John McCain may turn to Virginia for a VP candidate

Los Angeles Times ^ | August 4, 2008 | Leslie Hoffecker

[MeanWestTexan]

First came speculation that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine was on Barack Obama's short list for the Democrats' vice presidential nod.

Today, the Associated Press is reporting that John McCain's campaign has asked another son of the Old Dominion, Rep. Eric Cantor, for personal documents -- a pretty good indication that he is under scrutiny as a running mate for the presumptive Republican nominee.

Cantor, 45, has racked up overwhelming victory margins from his Richmond district since he first ran for Congress in 2000. He serves on the powerful Ways & Means Committee and, as chief deputy minority whip, is a member of the House GOP leadership. As the only Jewish Republican in the House, according to the Almanac of American Politics, he has been in a position to reach out both to Jewish voters and, through his strong support of Israel, to his party's Christian conservative base.

Why else might McCain like him? Well, ...

Cantor is a prodigious fundraiser and serves as finance chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. His voting record in the House is solidly conservative -- more so than McCain's, according to several national ratings. And given that the veep nominee is often called on to take more pointed positions than the person at the top of the ticket, it probably doesn't hurt one bit that Cantor was labeled a "Bush attack dog" by the chairman of Virginia's Democratic Party during the 2004 presidential campaign.

[gimme1ibertee]

OK...yep..
I remember hearing some sort of buzz about her...She’s a mother of five, I think?...and supports the NRA as well.
You are also correct in pointing out that her vacating the AK gov seat would be a problem for Alaskans,but better to have a good VP pick in there.

[MeanWestTexan]

I was pleased to note Cantor was one of the ringleaders behind the contined session by Republicans after Pelosi turned off the lights on the House debate on oil.

[autumnraine]

You said “It helps, but having a conservative to vote for would get a lot of us motivated.

A RINO/RINO ticket? Bleech.”

I interpreted it as if the choices are Woman-RINO, Minority-RINO or Conservative.

I apologize if I took it incorrectly.

[MeanWestTexan]

Apology accepted. It’s not like I’ve never misread a post.

Palin would be fine — unlikely, however, given her family size/youth. She would also be soundly slimed with associated with Alaska Senator Stevens (?). Surely there are a bazillion photos of them together and glowing letters and joint fundraising, etc. Not good to be close to a soon-to-be felon.

The “blech” is for liberals like Romney. I will never vote for a ticket with Romney on it.

[elpadre]

certainly a plus

but, they should have started their revolt long before the last day.

I am completely turned off by everyone in Congress.

[Dr. Sivana]

Anyone dumb enough to be fooled by Romney is dumb enough to put another Souter on the Supreme Court.

Agreed. I had suggested earlier that the name was being floated because that's what campaigns do. I will also state that I believe he would be a good choice.

People like me who are primarily social values voters would take an observant Jew who doesn't shed his identity at the door over an observant Jew who does (Lieberman) or a member of any other socially conservative religion who acts against what should be core beliefs that apply to everybody. (Keeping kosher doesn't apply to everybody, nor does abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent. Though shalt not kill, on the other hand, is a universal.) I would be happy to support Jeff Flake over a Romney type.

Cantor also has another advantage, he would NOT be the "first" Jewish VP candidate. There is a legitimate political fear that picking a "first" can sometimes be seen as a sideshow and be a distraction. It can also be viewed as a sign of desperation. Lieberman nether helped nor hurt Gore in 2000 very much. Cantor being Jewish would be a part of the story, but would make serious waves with none except some fringe types on both sides, and a few of those fence sitting secular Jews who are leery of McCain and nervous about Obama. Some of the anti-Christian style attacks would be somewhat blunted, and would sound as silly as Dawkins calling Ben Stein's movie a work of Right Wing Christian zealotry (or something to that effect, or it might have been Hitchens, they morph into one for me).

In a more literate era, I would say that a mere Rep with a Senator would be a weak play (Kemp was also HUD Sec.). These days, I don't think it's that big a deal, especially as McCain's experience is not questioned.

Trumping all of that for me is that Cantor is solidly pro-life. McCain's voting record isn't bad, but he seems uncomfortable on the issue. Cantor hung with the president on embryonic stem cell research, and that tells me he's the real deal.

Selecting Cantor tells people like me that maybe McCain would welcome my vote after all.

[definitelynotaliberal]

By your leave, MWT, what he meant was that a RINO VP would compound our woes. McCain is a RINO, x is a RINO. Hence RINO-RINO ticket. My sentiment is exactly the same: blech!

You need to slow down a little, autumnraine, to keep from ‘understanding’ things that aren’t there.

[SHEM33]

How exactly would Cantor shore up the Conservative base?

[MeanWestTexan]

Shem33, I just want to welcome you to F.R. and thank you for your posting of Pat Buchanon articles.

[autumnraine]

I gotcha.

Yes, I don’t want a RINO/RINO ticket either.

GAH, can’t we just start this election over?

[gscc]

Sarah Palin is the logical choice to have a national impact. There is no logic in believing that Romney would bring Michigan into the Republican column just because his dad was governor 40 years ago. Cantor might help in Virginia, however, would have little appeal anywhere else. In an election where the parties in numerous states are separated by 1-3% points a VP candidate like Palin would move many into the Republican column. She would energize the conservative base, Evangelical voters, pro-life voters, reform minded voters and most of all women voters. Let’s not forget that many Republicans will be voting for McCain but are not enthused. She would be at the cutting edge of advocating progressive energy policy, in other words, drill here, drill now.

[firewalk]

Senator Allen, please pick up the courtesy phone...

[autumnraine]

Thanks, but I don’t appreciate being admonished. Especially when there is no need. MWT and I have settled things.

[autumnraine]

And would really really make the PUMA’s happy. Except for the Pro-Life stuff. But they have McCain to counter that. Ugh.

[Vigilanteman]

Your point #2 is valid and good.

However, your point #1 could be said of your local pharmacist or store manager.

[definitelynotaliberal]

Bless your heart.

[MeanWestTexan]

I’ve been proudly posting without reading for a long time.

;-)

(paraphrase of another’s tagline)

[autumnraine]

I may swipe that tag line!!

[MinorityRepublican]

Virginia in 2008 is not the same Virginia in 1996. Due to the rapid population growth of Northern Virginia, it is inevitable that the Old Dominion will ultimately join the liberal North. Even if McCain wins this one, it will be close.