Posted on 02/08/2008 1:49:32 PM PST by NormsRevenge
NORFOLK, Va. - On his first full day as the likely Republican presidential nominee, John McCain fended off discussion of specific potential running mates but made clear he sees no requirement to pick someone from a different region.
"I don't want to in any way sidestep the candidacy of Governor Huckabee," McCain said told reporters here before flying off to Wichita, Kan., and Seattle. "He's in this race, and for me to dismiss him would be inappropriate and unrealistic."
Nevertheless, the Arizona senator did offer his view that regionally balanced tickets may be a thing of the past. Since McCain's chief rival Mitt Romney suspended his campaign Thursday, some party figures and commentators have suggested McCain might select Mike Huckabee as a vice presidential nominee to benefit from the Arkansas governor's proven appeal in the South, where McCain has less support.
"From a practical standpoint, I think former President Clinton and Vice President Gore showed us you don't have to be regionally different," McCain said. "I think America is such that, quote, regional differences don't play the role that maybe they did in earlier times." Clinton, who was Arkansas governor, and Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee made the first national ticket entirely from the South.
"The fundamental principle behind any selection of a running mate would be whether that person is fully prepared to take over and shares your values, your principles, your philosophy and your priorities," McCain said.
A day after a conciliatory speech to conservative activists, many of whom distrust him, McCain acknowledged to reporters, "I know that we have a lot of work to do to unite the party."
He held a morning round-table discussion on national security in the Navy town of Norfolk, Va., and the one-time Vietnam prisoner of war stuck to military issues, which have helped him make inroads with his conservative critics.
McCain said it shouldn't be difficult to expand the U.S. military despite a shortfall in recruitment.
"The military is much smaller than it was at the time of the first Gulf War, and we are a country of 300 million people, so to somehow think we can't recruit and retain an all-volunteer force flies in the face of history," McCain said.
Asked at a news conference afterward about Democratic contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, McCain said: "They want to set a date for withdrawal from Iraq that I believe would have catastrophic consequences."
"I believe al-Qaida would trumpet to the world they defeated the United States of America, and I believe, therefore, they would try to follow us home. There would be catastrophic consequences in the region, and we would be back."
"That is going to be, I think, a major issue in this campaign."
Later in Wichita, Kan., he called the difference on these issues "as stark a difference as any contest we've ever had, and I am proud to carry the banner of a conservative Republican, with a record of conservative thought and voting into this election in November."
Perhaps a clone of McKane is in the wings.
It also used to be that parties were usually looking to load up the ticket with candidates from high electoral vote states.
Not so anymore.. it seems.
Has this man seen his election returns? And everyone elses for that matter? Seems to me that geography is destiny. Well that and race and relgion and sex.
I don’t care who he picks, but for the record I think it’s gonna be Lyndsey Gramnesty.
Vote conservative in 2008
My prediction: It’s going to be someone MUCH younger, and more conservative.....and maybe a “minority, including a woman”.....
This is a battle between the hippies/country clubbers and the NEW Conservatives.....
and in 1960 the GOP tried picking a veep from the Dem's home state. That was a flop.
Any of these individuals would help McCain carry those crucial coastal states in which the bulk of the people necessary for him to win the election live.
Maybe he's just being kind, but he's lying here.
Huckabee would have to get virtually 100% of the vote in the remaining primaries, not just merely win all the states by a majority, in order to surpass McCain.
I can’t help but feel he is going to pick a certain DEMOCRAT as his VP...
Maybe someone from Oaxaca.
I don’t care who he picks, but for the record I think it’s gonna be Lyndsey Gramnesty.
—
but I hear the Supreme Court is the best fit for Lindsay.. I guess you could always appoint a sitting VeeP to the Court.
Not sure if I recall it being done before.
Not on the ballet. Unless you have a new party to tell us about...
In other words, No conservatives need apply.
Whose banner did he steal?
The certain someone is an Independent , not a Democrat . ;-)
Captain Queeg’s ego is so big, there might not be room for a VP on the ticket! I’m sure that McCain can find another tax and spend, global warming, pro-amnesty, anti-free speech liberal to run with him. Maybe John Edwards would take it? Or John Kerry? McCain was thinking about running with Kerry in 2004, so now he could return the favor.
"Send in the CLONE! "
But I'd still have to think long and hard as to whether it would make the McCain pill worth swallowing.
Short list of winning running mates:
1) (by a mile) CONDELEEZZA RICE.
2) Mitt Romney.
3) Hate to say this, but Jeb Bush.
4) Joe Lieberman.
5) Duncan Hunter.
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