call.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Figures that the Rombots (Plus Metro and Alex) have been leading this charge to denigrate Gov Palin.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
If this gets tied to him and his cadre, then his hopes for 2012, 16, 20, or what ever will be gone with the wind….
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
77 - I agree, Brett.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
#75: If you’re including me in that list, you haven’t been paying attention.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I might not have been.
ill read up and edit my other post
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
[...] Lucy by Brett Passmore @ 4:34 pm. Filed under Party Unity [Trackback [...]
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Brett, Do you mean that we should all pull our skirts up over our head and pretend that we just chose Margaret Thatcher? That somehow the reservations we have are just provincial politics. What we’re saying is that we’re all in this boat together and we’re not comfortable yet that this gamble is going to work. It’s ok for mcCain. He’ll be dead in a decade or two. But the rest of us have a lot more years ahead of us.
Evidently, part of this convention not getting too much into the party mode is that there will be a lot of kool-aid served.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Remember that this is from the spectator, which has been accused of making up news - often called the speculator. I am sure that Romney has many allies that don’t really like the McCain/Palin ticket. Many of them are members of the RNC.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Brett - he means lace up your jackboots and fall in line.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I mean, Rick.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Brett:
I am disappointed that you jump so quickly on nthe Romney-is-anti-Palin boat. Since when has the spectator been anything more than an anti-Romney periodical. Most of the RNC adores Romney, and most of them will have ties to Romney in one way or the other. Romney, unlike Huckabbe, doesn’t hold grudges. He just doesn’t. This is the guy who went to Ted Kennedy and asked for his help with healthcare regorm as governor after Kennedy dengrated his religion during the senate race.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Well, Tina Fey is guest host of SNL this weekend. The national joke continues.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
#85 - I think Romney would be apalled by this behavior - this is his aides and supporters going over board.
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
@75:
Metro went through a “ZOMG! PALIN’S GOING TO CRIMINALIZE BIRTH CONTROL!!” phase then calmed down.
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
76 And if all disloyal words said now will come back to haunt. Maybe we should remember the backstabbing we got from Huck before the selection was made.
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
87 name names! which ones.
As you know, from February, Romney has been 100% supportive of McCain’s campaign unmatched by ANY other surrogate or Republican. He has maintained that support both publicly and privately. His team raised $20 million from their contributors in the past 5 months.
He did this with the absolute expectation that he would NOT be the VP selection, and made the same known to all of his inner-most circle, inspite of their hope for him.
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I don’t want to gloat but the above scenario laid out by this fine post by Matt C. was entirely corroborated by my sources. Admittedly, the one thing that they got wrong was the most glaring omission: Governor Palin as the pick. But I am glad at the way it turned out.