Posted on 08/19/2008 7:49:51 AM PDT by TitansAFC
NR has learned that the McCain campaign has been calling key state GOP officials around the country the last couple of days and sounding them out about the consequences of a pro-choice VP pick. The campaign is asking about the reaction of conservative grass-roots activists to such a pick and whether a pro-choicer can be sold to them. This is an indication that the McCain campaign is serious about the possibility of a pro-choice VP nominee and that McCain leaving the door open to Tom Ridge last week may not have been merely a friendly nod to a longtime supporter. In this scenario, McCain's emphatic pro-life statements Saturday night and his pledge that he'll run a "pro-life administration" would have been partly an attempt to reassure conservatives in the event of a pro-choice pick. Here is NR's take today on why going with a pro-choicer would be a mistake for McCain.
Picking a pro-choice running mate would be a deal-killer. After McCain saying “this will be a pro-life administration,” nullifying that statement with a pro-abortion running mate will sour the base and knock McCain right out of the race.
Might?
Agreed.
McCain has done a lot of good for himself lately with conservatives and I cannot imagine he would undo it by picking a pro-choice VP.
Because McCain is almost a democrat himself.
Good analysis, and I really appreciated your measured response to me. All I know is the other side is truly frightening./Just Asking - seoul62......
The President sets policy, of course. But every veep is the presumptive successor to the prez. Do we really want a pro-abortion Republican nominee in 4 or 8 years?
After all the buzz from his fabulous performance on Saturday, McCain wants to risk throwing all those gains away with a pro-choice pick?
In the past seven days, I've gotten ten envelopes in the snailmail addressed John McCain. After this weekend, I was even toying with sending in a donation.
I will not vote for a ticket with a pro-choice candidate.
If that means that Nobama gets in since I refuse (like many others) to vote then so be it.
This issue is my line in the sand.
I’m not thrilled about Ridge, but he’s hardly the worst choice out there. He’d almost certainly bring PA with him, so I can understand why he would be under consideration.
"I've been a Republican all my life. I first voted in 1964, and have voted Republican ever since.
National Review has it out that McCain is tossing out the possibility of a pro-choice running mate to see how it would play. My answer is: McCain will be toast if he goes that route.
McCain did a great service to his candidacy at the debate this past weekend with his pro-life remarks. Any action that would dilute that stance will flat lose the election for him.
Unless he's an idiot (and I don't think he is) he'll reconsider. It's the most stupid, harebrained idea he could have.
Sometimes this man just puzzles the hell out of me. He came across so strong and focused at the event. Now this? If it's true he's a dunderhead.
What do these people see in Tom Ridge, he is worse than Bob Dole, and we all know what happened with Bob Dole.
Actually Ridge brings PA to the ticket almost certainly. I hate people who make comments and don’t have a clue what they are talking about.
I am not thrilled about Ridge, but Ridge would bring PA to the GOP this fall (something I think will happen anyway with fauxbama as the candidate) but this would make it a lock.
See my post #51.
Folks, I think he has Rudy in mind. Recent polls show NY is in play. And like him or not, Rudy is a very effective communicator and very tough on the WOT.
No one answers the phone......
Lieberman is pro-choice. And I don’t put anything past McCain, he might just pick a liberal who was on Gore’s ticket.
Then, my second nightmare, Obama picks Clinton.
Why? Because he's black? You think a former Lt. Governor is ready to be president? I'd like to see Michael Steele sit in for Rush Limbaugh when Rush is on vacation. Steele's ready for that job. But president? Um, could we pick someone who WON a statewide election?
I will be SO glad when McCain actually picks his VP, to put an end to these speculative threads.
Officially, the President, however, the VP is the President of the Senate so he can be a swing vote on issues and nominations.
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