RNC: McCain Won’t Choose Abortion-Supporting Running Mate

FOXNEWS.com ^ | 8/19/08

[LdSentinal]

As speculation grows around who John McCain will select as his vice presidential running mate next week, Republican National Committee officials said Tuesday that McCain is no longer considering former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

Several sources at the RNC told FOX News that in the last 36 hours, senior McCain advisers and aides have told RNC officials that McCain “got the message” last week that choosing a running mate who supports abortion rights would not be helpful.

GOP pundits had been vocal in urging the presumptive presidential nominee not to pick a running mate who supports abortion rights. Ridge, the first homeland security secretary, was said to be on McCain’s short list, and the only candidate who explicitly supports abortion rights.

The National Review reported Monday that the McCain campaign has been calling key state Republican officials around the country in recent days to weigh the consequences of picking a candidate who backs abortion rights. The conservative magazine interpreted that as a sign that the McCain campaign is seriously considering Ridge or another abortion rights defender.

“I think it’s a hard sell and I don’t see much upside to Tom Ridge except for John McCain likes him a lot,” National Review Editor Rich Lowry told Fox News Tuesday.

“I don’t think he’s going to be a big benefit in Pennsylvania and even if he is, I think the downside is the rest of the country among conservatives are going to be upset about this, just at the moment they’re beginning to work up being excited about John McCain. ”

Conservative commentator David Limbaugh went even further Tuesday, labeling a McCain-Ridge ticket “political suicide.”

[SolidWood]

Some folks are so hate-obsessed they can’t get past the differences and acknowledge the good sides of McCain and his effort to reconcile with Conservatives. Now that a pro-Abortion candidate has been ruled out, all Conservatives concerned about the threat the Democrats pose to our country, should rally around McCain and crush Obamarx. John had won me over fully after Saddleback.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Then the pro-abortion Lieberman is out. Good.

[SolidWood]

Correction: “a pro-Abortion candidate has been ruled out” = “a pro-Abortion running mate has been ruled out”.

[MrB]

Saddleback was a great display of someone articulating the winning conservative viewpoint.

We’ve just been nutkicked by this guy too many times to take off our cups yet.

[Slapshot68]

The office the VP isn’t “worth a bucket of warm spit” said John Nance Garner. I think anyone qualifies for that.

But I get your concern for her lack of experience. It doesn’t concern me if you’ve surrounded yourself with a good support staff.

[TitansAFC]

Hmmmm...

I wonder what Romney’s elected experience was before being Governor for one term.....

Gotta look into it.

[SolidWood]

The office the VP isn’t “worth a bucket of warm spit” said John Nance Garner. I think anyone qualifies for that.

Richard Bruce Cheney would disagree.

[Dionysius]

Has Duncan been vetted? I haven’t heard his name brought up as a possible, but I share your belief that McCain could do no better.

[tobyhill]

The MSM is taking single quotes and trying to make mountains out of mole hills.
NRO probably heard one McCain Adviser say that no one is out of the running until it's announced and then they follow up with something like, “Lieberman?” then the response was “no one”.

National Review has been known to be wrong from time to time and even if they have their facts correct to some extent I know the MSM is not being honest brokers.

[Slapshot68]

Agreed...I think the office is what one makes of it.

[jmaroneps37]

I thought it was a head fake.

[mkjessup]

The office the VP isn’t “worth a bucket of warm spit” said John Nance Garner. I think anyone qualifies for that.

John Nance Garner lived in a pre-nuclear world, and before Islamic global jihad was declared against these United States, with enemies both within and without.

The Vice President of the United States can no longer be considered a position for OJT. Whoever serves in that Office must be ready to serve as President on a moment's notice, because America is at war, and our Republic deserves nothing less.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

The funny thing about politicians is that people too often don’t know who to trust about anything, even if it’s about who the final VP choices are going to be for both McCain and Obama.

[GYPSY286]

I’d LUV to see that. In fact, if he chose Hunter, I’ll WALK to vote and it’s uphill both ways, lol! Anyone know if there is somewhere online we can bombard McCain with Hunter’s name?

[advance_copy]

Now that a pro-Abortion candidate has been ruled out, all Conservatives concerned about the threat the Democrats pose to our country, should rally around McCain and crush Obamarx. John had won me over fully after Saddleback.

Worth repeating.

[mkjessup]

Hmmmm... I wonder what Romney’s elected experience was before being Governor for one term..... Gotta look into it.

While you do that, I'll run to the kitchen and get some coffee, I figure five minutes tops? ;)

[Babsig]

yes, that is true regarding if she has a good support staff, but how does she handle herself say at a debate or news conference? We don’t need another “Dan Quayle” where the MSM makes her look like she is stupid because she is not a good speaker. Depending on her opponent, we don’t want her to get hammered in a debate.

[mkjessup]

Saddleback was a great display of someone articulating the winning conservative viewpoint. We’ve just been nutkicked by this guy too many times to take off our cups yet.

You've got until November to gingerly protect your family jewels from all threats, real or imagined.

[BJClinton]

Ah, my Sarah just moved up a notch or two.

Are you sure that's something you should be sharing on a public forum?

[rawhide]

Neat she is wearing a flag pin on. Patriotic.