Posted on 03/06/2008 8:38:15 AM PST by No Socialism
Who will be Senator John
McCain’s running mate for the race to the White House. A question a lot of us on the right, middle, and the left are starting to ask.
McCain’s choice of running mate is an important one especially with the perception in the party that McCain is not truly a conservative in the mold of Reagan instead a moderate (an image that he crafted throughout much of his political career).
One way is to pick a running mate that holds many of the ideas that are at the core of the conservative movement - pro-life, limited government, low taxes, immigration reform, and for the most part a Christian. It would also help if his running mate hails from the south. Robert Stacey, a professor at Regent University, has put together several scenarios that he sees potentially play out before the convention starts later this summer.
Could Huckabee be Robin to McCain’s Batman? He is from the south, a strong pro-lifer, and a Christian? - all qualities that McCain might be looking for. Could his running mates be the Governors Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Mark Sanford of South Carolina, or Charlie Crist of Florida? All have a good conservative base and can pull in the southern vote.
This election is about change the moderate and the independent vote. What better way to demonstrate change and to capture the moderate/independent vote is get a running mate that compliments your own position? Rudy Giuliani could be the one.
Lieberman can not only bring quite a few Democratic votes to the table, but the independent vote as well which tends to shift most Presidential candidates into the wining column.
Will hard core Republicans still vote for McCain? A question that is too early to determine. Stay Tuned…
(Excerpt) Read more at rcrawford79.wordpress.com ...
I really think McCain will have to 'hit em hard'. A conservative black running mate would ‘hit em broadside’. A man like Herman Cain may be just the ticket to pull in a lot of conservatives.
Not to mention, make some of the independents and moderate Democrats that are bent on being part of a historical candidate's nomination… and the many conservative blacks that may feel they must vote for Obama should he get the nomination or, be on the ticket w/Hillary.
Many of these people are very 'fickle'…and can be swayed either way.
Also, McCain needs more of a platform than just National Security. He needs to run on a 'Strong (Patriotic) Dollar'. He needs to maximize on the fact that not all Americans are ashamed of their country. There's a vast majority of us who are sick and tired of the left's 'America bashing'.
He needs to maximize on his 'Straight Talk' motto and, speak to us like a person who's on a job interview (which he is), not some elite politician that deserves control of Our Hard Earned Paycheck Dollars.
There's a way, to connect w/the average American who is still proud to be an American and make it 'popular' if you will.....to say it. There's a way to connect w/them on a basic level. Not as Republicans, whites, Hispanics, etc...
Being an American is, working hard, not taking hand outs (unless you Really need them), thinking for ourselves and being a citizen of the Best, most generous and compassionate Nation in The World.
If McCain speaks to the American People on a different level, He'll have the left beat, hands down!
I suppose the left wouldn't like it if we stopped giving all our hard earned cash to countries that hate us in order to pay for healthcare for all Americans.
Also, I think people need to be reminded that, all these billions of dollars the politicians talk about... all these programs they try to make us think they are so special for wanting to give us.. and their salaries are all paid for by 'We, The, Working, Tax Paying, People'....
I really dont want to see a two-senator ticket.
A governor would be better.
Romney. Put him in charge of economic issues.
Like it could possibly matter, VP’s do nothing, what a disaster this is.
Ever heard the tale of Dick Cheney?
Not Crist. Not Graham. Not Huck.
Biden and Lugar so we can have a Laura Ingraham “McBugar”....
Not a bad idea. Another one to consider J.C. Watts
I’d love to see hillary win the nomination, obama turn down the veep. And McCain offers Watts the veep. That would make for great tv. And Watts is a good man who can handle the spotlight.
Right now I’d like to see Santorum. Others have said Watts. Maybe Steele.
Regardless of who is on ticket, Bush will be McCain’s running mate.
Someone with whom he agrees on virtually every single political issue, right down the proverbial line.
Someone whose selection will allow him to gleefully jam yet another fat thumb into the collective "eye" of conservatives everywhere, while simultaneously allowing him to show what a "maverick" he is.
Someone who'll deliver a voting demographic he otherwise is likely to lose.
Someone who'll have a whole lot of free time on their hands, once Obama nails down the 'Rat nomination next month.
Fred Thompson
Mark Sanford
J.C. Watts
Mike Huckabee
Mitt Romney
George Allen
Haley Barbour
Herman Cain
The problem with Cain is I've heard him say numerous times he isn't interested in elected office.
Definitely not Crist. I favor Romney, Sanford or Pawlenty. I heard Michael Savage say yesterday that McCain would be guaranteed a victory if he selected Colin Powell as his running mate.
I forgot to add Rick Santorum. I like him alot but, like George Allen, he lost his seat and that doesn’t really bode well for a pick.
I thought Powell was advising Obama? Then again McCain is a democrat so who knows he might end up on the ticket.
Does it matter?
If it does then Santorum, Barbour, Watts, or Steele. Steele should run the RNC.
McCain doesn’t need a Southerner as VP—he already has the South in the bag. That said, a case can still be made for a VP pick as a regional strategy, if it could bring a sizeable state over to the Red column.
For instance, I believe Wisconsin was very narrowly a Red state last time, but is exactly the kind that could be swung over in such a polarized election, with a Democrat ticket led by a woman or an African-American. Say all you want about the “reasonableness” of the American voter in the year 2008—they are still predominantly hesitant to vote in a secret ballot for a woman or a black.
Sorry, in previous post I meant Wisconsin was narrowly a Blue state last time.
thats a good idea
McCain is 71 and not in great health. Hell yes it matters.
Juan his staffer would work well!
Colin Powell as per M. Savage.
Romney has my vote as well.
How is a person a Christian 'for the most part'?
Yeah, I didn’t really get that part of the article either, ....
Just wanted to start a thread about VP choices :o)
J.C. Watts would be a good one too.
If you’ll look back at the polls for the Gore-Bush and Kerry-Bush campaign seasons, you’ll find that at this particular time of the campaign season the ‘Rats were WAY ahead in the polls—it’s an artifact of recent campaigns.
The fact that McCain outpolls HRC and runs fairly even with BHC at this point in the campaign season is NOT GOOD NEWS for the ‘Rats. By and large, Americans are not really “enlightened” in 2008, and will tend to vote against a woman or an African-American in a secret ballot in November. If you are impressed with the ‘Rat voting numbers thus far, keep in mind that it represents only about 13% (the energized, those that haven’t heard of Tony Rezko) of the expected vote in November.
You could be correct nabber, but the ‘rezko’ thing as been all over the news in the past few days...as has the NAFTA ‘Obama Gate’ as the ‘mid/main streams’ are calling it now.
So far his ‘followers’ don’t seem daunted by anything that comes his way...it’s a regular ‘love fest’ w/this guy.
I guess we’ll have to ‘wait n see’.
I would hardly call discussing possible running mates, ‘collusion’. What do you propose that none of us vote or involve ourselves at all? We seemingly have had no say all along since we never had a Real candidate from the start. If we had, one of them would have prevailed, instead, they all failed. At lease we could salvage what little is left and try to ensure the dems don’t get total control. If McCain gets in they’ll only have partial control....It’s my thought that perhaps in trying to help him not fall into the ‘McSame’ light, perhaps he will get elected. If on the other hand we miraculously come up w/a last minute, sure win candidate (highly unlikely) I’d be happy to support whoever that may be. In any case, we can try to get back the House & the Senate....
Condi...no way.
Powell....please
Watts?....nice guy but he just doesn't have national presence to me.
Steele?.....I like him ok.
Cain?.....don't know anything about him till right now
that bout does it I guess.
i don't much cotton to race based picks and don't think conservatives choosing a black will help me much at all
anytime a prominent black takes the high road (Cosby...rarely even Oprah), they get sliced and diced and blacks don't exactly rally to their defense.
A black VP on the GOP ticket would just be another Tom, especially against Obama. We have seen repeatedly in state races a black GOP candidate defeated by a white liberal in the black vote.
Who McCain picks is crucial though given his age and the lack of enthusiasm from the base.
How about Hillary? They are good buddies. McCain has already stated she would be a great President.
I bet some of our “conservatives” would still vote for McCain. All that is a requirement is the “R” behind the name.
Cool
BTTT! My exact thoughts! Hey McCain has been known to walk across the aisle, and people are too dumb to hold that against him.
I would not be surprised.
Joe Lieberman
I think his mother would make a good running mate. You get gender balance. She is nearly the same age as he is, which neutralizes the age issue somewhat, and besides she wouldn’t take any of his inside the beltway crap either.
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