« An Update On Republican Rules | Main | Dean Meeting With Florida Delegation... Expect A Joint Statement » McCain Begins The Search For A Mate02 Apr 2008 09:53 am Sen. John McCain is working on The List. In an interview with Don Imus this morning, McCain said "a list" of potential ticket-mates is being compiled and that the campaign had begun to have those names "looked out." A senior campaign official downplayed McCain's remarks, saying that the campaign "was in the early stages" of the process. Another adviser said that McCain's list is "in his head." Comments (15)
You mean Vicki wouldn't do? 
I think they've got her penciled in as the next National Security Advisor.
And so the Kabuki drama begins. Like they haven't been thinking of possibilities since McCain clinched the nom (if not before).
Anybody see McCain on Letterman? I had two thoughts: 1) He really doesn't know jack shit about the economy. When it comes to debates, he will get blown out of the water by either Hillary or Obama. 2) Disregarding his lack of knowledge of "how things work," he comes off as genuine and affable. His character will be the main focus of his campaign, I think - he really doesn't seem to have anything else to go on.
Yeah, I remember them saying the same thing about Reagan not having a chance in the debates against Carter and Dubya not being able to handle Gore.
Disregarding his lack of knowledge of "how things work," he comes off as genuine and affable. Hey, it worked for George Bush. There's still people out there who think "he's one of us" and "he's just a good ol' boy, trying the best he can". Yea, my dad was Ambassador to China and Director of the CIA and Vice President for 8 years and President for 4 years also. Atleast McCain will have slightly more grounds for assuming that character...
Rusty, the point is that Bush actually was horrible in debates but still won. He didn't win because of his intellectual superiority, he won because of his perceived authenticity and affability. McCain is going to try to win in a similar manner. I just think that after 8 years of supreme incompetence, people are going to be sick of voting for the guy who doesn't really, you know, "get" government. People may be put off by Clinton's divisiveness or Obama's aloofness, but at the end of the day they'll be too unimpressed by McCain's lack of vision and leadership to vote for him.
He`ll go for the ultimate thumb in the eye and try to bring the Republicans Center. But he needs someone who can exude the same confidence in ignorance he can. McCain/Lieberman 08
Craig -- while I think Kerry got the best of Bush in their debates, I don't know which debates you were watching in 2000: Gore was so bad he *admitted* blowing the first two (remember his "Three Little Pigs" analogy?)
Clearly, McCain's best move is to get over his personal animosity and select Romney. Romney's popular with the party elites and the talk radio set, and he brings technocratic competency on domestic matters -- an obvious McCain weakness.
Rusty - I was out of the country in the fall of 2000, so didn't see too many debates. Clearly in 2004 I thought Kerry showed better command of the issues than Bush.
McCain could also go "off the radar" and pick someone like John Danforth or Frank Keating. He will NOT pick someone that doesn't have very strong appeal to religious right voters AND hardcore money cons. He needs to shore up the base. He will not go to the center.
I don't think McCain would dare risk alienating the fundies by putting Lieberman on the ticket. He may be a major hawk but, on social issues, he's still far more of a Democrat. Perhaps more frightening, I hear that Lieberman would far more likely head State or Defense. Be afraid - be VERY afraid...
It will be Palin. In a head-to-head with Obama, some polls show the # of undecided women doubles. Palin is middle-class and down to earth, but has the strength of Thatcher. This is Hilary Clinton's base.
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In addition to frontrunners Pawlenty and Crist, I suspect we'll be hearing much more soon about Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, OMB Director Rob Portman, and Mitt Romney. And Sarah Palin too, who's clearly a GOP star-in-the-making, but perhaps less seriously than the aforementioned.
Posted by dry_fish | April 2, 2008 10:10 AM