Posted on 08/07/2008 7:31:44 AM PDT by greyfoxx39
The Beijing Olympics are about to begin, but in Washington the real games of August involve vetting the potential Presidential running mates.
-SNIP-
As the trailing candidate from an unpopular party, John McCain has the harder decision because there really is no obvious candidate.
-SNIP-
The best choice on the merits, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, has the wrong last name. Florida Governor Charlie Crist could help the nominee in a big state with 27 electoral votes. But like Iowa caucus winner Mike Huckabee, Mr. Crist has a record of too-frequent political opportunism that would disappoint much of the party.
A name often mentioned is Mitt Romney, who looks and speaks the part and as an entrepreneur himself could help on the economy. The former Massachusetts Governor failed to catch fire in the primaries, though, and, however unfairly, his Mormonism seems to be an issue with many evangelicals. Our own concern is that he continues to defend his state health-care reform even as it looks increasingly like a fiscal disaster.
-SNIP-
A darkhorse pick would be John Kasich, another Buckeye-state politician and former Congressman who left Washington before Tom DeLay and other Republican leaders forgot why the voters elected them.
-SNIP-
If there were a miracle choice for Mr. McCain, that person would be obvious by now. There isn't, and an attempt to find one can easily backfire
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Time to add a new name to the mix. Cantor, anyone?
Ping
I really hope for Cantor. Too bad he can't have two Veeps... ;o)
I had breakfast with Congressman Cantor this morning (he spoke to our Rotary). He was non-committal on the question. He chalks it up to a slow news season, that will be overshadowed when the olympics start. I did notice that he had a few more people in his entourage than usual, a couple of whom I’d classify as bruisers.
Sanford of South Carolina? He might as well pick Lindsay Graham.
I am surprised Kasich wasn’t mentioned before this. Maybe McCain and Kasich don’t like each other.
Tom Ridge? Why isn’t Tom Ridge mentioned.
Looks like he’s going to take florida without help. Romney in my opinion is the best choice. He can fire up the troops and really go after Obama.
Second choice would be Palin from Alaska...
Cantor would be a good pick. Pawlenty couldn’t keep members of his own party from overriding a big tax hike veto.
Right. The WSJ's own concern is Romney's stance against illegal immigration.
It will be Crist....he recently got married to put down any rumors that might have floated about his sexualty....
.....McCain can’t will without Florida.
If I remember correctly, I think Ridge is pro choice which wouldn’t do much to fire up the party.
Wouldn't that make for an interesting race?
McCain doesn’t need Crist for Florida, which is the only thing Crist could bring. McCain leads Obama in Florida 50% to 44% already. Picking Cantor would help McCain with Virginia, Florida, Conservatives in general and even give him a shot in some NE states where he is already close.
Yes, Ridge is pro-abortion.
...and it’s questionable that he could even bring Florida. And he did NOT get married; he got engaged....to a guy named Frank :))
LOL
No. Rice is socially liberal and her disastrous Albright-lite approach to everything apart from Iraq makes her an absolute NO.
sw
I wish McCain would pick Santorum. But I’d love to see him pick someone Dennis Miller. He has achieved far more in the private sector than Obama has. And Obama has achieved nothing of consequence in the public sector except take bribes from Resko. So I think have a comedian on the ticket would be fun. Then again Miller’s humor might not be everyones cup of tea.
Like John McCain...
John Bolton for Veep!
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