Posted on 02/15/2008 9:14:22 PM PST by bshomoic
. . .
MCCAIN AND HUCKABEE
Insiders close to Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign have put out the word that there is absolutely no chance that his last remaining major opponent for the Republican presidential nomination, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, will become McCain’s vice presidential running mate. McCain personally likes Huckabee, and McCain’s campaign has not wanted to antagonize Huckabee’s evangelical supporters, whose backing will be needed in the general election. But McCain’s close advisers reject a place on the ticket for Huckabee, who is unacceptable to economic conservatives.
The immediate problem that Huckabee poses for McCain strategists is how to get him out of the presidential race without offending him. While Huckabee cannot possibly get enough delegates to be nominated, he worries the McCain camp by threatening to win an occasional state, as he did recently in Kansas. Huckabee attempted to upset McCain in Virginia, though McCain wound up winning the primary there by a comfortable nine points.
(Excerpt) Read more at unionleader.com ...
If he's VP, he'll be in the slot - and there's a real possibility McC won't live through an 8 year, maybe not even a 4 year, term - his age and health (he's been through hell and back, health-wise, with the years of torture and later, cancer - ) It would be good to have Romney in the wings.
He'd provide the balance: Romney/economics, McCain/military - he's already been vetted by the public, the cr*p about his religion has been hashed out - it's an 'old' subject -
So it would seem a good ticket.
To go for someone the public isn't that familiar with already, could throw a monkey wrench into everything.
If we get going now, getting a running start ahead of the squabbling dimRats, we just might pull it out.
It's past the point now of not getting the candidate we wanted - it's time to suck it up and all pull from the same end of the cart
Thank you kindly - 
How is someone from MN or OH going to capture the south?
First, while he does differentiate himself from McCain, so far he not landed any punches that would be considered mud slinging. It been pretty much soft balls. It keeps McCain a little more honest. Yes, McCain's people would rather he go away, but so far he's done it in such a manner that he's annoying at worst and causing no real problems to McCain and his campaign. At this point, if McCain goes after him, it looks more like aggression on McCain's behalf.
Second, let's fact it. He's having the time of his life. He's a likable guy, has a way with one liners and is getting a lot of face time in a lot of different venues that traditionally aren't open to an openly evangelical person without them being trashed in the process. He actually does fairly well. And when there is something lobbed at him that most republicans and/or conservatives get red faced about, he turns it and gives it back in a charming rather than a scorched earth manner. Sure, some of the left leaning comedians may view him as a freak show act, but he's been able to capitalize on it without allowing himself to become or be portrayed as the freak show. Most people of faith can't pull that off. Their first reaction is to get indignant. Exactly what those shows are trying to get them to do. Prove that the metaphor is true. Conservative evangelicals are intolerant hotheads.
He's had amazing longevity considering his shoe string budget. He's very adept at squeezing financial lemons into lemonade.
I think he's being savvy by trying to get face time, build his recognition, get his message out and position himself for the next phase in his life. At some point, he'll have to fold his tent. And probably sooner than later. But he's done amazingly well considering he was largely viewed by many in his party as some well meaning hick from Arkansas.
“How about either Sarah Palin, Mark Sanford, Mike Pence, or Janice Rogers Brown as McCain’s final V.P. choice?”
Why the heck would McCain want to pick someone with no name recognition to the broader public? That would get him nowhere. This time around he’s got to pick a well known conservative, be it a social one or an economic one (he doesn’t need a strong on war/terror one because he fulfills that role himself), He needs a strong VP with a well known name (no Dan Quayle please). One that does him some good out on the campaign trail, and one that people can see as a future President if something happens to McCain who ain’t no spring chicken with some past health problems (cancer).
For that reason, McCain may end up holding his nose (as we hold ours if ending up voting for him) and pick Romney or maybe Steve Forbes. He won’t pick Jack Kemp as Kemp lost once before for that slot. I doubt he’ll pick a social conservative other than to make sure the VP candidate is minimally pro-life. But that will be the only prerequisite. He won’t pick anyone whose main bent is social activism. Mark my woids.
Why would he pick Steve Forbes, who is too “nerdy looking” for most of the general public to fully accept? Steve Forbes entire face is a “mess”, and this is besides the fact that he can afford to have some serious facial surgery done. McCain/Forbes=The messed up faces Presidential ticket.
1. Florida
2. The inland west
3. The Ohio valley
4. The plains states.
Assuming that McCain can carry Florida and the inland west on his own, he will probably have a veep to assist in 3 or 4
Can anyone post that
“Master of the Obvious” picture? :)
Romney was gracious in defeat. Much more gracious than McCain would’ve been or Huckabee, I think.
Romney was even more gracious than Fred...Romney stood up and spoke—didn’t Fred just fire off a press release?
I think this speaks to the character of each man. But all of ‘em are better than the alternative party’s candidates.
McCain/DeMint
or
McCain/Coburn
Should be McCain/Romney. Idea being that McCain’s “I know nothing about the economy” statement can be washed away by saying that Romney is in fact the best one to help resolve our “perceived” economic woes. He can also use Romney to offset the Universal Health Care debate topics.
Granted UHC sucks, but in a debate with either Hillary or Obama, McCain can merely say that his VP nominee has more experience at it then either candidate and McCain believes in bringing in the best resources for the job.
Republicans already have the south. If they have to put someone on to capture it then it’s already over IMHO.
Santorum couldn’t carry a conversation muchless a state.
McCain needs a strong conservative as his running mate. That rules out Romney or Huckabee.
[ McCain needs somebody to contrast him in some of his weaker areas.]
Just how many VPs can one candidate have? :)
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