McCain strategist defends Palin as 2008 VP choice

AP on Yahoo ^ | 10/14/09 | Andrew DeMillo - ap

[NormsRevenge]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A top adviser from John McCain's presidential campaign who has criticized Sarah Palin's odds as a 2012 presidential candidate defended Wednesday the decision to pick her as McCain's 2008 running mate.

Steve Schmidt, who was chief strategist for the Republican's campaign during the 2008 election, said choosing Palin — then a little-known Alaska governor — helped the GOP gain ground against the Democrats and Barack Obama.

"I believe to this day that had she not been picked as a vice presidential candidate, we would have never been ahead, not for one second, not for one minute, not for one hour, not for one day," Schmidt said during a speech at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

"Her candidacy excited the Republican Party," he added. "There was huge excitement that transformed the race."

[NormsRevenge]

He wants to make some big dough down the road. Just covering the bases. ;-)

[pissant]

All I can say is that she has everyone and their sister talking about her still, so she must be doing sumthin right.

[NormsRevenge]

time for a little Humble pie, Steve?

30 Days in the Hole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwWEoMM4PDY

[Liberty Valance]

lol! perfect.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Schmidt must be having a tough time getting a job. Or he has seen some polling numbers...

[NormsRevenge]

I like this shot of Sarah.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in Fairbanks, Alaska, July 26, 2009. Palin, accused during her 2008 U.S. vice presidential campaign of having a limited knowledge of foreign affairs, travelled to Hong Kong to push on Wednesday for stronger ties and trade with China. REUTERS/Nathaniel Wilder/Files

[tlb]

>>>A top adviser from John McCain’s presidential campaign who has criticized Sarah Palin’s odds as a 2012 presidential candidate defended Wednesday the decision to pick her as McCain’s 2008 running mate

The statements are not mutually exclusive. Sarah clearly helped the 2008 ticket but his opinion is she is too damaged to have any chance in 2012. Might be true but I think its too soon to judge.

[wardaddy]

This ass is such a Richard.

He can go fodase.

[NormsRevenge]

Here's to Sarah proving them wrong and Steve eating

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

[NormsRevenge]

A GoP Bob Shrum.. not quite but..

except for aRnold. a big big success lolol

[Sarah Barracuda]

He must have gotten a copy of her book, crapped his pants and realized that the truth is about to come out about him and McCain’s minions, so now he is half ass supporting her

[Windflier]

This dude is either schizophrenic, or he’s making a hard u-turn, after smelling the coffee.

[staytrue]

The problem is that close only counts in horshoes and handgrenades.

McCain lost, same as Al Gore, and the margin for the most part does not matter much.

[Steelers6]

To late Stevie Wonder, why would you trash someone who brought you to the lead and then leave her hanging out to dry with the Charlie Gibson and Katie Kouric interviews. Your stupid and you should never be hired again as a campaign manager.

[Carley]

And McCain destroyed his chances with his idiotic statement about suspending his campaign.

If he had simply said that he felt that it was important to go back to D.C. to get first hand information on the financial market meltdown he would have gotten positive press. Particularly since O simply said he would be available if anyone called.

Suspend his campaign........the end of the campaign.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Hmmm...Lex Luthor was trashing Sarah Palin just this last week, and now he’s suddenly defending her? I wonder who called him and told him to shut up and get with the program?

[Hardastarboard]

had she not been picked as a vice presidential candidate, we would have never been ahead, not for one second, not for one minute, not for one hour, not for one day," Schmidt said

Of all the stupid things Schmidt said and did during McCain's campaign, he at least got this one right.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

And McCain destroyed his chances with his idiotic statement about suspending his campaign.

McCain was in way, way over his head. He was never presidential timber in the first place, and proved it again and again.

• He promoted campaign finance reform, and felt obliged to adhere to it during the campaign - while Obama blithely blew it off.

• He admitted he didn't know anything about economics and, as you said, proved it with his suspending his campaign.

• He announced during the campaign that Obama would make a good POTUS. Something you do NOT do, in general - and he was talking about the biggest internal danger we have had since Reconstruction!

Of all the fool things for a party to do, running a lifer senator for POTUS is pretty high on the list. No senator has ever unseated a sitting POTUS, and only one senator (Harding) has ever beaten a governor in a presidential race. Senators only beat other senators (or, in the case of Kennedy, a VP - and like a senator, VP is not an executive position).

Besides, no one has ever been elected POTUS without attaining that office, or at least the VP office, within 14 years of being elected to statewide (governor or senator) office. Knowing that, McCain was never presidential timber in 2008 - and should not on any account have been nominated.