McCain: I'd Entertain Kerry VP Offer

NewsMax/AP ^ | 3/10/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Republican Sen. John McCain allowed a glimmer of hope Wednesday for Democrats fantasizing about a bipartisan dream team to defeat President Bush.

McCain said he would consider the unorthodox step of running for vice president on the Democratic ticket — in the unlikely event he received such an offer from the presidential candidate.

"John Kerry (news - web sites) is a close friend of mine. We have been friends for years," McCain said Wednesday when pressed to squelch speculation about a Kerry-McCain ticket. "Obviously I would entertain it."

But McCain emphasized how unlikely the whole idea was.

"It's impossible to imagine the Democratic Party seeking a pro-life, free-trading, non-protectionist, deficit hawk," the Arizona senator told ABC's "Good Morning America" during an interview about illegal steroid use. "They'd have to be taking some steroids, I think, in order to let that happen."

McCain gained a reputation as a party maverick who appeals to independent voters during his 2000 race against Bush for the Republican nomination. This year, McCain has campaigned for the president and said he would continue to do so.

Unlike some other Republican senators, he hasn't railed against Kerry, a fellow Vietnam veteran. McCain called the Kerry-Bush contest "the nastiest campaign so far that we have seen" and said he preferred campaigning for candidates instead of against their opponents.

[adam_az]

"And -- often when McCain goes on the Sunday morning talk shows, I get the strong sense that the questions have been scripted in advance. McCain negotiates the questions, and prepares his answers."

BS, I often hear McCain on local radio talk shows, and he often takes 30 minutes to an hour of unscripted calls.

I don't see eye to eye with him... but I do think your allegation is pretty over the top!

[atomicpossum]

"John Kerry (news - web sites) is a close friend of mine. We have been friends for years," McCain said Wednesday when pressed to squelch speculation about a Kerry-McCain ticket. "Obviously I would entertain it."

John Glenn went from hero to whore with campaign finance. McCain is now firmly in that territory. I don't want to hear about what a 'war hero' he is anymore, either.

[shrinkermd]

Never underestimate a grandiose, big ego whose omnipotent fantasies have been thwarted. McCain hated Bush before and hates him now.

The only good news is that Howard Dean like McAiniac has had his omnipotent fantasies thwarted. You have heard nothing from him. I still believe he will find a way to spoil Kerry's chances. Hopefully, I am right.

[onyx]

McCain just craves attention. As I've stated here repeatedly, McCain plays with the media, the GOP and the RATS. John wants attention. Now he has it for a day or two.

As you pointed out: he's Bush/Cheney's AZ co-chair.

[Carry_Okie]

Wait 'til Schwarzenegger runs as a Democrat.

Gotta love them RINOs.

[atomicpossum]

perhaps mccain simply feels honor bound not to dismiss the possibility out of hand due to a sense of camaraderie with his fellow viet nam veteran.

Kerry was in Viet Nam?!?

[LayoutGuru2]

[jmstein7]

Want to stop Kerry?  Check out these ads!

[shrinkermd]

PS: Mcain was stopped in the South Carolina primary by the Evangelical Christians. He believes but for this he would be President. The Kerry/McCain duo could then be the "sacrilegious ticket." What a wonderful contest!

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

McCain and Kerry are fellow vietnam veterans alright,they both ratted on America.McCain is a jerk and so is Kerry.

[FRgal4u]

As expected, all the negative reaction here. I am no fan of McCain, but hate to say this, a Kerry/McCain ticket will win Arizona, Nevada, makes PA out of reach for Bush, NH out as well... For all the folks out there thinking Cheney won't sink the ticket, McCain going to Kerry would. A Bush/McCain ticket may make some of these hardcores stay home, but vs the gains in the Independents over states like PA, OH, MN, OR, McCain has his appeal to the Bush ticket. If McCain goes to Kerry ticket, ahard to see a counterticket with the same media buzz, maybe Bush/Powell could - Bush/Rudy probably not good enough. Looking at how polarize this country has become, sooner or later we will have tickets with candidates coming from both parties - not hard to imagine a McCain/Lieberman type of ticket - sorta like Ford after Nixon, Bush after Clinton (now the polarize vs the unify)..

[smonk]

yep. he had this speedboat, see . . . . . .

[Gypssy]

Who can really blame McCain. He's old, a has been, scary looking like Kerry), a loose cannon but more...and he knows that no American with half a brain will vote for him for anything outside of AZ. He'd make a perfect running mate for ole John "Bring it On" Kerry. McCain is like fat ole Dick Morris, he'll smell behind whichever party pats him on the head.

[My2Cents]

I'd love to see them try to take on God.

[doug9732]

It's hard to fathom what game McCain could be playing. If he was serious about running with Kerry he would make his pitch in private. So I believe he just answered a reporter's leading question in an incautious and imprudent fashion.

[AlexW]

Any Republican that would cross over to have McCainiac is not only stupid, but really SICK, just as McCain is sick.

[Sally'sConcerns]

And in case you missed it, later on in the same interview McCain stated, "I support whichever direction the wind blows."

I must have blinked or something because I didn't hear him say that. I did hear him make mention of the democrats being on steroids if they were to let that happen. (that being him considered as the democrat VP)

[dalebert]

Just as big a creep as Kerry. I think he should do it. That way his political career should be just about finished.

[pawdoggie]

I think that Senator McCain pretty well foreclosed the possibility of running as Kerry's VP. Despite the lack of love on FR, John McCain is viewed favorably by a lot of Republicans (and not all of them RINOs), independents/moderates and Democrats. McCain's savvy enough to know that his popularity rests on his "maverick" image, the notion that he might just support a Democrat or Liberal position on a given issue, while generally supporting conservative Republican positions in most cases. He knows that if he were to become a GOP robot, or a "Jim Jeffords" Democrat, he would forfeit a lot of good will. And in standing by Mr. Bush in this election, he sets himself up (age notwithstanding) for a run at the top sport in 2008.