Posted on 05/15/2004 10:58:02 PM PDT by hope
Times: Kerry Still Considering McCain for VP
NewsMax WiresIn a page one, top-of-the-fold story in the New York Times this Saturday, the paper reported that many senior Democrats still view Republican John McCain as their number one choice as John Kerry's running mate.
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Such a ticket would "instantly transform the presidential race," the Times said.
As late as last Friday, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said about joining the John Kerry Democratic ticket for the White House: “I have totally ruled it out.”
But despite that ring of finality, enthusiasts of the match -- including operatives close to John Kerry -- won’t stop touting it up as a lightening bolt that would make Kerry-McCain a "dream team."
Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida said, “There’s a collective sigh that says, ‘This feels right.’ I think it’s very plausible that, with Iraq still in chaos, that if offered to him, he would say it’s time for me to go serve my country again in another capacity, where I can do some good.”
Former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, who now serves on the 9/11 Committee, has even hammered out some possible compromises to make the scenario work:
“Senator McCain would not have to leave his party. He could remain a Republican, would be given some authority over selection of cabinet people. The only thing he would have to do is say, `I’m not going to appoint any judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade.’”
Meanwhile, political observers are working overtime to crank out hyperboles about the dream team.
A Democratic strategist who once worked for Mr. Kerry, Chris Lehane, said the ticket “would be the political equivalent of the Yankees signing A-Rod [star third baseman Alex Rodriguez].”
For his part, Kerry, who has kept his veep search low key thus far, “continues to be interested in” McCain.
According to the Times report, the two close friends and fellow Vietnam vets talk on the phone periodically. And while on the stump, Kerry often invokes McCain’s name.
And while McCain has not endorsed Kerry, he has frequently come to his defense. Most recently, McCain has urged Republicans not to criticize or question Kerry's Vietnam war record or his anti-war activities afer he was discharged.
In return, Kerry has gone out of his way to cite and praise McCain.
Last Friday, for instance, when asked whether he thought pictures of abuse at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison should be released to the public, Kerry said:
“I think John McCain really had the right formula, personally,” referring to McCain’s suggestion that the pictures would eventually find their way into public view, and should be put out in an organized fashion.
Furthermore, when Kerry started his drumbeat to oust Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, he was asked about possible replacements. “Our good friend John McCain” was his immediate response.
Pundits suggest that in the mix for the Kerry-McCain pairing is not only the close friendship between the two men but what has been described as the cool relationship between McCain and President Bush.
Although McCain is co-chairman of President Bush’s re-election campaign in Arizona, he reportedly is still smarting from the attacks on him during the 2000 Republican presidential primaries.
But the “dream team” is not without its distracters.
Donna Brazile, who ran Al Gore’s campaign in 2000, opined, “McCain has not been pro-choice; he’s not been out front on affirmative action. He’s not been out front on core issues that have defined the Democratic Party.”
Some suggest that McCain would upstage Kerry.
Meanwhile, if the dream team fails to materialize, the list of possible Democratic contenders is now brimming with usual suspects ranging from senators John Edwards of North Carolina and Bob Graham of Florida -- to governors Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Thomas J. Vilsack of Iowa.
Editor's note:
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
106-101
Run, Sen. McKeating...er McCain, run....
While McCain was being tortured in a Vietnamese prison camp, Kerry was throwing his support behind the anti-war effort, which made it easier for McCain's captors to gain the advantage.
"My prediction of 2 months ago still stands. McCain will be Kerry's VP."
youre gonna look like a fool
McCain has never been a traitor
A standard tactic? Who else used it? McCain isn't perceived as a centrist at all, merely an "independent".
I don't know. My general memory from past presidential campaigns is that people connected with the campaigns usually leak (or openly mention) the names of lots of popular (to somebody) politicians as possible VP's, even politicians it is obvious won't be picked. Usually they, especially the Democrats, will have it understood that they are seriously considering one black and one woman. Since I can't name names, I guess my memory can be regarded as dubious.
This is GREAT news!
It reflects the hopelessness felt by the Kerry camp.
It means:
1. Kerry can't find a VP, who would add more votes than they would subtract (including Hillary).
2. Kerry doesn't believe he has what it takes to win on his own volition.
ROTFLOL!
I think it's hysterical that while the democrats are so busy bashing Bush, the military, and all the republicans ...... IT TAKES A REPUBLICAN TO MAKE KERRY A VIABLE CANDIDATE.
The modern-day Democrats are such a bunch of losers that Kerry doesn't even want to take one of them as his running mate.
It's even greater news, were it true. Get rid of a RINO, replace him in conservative AZ with a pro-borders, true conservative (Hayworth? Flake?) while seeing McCrazy and his Manchurian ego go up in flames with Ketchup boy.
That all being said, I'm with the group that says it will never happen.
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