Posted on 02/26/2004 8:05:56 AM PST by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) and other Republicans are rallying around Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) as they seek to quash rumors that Bush might ultimately replace Cheney on his re-election ticket.
Some pundits believe that if Bush is struggling in the polls a few months from now as the 2004 campaign moves into high gear, he might boost his chances for re-election by picking a running mate other than Cheney.
Helping to spur an already active Washington rumor mill was the Feb. 14 cover story in the National Journal which depicted a stern-faced Cheney standing next Bush.
"Just the ticket?" queried the headline. "Does having Dick Cheney as his running mate help or hurt George W. Bush in 2004?"
The article mentioned potential successors to Cheney such as former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (news - web sites) and Bush national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites).
At a Republican governors fund-raiser that marked the kickoff of his 2004 campaign, Bush gave a ringing endorsement of Cheney and in a joking way, alluded obliquely to rumors he might be mulling a change.
He quipped that he had put Cheney in charge of his vice presidential search committee, as he had originally done in the 2000 campaign.
"He tells me he's reviewed all the candidates, and he's come back with the same recommendation as last time," Bush said. "In fact, I made the choice myself, and I have taken the measure of this man. They don't come any better, and I am proud to have Dick Cheney by my side."
The National Journal article said there were "grumblings" among some Republicans who felt that removing Cheney from the ticket might be helpful to Bush because the vice president has been a key target of Democratic attacks for such issues as his past role as head of energy company Halliburton Co., the energy firm that contracts in post-war Iraq (news - web sites).
Cheney's negative ratings in public opinion polls regularly are the worst of anyone in the Bush administration.
DEMOCRATS MORE LIKELY TO BELIEVE RUMORS
There seem to be far more Democrats than Republicans, however, who buy into the rumors that Cheney might end up off of the Bush re-election ticket.
The scenario envisioned by some political analysts is that Cheney might bow out of the Bush-Cheney re-election race sometime before the Republican convention begins in late August.
The vice president, who has a history of heart trouble, could cite his health as a way to take himself out of the race without it appearing that he was pushed out, said Douglas Brinkley, a historian and author of a book at the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites)..
"If there's a feeling that if Democrats have momentum (ahead of the Republican convention), a shake-up will be in order and Cheney will, due to health reasons, resign," Brinkley said.
While opposition to Cheney may help energize the Democratic base, the flip-side is that he also spurs the base of his own party.
"There is a better likelihood that I will be abducted by aliens than that Cheney will get dumped from the ticket," said one Republican official, who called Cheney "indispensable" to the Bush administration.
Cheney, considered by many historians to be one of the most influential vice presidents in modern times, has had crucial roles in everything from helping to shape and sell Bush's tax cuts to advocating action in advance of the Iraq war.
He is frequently the White House's key liaison to Capitol Hill when sensitive issues arise, such as a deadlock during the fall over Bush's proposals to overhaul energy policy and decisions over whether to appoint a commission to investigate flaws in prewar intelligence on Iraq regarding weapons of mass destruction.
"I don't think he's an impediment in any way to President Bush's re-election prospects," said Gary Bauer (news - web sites), head of American Values, a group that advocates conservative social positions
I prefer that VP Cheney remains where he is. But if W is required to name a replacement, I nominate J C Watts.
What is getting old is the media and the Democrats continually connecting Cheney with ANYTHING Halliburton has done in the last 4 years. Cheney has not been involved with the company during that time, and they all know it, they're just trying to make trouble by continuing their lies and trying to confuse those who may NOT realize that fact.
BTW, you're confusing confidence with arrogance.
The logic would hold up about as well if you'd substitute the name "Hillary" for "Giuliani".
It's hard to believe that President Bush will get his base all fired up to campaign for him if he picks a New York gun-grabbing, pro-abortion guy as his apparent successor.
Go wash your mouth out with soap : ) ...Giuliani is pro-abortion and a gun control advocate!
He has to be deaf on homosexuality because of his daughter. He should not be on the bully pulpit with this issue out of respect for her. He is playing it smart. This is a personal matter for him and his daughter and should not be put on the stage for all to see.
You are correct.
Put me down too. It ain't Haliburton that will hurt the ticket, it's the duck hunting trip with Scalia. Poor judgement. Time for him to leave. Besides, W needs to put someone else in as VP so they can be groomed for '08. Cheney sure is not going to run for prez in '08. There are a number of GOP governors and senators who could fill the bill, along with Rudy or Condi.
If there's rumors about Cheney's health, again, it's wishful thinking by the media and the RATS. I saw Cheney and his wife on Fox News this past week, in a video of them buying some stuff at a store. He looked damn good to me, and he's been on the campaign trail raising money. Now somebody whose health isn't good, isn't going to be traveling to raise money.
Can't say that I disagree with you. I am oriented more towards a 'fighter' like Newt or DeLay who is perfectly happy to get 'in-yo-face' with the Dims.
I was merely suggesting a way this could happen WITHOUT losing Cheney who is a valuable resource and trusted friend of Bush.
Besides with Rice as VP he would win hands-down. What's your reasoning behind this?
Greedy SOB Dims like you are putting out this rumor to create yet another division in their opposition. They can't win if Republicans are united against them.
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