Vanity - McCain Veepstakes heating up- post rumors + buzz here

various news, blog sites | 8-28-08 | self

[STARWISE]

I'll start:

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"Could it be Cantor? posted at 1:00 pm on August 28, 2008 by Ed Morrissey

The Fayetteville Observer reads a few tea leaves in the veepstakes and suggests that Eric Cantor may become the dark-horse finalist for John McCain’s running-mate. Cantor has not yet appeared on the convention schedule, which would seem strange for such a dynamic member of the House GOP’s leadership. He also represents a Virginia district, which could prove crucial to holding the state for the Republicans in November:

Rep. Robin Hayes is predicting that Sen. John McCain will pick Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia as his running mate.

“It sure looks like a great possibility to me,” Hayes said Wednesday. “Eric is a tremendous friend, incredibly bright young man. He has wonderful credentials, and I think would be a very good, complementary candidate to John McCain.”

Hayes made his comments during and after a meeting with educators at Jack Britt High School. Rumors about Cantor have been spreading in recent weeks and began to grow stronger on Tuesday, Hayes said. Several media outlets are reporting that Cantor has come under serious consideration.

Cantor is a fourth-term Virginia congressman representing parts of Richmond and several counties to the northwest. He is chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare. Cantor also holds a seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has direct jurisdiction over taxes, trade, Social Security, Medicare, prescription drugs for seniors, health care and welfare reform.

Cantor has impeccable conservative credentials, and his selection would go a long way towards energizing the Republican base for the election. He has an engaging speaking style and has no problem with political infighting. As a debater, he could be expected to match up well with Joe Biden, but more importantly, he could fire up crowds on the campaign trail for McCain.

However, a Cantor choice has weaknesses, too. It would make this an all-Congress match, when executive experience could make an impact with voters. His work in the private sector is limited to a decade of law practice and the family real-estate business. More importantly, though, Cantor does not have any proven statewide constituency that suggests he could hold Virginia for McCain, although it certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Still, it seems curious that the GOP would not have Cantor already scheduled for a slot in St. Paul. If they’ve held him out for any other reason than a shot at the ticket, I’d be curious to know why they have one of their clean-up hitters sitting on the bench for the big game.

Update: It’s not Crist:

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080828/BREAKINGNEWS/80828015

At a morning press conference to announce his selection to fill a vacancy on the Florida Supreme Court, Crist was asked if he planned to be in Ohio tomorrow.

“I plan to be in Florida,” Crist said.

I didn’t think it would be Crist, anyway, but this seems to confirm it."

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/08/28/could-it-be-cantor/

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[mnehring]

So not VP, but he will be switching parties? Politically he is better as an independent, he would just be another RINO, however, I do like what this could do to the dems. Heads exploding..

[mnehring]

I think last year or the year before he had a 100% rating from them. :->

[STARWISE]

Secret Service Denies Romney Security Sweep
By David M. Drucker
Roll Call Staff
August 28, 2008, 4:07 p.m.
***

The Secret Service is denying that it conducted a security sweep of the Michigan home belonging to the sister of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R).

Roll Call earlier reported that the sweep took place, suggesting that it might be an indication that Romney was in line to be selected as Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) vice presidential running mate.

“The Secret Service did not conduct any advance, sweep or security assessment at the residence of former Governor Romney’s sister, as referenced in [the] Roll Call article. We have no knowledge of any security sweep taking place,” read a statement from the Secret Service.

Sources with strong Michigan ties earlier told Roll Call that the Secret Service conducted a sweep of the home of Romney’s sister. Romney was raised in Michigan, where his father served as governor.

However, one campaign operative familiar with the workings of a presidential-level campaign cautioned that a sweep of such a location could have been conducted in advance of Romney appearing as a surrogate — not the vice presidential nominee — at an upcoming McCain campaign stop in Michigan.

Any McCain campaign appearance in Michigan would likely include Romney, who remains popular there.

Other sources and some news reports have also suggested that Romney in the last few days might be traveling with a security detail, although exactly who employs this security detail could not be confirmed.

Romney finished first in Michigan’s January GOP presidential primary. McCain finished second in that race.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/27749-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

[Hi Heels]

It’s Clean House!

[My Favorite Headache]

Cindy McCain’s sister is voting for Obama...how bout them apples?

[STARWISE]

*****McCain’s newest ad revealed******

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McCain’s mystery ad to Obama revealed: Congratulations; Update: “We wish more of his ads took that tone,” says Team Barry
posted at 4:40 pm on August 28, 2008 by Allahpundit

Job well done, Maverick.

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/08/28/mccains-mystery-ad-to-obama-revealed-congratulations/

McCain says: “Senator Obama, this is truly a good day for America. Too often the achievements of our opponents go unnoticed. So I wanted to stop and say, congratulations. How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day. Tomorrow, we’ll be back at it. But tonight Senator, job well done.”

Not just classy but shrewd, as it’ll buy back some of the goodwill he may have squandered over the past month by hitting Obama so hard. McCain’s done an admirable job during the campaign of trying to rehabilitate the GOP’s image on race to what little extent he can, made more admirable by the fact that in this year of all years it won’t do him any good with black voters.

I’m relieved my prediction was wrong and our e-mailer’s was right.

Update: Here’s the video. Belated exit question: Which nutroots blogger will be the first to call him “patronizing”?

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/08/28/mccains-mystery-ad-to-obama-revealed-congratulations/

Update: One other shrewd aspect to this is that if Obama attacks him in the speech, it makes him look ungracious.

Update: The Obama camp grumbles an obligatory thank you.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe — who did not know the content of the ad until we read him the script — just told us that the McCain ad is “a very nice gesture. We wish more of his ads took that tone, but it’s a very nice gesture.”

Plouffe said the Obama campaign would run a similar ad next week congratulating McCain on his nomination.

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EXTREMELY classy, gracious and savvy!! Well done, indeed.

[STARWISE]

I think she’s a half-sister, and they
apparently have had a long running feud ..
allegedly over what else: the Dad’s fortune.

[My Favorite Headache]

Ahhhhhhhhh money...greed...whatelse is new?

[webrover]

I think that was Al Jolsen. Eddie Cantor used to be around TV in the 50’s . The only song I definitely remember from him (Lord help me) is “Ida, sweet as apple cidah”. They used to call him banjo eyes. I don't know what that means. Rush Limbaugh calls Carly Simon banjo lips. I don't know what that means.

[STARWISE]

Poll of GOP delegates: We want Romney!
posted at 5:37 pm on August 28, 2008 by Allahpundit

No surprise that he’d top the list given how high his profile is, but Huckabee’s high-profile too and he actually ended up with more delegates than Mitt did.

Even so, note the margin:

Romney was chosen by 38 percent of delegates in a new CBS News/New York Times poll, far ahead of the second place finisher, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who was selected by 7 percent of delegates attending the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/08/28/poll-of-gop-delegates-give-us-romney/

[webrover]

I thought is was her half sister.

[penelopesire]

From your lips to God’d ears...that would be great!

[Palladin]

Oh, you’re right! Eddie Cantor’s big hit was “Making Whoopee”. How could I forget?

[STARWISE]

Too good not to post ... and the jpg caption is: worshipme .. LOL

posted at 9:10 am on August 28, 2008 by Ed Morrissey

Dems getting nervous about the Temple of O

Politico reports that “senior Democratic officials” have had second thoughts about the wisdom of the scope, scale, and setting for tonight’s Barack Obama speech at Invesco Field.

The Greek temple set design appears to have been the last straw, and they now worry about the “rock star” impression that this will leave with American voters who increasingly see Obama as a fad and not a serious candidate.

Democrats failed to foresee this despite nominating their least qualified and experienced candidate in decades, if not in their entire history:

[MeanWestTexan]

How about this:

1. Cantor endorsed McCain in Virgia at a critical moment and is credited with saving McCain during the primaries. (This is why Myth hates Cantor, BTW.) A return of favor is in order.

2. Cantor has a high profile position in the McCain organization fund-raising and headlined the shadow convention -— but alone among the short-listers has no speaking roll.

3. The base loves Cantor because Cantor is a solid conseravie.

Which, logically means:

It’s Pawlenty.

[STARWISE]

That was a funny pic — apparently, they’ve already removed it.

It was BHO in a toga, in the doorway of the columns, his famous BHO presidential seal in his hand, and an olive branch wreath on his head.

[webrover]

The same way I did. Yeah, now I remember.

[aeonspromise]

You have good points, Condi would help him win..

[aeonspromise]

Typical, hey you have to play by my rules, ..like I know how best to make your life good. I need the power,
don’t you worry I am there for your money ooops I mean you...
What a Wussssss!!!!!
Maybe he’ll cry like Hillary and get a bump..

[STARWISE]

Latest blurb from on high:

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Obama Camp on Pawlenty: Bring It On

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/obama-camp-on-p.html

August 28, 2008 5:39 PM

Excerpt:

ABC News’ Teddy Davis Reports: The Obama campaign signaled a willingness on Thursday to say that the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse raised management questions for Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) while also maintaining that the populist argument it is building against John McCain will continue even if the presumptive Republican nominee taps the son of a truck driver as his running mate.

“I don’t think it’s particularly relevant who the running mate is if the running mate is willing to embrace in total the Bush-McCain economic doctrine,” Obama strategist David Axelrod told ABC News.

“Everyday Americans understand that those policies aren’t working for them,” he continued. “And if you have one more person out there saying we’ve made ‘great progress’ on our economy and that we ought to continue doing what we’re doing, I’d be eager to have him travel far and wide. I think it’s a losing message.”

“Whoever he picks, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s John McCain’s agenda on the ballot,” added David Plouffe.