Ideological soul-mates, that's for sure. Some other folks who could potentially be on McCain's short list:
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."
So the old McAmnesty guy with the inspirational speeches is going to get Democrats to vote for him? I guess he hasn’t got the memo the free handout votes are already taken.
“Not on the ballet. Unless you have a new party to tell us about...”
I’m voting for any conservative I can find on the ballot (local, congressional, etc.)
As far as President, I’ll see who the Constitution Party nominates, otherwise, I’ll just write-in.
I want no part of aiding in the election of liberals.
I haven't heard any other suggestions that make more sense.
Your forgot another female RINO from a state with a lot of electoral votes.
kay bailey hutchison
I’d really like him to choose Condoleezza Rice.
IMHO she gets a bum rap - for doing her job, as directed by her boss.
She doesn’t decide foreign policy. George Bush does that, she works for him.
She’s a brilliant woman. I’d like to see her as VP. I’ll actually go out of my way to vote for McCain in that case.
Ideological soul-mates, that's for sure. Some other folks who could potentially be on McCain's short list:
Look, McCain sent Charles Keating as his spokes person to Hannity and Colmes, last night. That’s like giving Sean and conservatives the middle finger. He’s saying, I got away with the Keating 5 mess, and I’ve been sticking it to you ever since. I had a slight set back in 2000, but I’m going to show conservatives that I’m smarter than they are.
Perhaps he'll want to pick the other McCain, the one that's running around in his head.
Chuck Hagel?
It’s tough choice. I’d say the reasons are evenly split between two kinds of running mates for McCain,
1. An EMT
or
2. An anger management specialist
Nope, Juan McCain’s VP will be Joe Lieberman.
Bend over! Here it comes.
If it is Grahm, he won’t announce it until the convention because I’m pretty sure that Grahm is gay. The left won’t have any qualms about throwing that out in the press to discourage conservative voters.
I think you may have it. Hagel would be the sharpest stick in the other eye for conservatives.
J. C. Watts
I like Martinez -- I think he gets a bum rap -- but obviously some immigration folks aren't crazy about him.
God help the Republic. He's going to pick Ted Kennedy.
I hope he nominates his mother. It will be a gender balance, they are nearly the same age, which neutralizes the age issue somewhat, and she won’t take none of his arrogant inside the beltway crap.
He’s already showing how responsive he’s gonna be to his party.
I agree, and posted it yesterday or the day before.
Graham is behind him im so many photos that he's beginning to resemble Tourist Guy.
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