Posted on 08/07/2008 11:58:46 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan
While a new poll revealed has that John McCain remains the clear choice among Israelis for the White House, the presumptive Republican candidate for president was last weekend reported to be looking at a leading Jewish politician as a possible running mate as he attempts to maximise support across America.
Eric Cantor, the chief deputy minority whip in the House of Representatives - where he is currently the sole Jewish Republican - is said to feature on a shortlist which also includes former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
The 45-year-old, who would be the country’s first vice-president if he join the Republican ticket and McCain was to win, has reportedly been asked to submit personal documents as part of a vetting process which is fast reaching its conclusion. “He’s bright, clean, conservative but not angry, and Jewish. “(He’s a) great fund-raiser and locks up Virginia for good measure,” a Republican source said of Cantor, who entered Congress in 2000.
A poll, meanwhile, has revealed that 38 percent of 499 Jewish Israelis questioned by the Keevoon Research, Strategy & Communications would favour a Mccain presidency compared for 31 percent for Obama, giving the Republican a significant lead. That, despite Obama having gained significant ground since a poll by the same organisation in May before Hillary Clinton withdrew from the race.
However, selecting a Jewish vice-presidential candidate could serve to bolster support from the community at home where he appears to be trailing his Democratic rival by a large margin – a poll earlier this year from Gallup suggested American Jews would vote for Obama over McCain by 61 percent to 32 percent.
But it is not just among Jews that the selection of Cantor, who is a supporter of Israel in Congress, could be well received . Virginia, which he represents in the House, is a key battleground state in what looks set to be a closely fought presidential contest, while Cantor is also likely to attract the support of the more conservative elements of the party who have been less than convinced about McCain’s stance on some issues.
If selected, Cantor would be hoping to go one step further than Senator Joe Lieberman, who ran alongside Al Gore in 2000.
Cantor Ping.
The internal polls are very interesting and show the split between domestic/international Jewry in a semi-quantifiable way.
Shall I ping?
You’re good...
Between this and the fact that most Germans and Muslims prefer Obama there is no real surprise to me.
No, I have the comm until Friday . . . .
Very good...
I only wanted a test fire anyways...
Say it ain’t so, Yo-Yo!
“While a new poll revealed has that John McCain remains the clear choice among Israelis for the White House, the presumptive Republican candidate for president was last weekend reported to be looking at a leading Jewish politician as a possible running mate as he attempts to maximise support across America.”
I don’t want a President who’s the “first” ANYTHING.
Or a Vice President.
Or anyone else, in any position, for ANY reason.
People should assume office because they’re the best person for the job.
Period.
Buying into this whole “first _________” thing makes us sound like the brain-dead liberals.
Don’t disagree, but keep in mind the source of this article is a Jewish/Israeli publication.
Nah . . .from the NY Observer:
The 45-year-old Cantor, who won his seat in 2000, owes his place on John McCain’s list not to the insistence of a House G.O.P. leader, but rather to what seems to be the legitimate interest of the candidate himself. This makes sense for several reasons.
For one, McCain is in the exact opposite position as Obama when it comes to the VP risk factor. McCain, sort of like Mondale in ‘84, is a known commodity, and voters need little reassurance that he has the necessary preparation and seasoning to lead. He can afford to team up with a running mate whose main experience involves seven years in the U.S. House. Cantor’s (relative) youth would bring energy to the ticket, and his Jewish background would also attract considerable attention. On the whole, picking a wild card like Cantor would attract attention — something McCain, to his immense frustration, has struggled to do.
Cantor would help in two other specific ways. First, his prodigious fund-raising skills would bring in some badly-needed cash — this in a year in which Obama could spend $300 million. And he could boost McCain in Virginia, a state that Obama is furiously targeting — and that could tip the whole election if it flips to the Democrats for the first time since 1964. Cantor only represents a small part of the state, and his presence probably wouldn’t add more than one percent to McCain’s statewide total (if that) — but have you seen how close the polls are there?
Cantor’s prospects are further aided by the dearth of top-tier options for McCain. Mitt Romney looms as his most logical selection and Tim Pawlenty has been the subject of plenty of speculation. Pawlenty would bring very little to the ticket, while Romney might be helpful in Michigan and with money. But his negative ratings are high and there could be some lingering resentments from the primary season. Beyond those two, there are no other obvious prospects for McCain to consider. If he’s looking for a non-Romney/Pawlenty option, why not Cantor?
Judah Benjamin could have been the first Jewish Vice President, had he thought the position worth anything.
True conservatives will support a conservative regardless of religion, race or gender. Which can not be said of the DemocRAT party.
all three give the Old guy some Conservative street creds. I would love to see a Jihndal /Palin or Palin/ Jihndal ticket in 4 years.
Looks like a really good pick. Is there a down side to this guy? The fact that he appears to be a solid conservative is good enough for me. Am I missing something here?
Cantor sounds like a solid choice. We need someone youthful and vigorous. He speaks well and I think he would be good in a debate. Going up against a dreary speaker like Evan Bayh would mean a sure debate win for Cantor. Would he lock up VA for McCain though? I’m not sure but I hope so.
What’s wrong with possibly choosing either Sarah Palin or Bobby Jindal as his final VP choice? There are advantages to choosing a Governor as VP. IMHO, Eric Cantor’s main weaknesses is that he’s a white male who isn’t a Governor, but, other than these two things, I would be happy with Eric Cantor as McCain’s final VP choice. McCain would also seriously improve upon his chances for victory if he would name his “ideal cabinet” in a McCain administration. Most formal ‘08 Republican Presidential candidates would probably be willing to serve in cabinet positions in a McCain administration, if asked by McCain.
IMHO, the only other disadvantage of McCain picking Eric Cantor as his final VP choice, besides Cantor being a white male who isn’t a Governor, is that Cantor’s Congressional seat could seriously go to a Democrat.
Haim Solamon (sp) could have as well.
Republicans are in a pickle this election season, McCain for better or worse has chosen (or been forced) to stick by his public funding of the campaign pledge, the same one The Obamao pledged to follow but later reneged on.
Meaning right now McCain can match Obamao dollar for dollar in ads, once he is the “official” Nominee, he is limited to about 92 million bucks to run ads from September to Nov 3.
INOW McCain 2008 needs funds to go to the RNC or to 527’s to try and at least keep pace with the Obamao’s money machine.
Eric Cantor could seriously help in that dept, the quite Dhimmicrat secret is, the “Jewish vote” is not only valuable at the polls, they contribute half the monies the Dhimmis typically receive.
If Cantor could help there, and draw some money into the McCain Campaign’s efforts one way or another, he has a value far beyond “the first fill in the blank” he could help to level the playing field.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.