Novak: McCain to name VP this week
posted at 8:05 pm on July 21, 2008 by Allahpundit
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If it’s true — and a few GOP sources who spoke to Politico have their doubts — then it’s probably Romney, right? Consensus has it that he’s at the top of the short list and if you want to maximize Mitt’s fundraising it makes sense to roll him out as soon as possible.
So why, then, is McCain suddenly headed to New Orleans to meet with Jindal on Wednesday?
That’s not your exit question, actually. This is: Assuming McCain goes first and it’s not Palin, how does that affect Obama’s options in possibly picking a woman? I tend to subscribe to the Limbaugh/KP theory that Barry O wants to avoid putting Hillary or Sebelius on the ticket if at all possible lest that combo seem too “diverse” for some voters, but if McCain makes a play for female voters by choosing a woman, Obama might have no choice.
Update: Headlines comments imported.
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I guess he might as well do it already since we’ve got a pretty good clue who it will be. Sigh.
terryannonline on July 21, 2008 at 5:55 PM
Let me put it this way: I’m sooo sure John McCain will pick Governor Crist as veep, I’m willing to take any legal, HotAir-approved “bet” that anyone can come up with.
If I’m wrong, I’ll pay the piper. And if I’m right, well…we’ll work something out.
JetBoy on July 21, 2008 at 5:57 PM
McCain/Palin ‘08
pseudonominus on July 21, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Hope it’s Palin. Can’t help but feel that that would appeal to a lot of Hillary folks.
Has anyone mentioned Colin Powell?
Rod on July 21, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Romney, for sure.
With the economy increasingly being the major issue, he needs someone that has some cache on the matter.
SteveMG on July 21, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Palin. The rest of them suck.
Including McCain, come to think of it.
wccawa on July 21, 2008 at 6:01 PM
Who’s that, TerryAnn?
Rod on July 21, 2008 at 6:01 PM
He better not pick Sanford.
amerpundit on July 21, 2008 at 6:01 PM
Let’s hope it is Sarah or Mitt.
On the off chance that was not sarcasm, I think Colin has left the farm…
brtex on July 21, 2008 at 6:02 PM
The People’s Governor!
The_Freeze on July 21, 2008 at 6:03 PM
Wait, wait….Juan Hernandez???
/sarc
brtex on July 21, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Romney, Romney.
Seixon on July 21, 2008 at 6:04 PM
If he picks some unknown white, middle-aged or older, male governor, it’s over.
Rod on July 21, 2008 at 6:04 PM
We need MITT ROMNEY …
al on July 21, 2008 at 6:05 PM
I fear that I’m about to be very disappointed.
It's Vintage, Duh on July 21, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Palin = 100%
He is stupid to do this before Obama, don’t you think.
stenwin77 on July 21, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Only McCain would bring on Romney, the one possible VP totally unacceptable to 15 million southern baptists and put Georgia, North Carolina, and possibly South Carolina in Obama’s column.
But oh well. Instead of realizing what an Obama win would be, let’s just force-feed Romney down the throat of the south to prove how tolerant we Repubs are.
Say hello to Obama’s new middle east – the United Islamic Republic, baby!
battleoflepanto1571 on July 21, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Powell has already climbed aboard the USS Hopenchange.
Lehosh on July 21, 2008 at 6:17 PM
Novak said McCain was going to do it to get some headlines whie Barack was on his Grand Tour.
I think the NYTimes nonsense is doing that for McCain now, and it would be unwise to annouce before Barack. Why make publicity when you’re getting it for free?
Charlie Crist. Mitt Romney. Wow. A ticket with two boring white guys. And I doubt either would help shore up the conservative base.
Wethal on July 21, 2008 at 6:18 PM
oh yeah,
PALIN = 300 McCain Electoral Votes
SLAM DUNK
ROMNEY = guy who entered about 2 dozen elections (not caucuses), but actual primaries…. and won 0 states not named Utah or where a family member was governor!
Romney is the $100 million dollar loser! On tv more than those ‘Shamwow!’ commercials, and he can’t win a single state!
But watch JMac bring him on…. gag
PALIN! Shore up Michigan, PA, Ohio, and even New Jersey in one foul swoop!
battleoflepanto1571 on July 21, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Grahamnesty! Grahamnesty! Grahamnesty!
Let 2 the 2 biggest RINOs meet what awaits them — complete and utter annihilation!
HYTEAndy on July 21, 2008 at 6:21 PM
I don’t think so. Especially if it’s Palin. He needs to take some of the attention away from The Man Who is Going to Save the World. The sooner the better.
Most likely though we are all going to be in the same boat with It’s Vintage, Duh.
Rod on July 21, 2008 at 6:23 PM
Well, Novak and bunch of other people have hinted at Romney. I know that doesn’t mean he’s a sure thing but I wouldn’t be surprised.
terryannonline on July 21, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Gee, is anyone else besides me offended that battleoflepanto thinks all Baptists are religious bigots like himself? Romney will cost the votes of 15 million Southern Baptists? If so, let them go. Anyone so bigoted they won’t vote for McCain solely on the basis of his Vice President’s religion doesn’t need to be in the Republican column anyway. Go join the DailyKos–you’d feel right at home if you want to be bigoted against a decent religious man.
But I have more faith in Southern Baptists than Battle, as well as more command of the facts: Romney won Nevada, and I can’t recall any family members of Romney as governor there. And while I may not be smart, I don’t think “Nevada” is the same as “Utah.”
Vanceone on July 21, 2008 at 6:31 PM
I totally believe the report that polling showed Mitt would sink the ticket. I suspect that if McCain does announce this week, it will be someone much more surprising and interesting than Mitt. How horrible would it be for McCain to announce that Mitt’s his VP pick and the media just shrugs and goes right back to the nonstop Obamagasm. They’ll only pause to pay attention if it’s someone very surprising and different, I think. It’s probably foolish of me to get my hopes up, but I’m thinking maybe he picked Palin after all.
aero on July 21, 2008 at 6:32 PM
I’m evangelical and I think it’s ridiculous that people keep suggesting that Romney didn’t win (and shouldn’t be VP) because he’s a Mormon. I think people are smart enough to separate their theology from politics.
terryannonline on July 21, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Oh, and if he did pick Palin, I hope he announces it from an Alaska oil facility, with cheering oil workers all around. I think oil workers might be almost as heroic a background crowd as soldiers would be at this point. If we move forward with an oil production “surge,” they’ll be on the front lines, saving us all from dependence on hostile foreign oil producers. Wouldn’t that have a great rhetorical impact? Make Palin the pro-drilling queen, make oil workers our new heroes, and Alaska the hope for our future. Nice.
aero on July 21, 2008 at 6:38 PM
With Palin he could really take over the Drill for more Oil issue, and we would need to get her on TV as much as possible.
although, imagine the late night jokes they could make about her. not necessarily bad though politically, but they’d definitely joke about her being hot.
jp on July 21, 2008 at 6:38 PM
No. If it is Palin and he announces after Obama picks a woman, it will look like a “me too” pick
Harpoon on July 21, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Mitt won’t add much other than his bank account to the ticket. Barr is making the South in play, he needs a solid VP pick. can not lose either NC or Ga.
barr, you jackass
jp on July 21, 2008 at 6:40 PM
He should pick Obama as his VP. And tag it with “that way, he can actually get some executive experience for 8 years and then he’ll be qualified in 2016″ LOL
lorien1973 on July 21, 2008 at 6:41 PM
I’m also an evangelical, Terry, and agree with you 100%. Romney was my governor here in MA. He did a great job. I voted for him over McCain and believe he would make a great vp and president.
Rod on July 21, 2008 at 6:47 PM
I’m holding out for Lynne Cheney.
Limerick on July 21, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Or, wait, even better…
Rudy!
I’m having fun with this…
HYTEAndy on July 21, 2008 at 6:56 PM
You know, I really feel that it did prevent him from winning the nomination. All my friends and family are evangelical, and I know many of them who did not vote for Romeny simply because of his religion. So many of them were bigoted that I quit calling myself an evangelical due to that.
doodleduh on July 21, 2008 at 6:57 PM
The polls suggest otherwise. About the only states in which Romney did well were those in which he had a personal connection (Michigan) or a large Mormon population (UT, NV, WY, ID).
In UT he got over 90% of the Mormon vote, and a similarly high percentage in NV and WY where they also turned out in large numbers. If Mormons were turning out and voting for him based on religion, I think it’s safe to assume that significant numbers of non-Mormon Christians didn’t vote for him based on religion, unfair though that might be. Clearly religion does matter to many when voting.
Hollowpoint on July 21, 2008 at 7:03 PM
What about the reports that McCoot’s internal polls show Romney sinking the ticket if he’s VP choice. McCain/Romney, to me, means a lot of votes for Bob Barr…
GeneSmith on July 21, 2008 at 7:09 PM
:))
saus on July 21, 2008 at 7:10 PM
If he’s picking Palin, I hope he does it before Obama announces his.
If he is picking Mitt, I hope he does it after Obama.
If he is picking Crist, oh nevermind, he’s not.
Spirit of 1776 on July 21, 2008 at 7:11 PM
I want to make this clear to everyone here. The South (for the purposes of keeping this short, I’m not counting VA, which does seem to be a swing state this year) is not in play. Obama MAY have a chance at GA if black turnout for Obama is high (has to be at least 5% better than usual black turnout for Democrats is) and Barr gets 10-12%, which is entirely possible considering it’s his home state. But the Carolinas and the “Deep South” are definitely not in play. The MSM buzz on “Obama turning the South purple” is based on speculation that Obama is going to get blacks to vote Democrat. Well, guess what? Blacks have been voting Democrat in the South…for decades. I’m not saying we won’t see a slight move forward with black Democrat turnout, but it’s not going to be this mass of hidden new voters coming out for Obama. The South’s EVs are safe. Romney may ever-so-slightly hurt the ticket in the South with the small percentage of Evangelicals that “won’t vote for that Satan loving Mormon, Rev. Huckabee told me so!”, but he’ll make up for it by putting Colorado and Nevada in the Solid R column.
malan89 on July 21, 2008 at 7:14 PM
Perfect analysis. If he picks Crist, Pawlenty, Ridge, etc…it won’t matter when he announces–we’re screwed either way.
malan89 on July 21, 2008 at 7:16 PM
I don’t know. I’m still not convinced. John McCain is not a favorite of evangelicals, he managed to pull it out. Aren’t California and Florida big states filled with people of various religious backgrounds (not all are evangelicals)? If it had to do his religion then why didn’t he win Cali. and Florida? Also, I’ve never known New Hampshire to be a big Baptist state. He lost that state also. Maybe in places in like Iowa you can say it had something to do with his Mormonism but you can’t excuse all the other places he lost.
terryannonline on July 21, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Second look at Jeri Thompson!
steadyrock on July 21, 2008 at 7:19 PM
I really doubt there are that many Americans stupid enough to vote for somebody like Bob Barr. The only state I see him making any difference in is Georgia. He’ll probably draw 4-5% nationally, most of which will come from people who normally vote LP every cycle (a solid 2% of all voters), PaulNuts that weren’t going to vote for any Republican nominee other than Paul anyways, and former Obama supporting anti-war people who don’t like Obama on one issue or the other and see Barr as the anti-war alternative. I doubt he draws very many Republicans to vote for him, if any at all.
malan89 on July 21, 2008 at 7:20 PM
I’m taking more than two looks at Jeri, if you know what I’m sayin’…and I think you do.
malan89 on July 21, 2008 at 7:21 PM
It’s really hard to judge a person’s national popularity based on primary results. The two or three early contests are the only ones that matter. By Super Tuesday, the nominee was already chosen. If Romney had squeaked past Huckster in Iowa, he may have had the “momentum” and media coverage to win NH or Florida. And then on to Super Tuesday. If Fred! supporters had abandoned the train wreck known as Fred!’s “campaign” earlier, Romney could have done better. It’s hard to tell. There are a lot of “what if?s” you could go through. We need some sort of national primary system…now. I’m sick of a bunch of as*holes in Iowa and New Hampshire choosing my Presidental nominee. I had ZERO say. Millions of people around the country had ZERO say.
malan89 on July 21, 2008 at 7:26 PM
Obama thinks he is going to turn some Mountain West States Blue this year.
I think either Palin or Romney would keep that from happening.
EJDolbow on July 21, 2008 at 7:31 PM
No one is suggesting that his religion was the one and only issue that affected the outcome, but the evidence strongly suggests that it played a significant role. If McCain isn’t the favorite of the evangelical demographic, adding Romney to the ticket only makes things worse in that regard.
Who does he bring on board besides Mormons, Michiganders and hair stylists? Compare the size of that demographic with the significant number of Christians who in polling say that they’re less likely (or not at all likely) to vote for a Mormon. I don’t agree with that sentiment (I was anti-Romney and anti-Huckabee for reasons independent of religion), but between opinion polling and exit polling the fact remains that his religion is an issue for many, like it or not.
Hollowpoint on July 21, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Do you expect to be taken seriously with comments like that?
EJDolbow on July 21, 2008 at 7:34 PM
The ‘Stache would be my choice if it can’t be Fred!
infidel on July 21, 2008 at 7:36 PM
If he chooses Palin, he will definitely have a strong base in the Western states and a leg up drilling-wise. Also don’t forget that Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne was formerly the Governor of Idaho, and is well-loved in that state. Won’t make a difference in the election, but if he held him over into the new cabinet he could have two strongly conservative, pro-West players on his team to tackle the Don’t Drill Dems in congress.
steadyrock on July 21, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Hope its Mitt! Otherwise, I’m writing in Mitt and voting for Norm Coleman.
cjs1943 on July 21, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Jack Kemp
tomas on July 21, 2008 at 8:07 PM
it can’t be Mitt…he already thru McCain under the bus
tomas on July 21, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Beaten to death, I know, but me and a heck of a lot of those other 15 million liked Romney just fine.
vonspringer on July 21, 2008 at 8:13 PM
If you’re right, mccain will pay the piper and lose Florida.
peacenprosperity on July 21, 2008 at 8:13 PM
McCain-Geller?
McCain-Malkin?!?
McCain-Bolton?!?!?
One can only hope. Don’t hope for a better life, vote for one. Don’t sit and stew, do something!
HotAirJosef on July 21, 2008 at 8:14 PM
My God, what has HA come to?
peacenprosperity on July 21, 2008 at 8:14 PM
huh… why…..? sore loser syndrome?
Chakra Hammer on July 21, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Freddie Dalton Thompson!
alphie on July 21, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Exactly, he needs to pick Palin Quickly.. IF he’s going that route..
Chakra Hammer on July 21, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Mitt’d be a great hatchetman.
LtE126 on July 21, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Very interesting how one religions intolerance is acceptable and anothers is not.
peacenprosperity on July 21, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Well, if he heads up to Alaska to visit Palin, I hope she takes him out to ANWR so he’ll see what a bug-infested bog it is. Let the caribou go screw somewhere else. If they want to enough, they’ll find a place.
Wethal on July 21, 2008 at 8:17 PM
First headline: McCain defends VP Choice
Anyone
tomas on July 21, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Are you joking?
terryannonline on July 21, 2008 at 8:18 PM
To sabotage the McCain campaign.. LOL
If you want someone to kneecap Obama pick Rudy..
Chakra Hammer on July 21, 2008 at 8:18 PM
being that Sarah is my Gov. and I have not heard anything as of yet, but a few rumors, I do wonder as to why McCain is going to see Jindal. Very odd indeed.
Sarah if you decide to go, my wishes to you as a supporting Alaskan!
upinak on July 21, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Have you people forgotten that Palin is from Alaska and mccain has said NEVER to drilling in anwr?
peacenprosperity on July 21, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Gotta be Crist. He has NO chance without Florida.
Hummer53 on July 21, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Due to health concerns, we can rule out Ted Kennedy. (But ONLY due to health concerns.)
Cicero43 on July 21, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Is Alaska so freaking third world country or something?
can I roll my eyes at you more?
upinak on July 21, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Then barry’s racist church will sink him, right?
peacenprosperity on July 21, 2008 at 8:23 PM
That’s actually a really good point, and I hadn’t thought of it. (And I hope it is Palin.)
Tanya on July 21, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Since Blinky Pelosi will be third in line, whoever McCain picks had better be in legendary good health.
Cicero43 on July 21, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Please no, his LTGov is an idiot and I still have hope that we can unf**k him.
Squid Shark on July 21, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Palin is the only reason to announce before His Highness.
swami on July 21, 2008 at 8:26 PM
No matter who he picks, someone will not be happy.
I like Palin, and I would not hesitate to support her. But I spend time reading political blogs too. Most of the people I know do not and they have no idea who this woman is. Underwhelmed.
But they could learn and she is interesting.
Some of the conservatives who do not like McCain might like Romney better.
Terrye on July 21, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Palin’s Bust! Umm I mean Palin or Bust!
- The Cat
P.S. I’ll say it again, Mitt didn’t get it cause he looks like a lawyer/used car salesmen. He shoulda died his hair blue of gotten a tatoo or something.
MirCat on July 21, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Most have a different idea about her. she has been in many magazines, political and other wise. Recently she was in Vogue (if you can believe it) and Newsweeks and a few others that I can’t think of off the top of my head. She is “getting around” but in the right way.
upinak on July 21, 2008 at 8:27 PM
I didn’t mean to come off sounding like I was dumping on Alaska. My meaning was, why would mccain pick a woman whose going to bug him about something he has said no to repeatedly? What makes anyone here truly believe that mccain has changed his stripes?
peacenprosperity on July 21, 2008 at 8:28 PM
McCain is going to do whatever he darn well wants to do. I’m not holding out much hope.
RushBaby on July 21, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Alaska doesn’t have gravitas
tomas on July 21, 2008 at 8:29 PM
I have always supported drilling in ANWR, but if McCain supports off shore drilling {and that includes Alaska} and other domestic drilling then he might be worried about that whole flip flop thing on ANWR.
Terrye on July 21, 2008 at 8:29 PM
We will just have to wait and see. That is all there is too it.
upinak on July 21, 2008 at 8:30 PM
Does anyone? That would be like someone taking me seriously.
- The Cat
MirCat on July 21, 2008 at 8:30 PM
You don’t seem to have much depth either from what I have seen. Don’t assume.
upinak on July 21, 2008 at 8:31 PM
I’m supporting McCain no matter who he picks for VP. He will be Commander-in-Chief. Heck, he pick Hillary for all I care.
- McCain/Clinton ‘08
terryannonline on July 21, 2008 at 8:31 PM
upinak:
She does need more exposure. I think that some people are so turned off by politics anymore that they just do not want to know who these people are. They try to avoid the news and everything else. That makes it hard for new people.
Terrye on July 21, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Oh man, is it really going to be Mitt? Geez. It’s getting harder and harder to be a republican.
Palin!
Dash on July 21, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Sink him? Probably not. But no doubt it will hurt him to some degree.
Likewise, Mitt wasn’t sunk because of his religion (and in a fund-raising sense it likely helped him) but it did hurt him to some extent, unfair though that might be.
Hollowpoint on July 21, 2008 at 8:33 PM
“Mitt’d be a great hatchetman.
LtE126 on July 21, 2008 at 8:17 PM
To sabotage the McCain campaign.. LOL
If you want someone to kneecap Obama pick Rudy..
Chakra Hammer on July 21, 2008 at 8:18 PM”
I was a Rudy guy…he was my first pick.
LtE126 on July 21, 2008 at 8:33 PM
People are complaining… gasoline, natural gas for heating, electricity, etc. We all have complained about it on here. What can we do? Complain more. McCain won’t have a choice if enough Americans complain to Congress or the Senate… something HAS to happen. Either they bend to OUR (the American People) WILL or they don’t come back. And those that do “come back” to their seat deserve every damn tax they get!
upinak on July 21, 2008 at 8:33 PM
After reading all these comments calling McCain a lightweight and whining about voting for a moderate, Senator McCain just called me and told me his VP pick… wait for it… more suspense… wait for it… more patience… wait for i… McCain-GIULIANI!
Just kidding. It could be “worse” than Romney or Crist, you know. Stop whining.
I’d prefer Pamela Geller, Michelle Malkin, John Bolton or Hugh Hewitt.
HotAirJosef on July 21, 2008 at 8:35 PM
With that said I have some things I have to get done here in my State.
And all we can do is wait and see what happens. If it is my Gov. cool.. if not, then we will see. Don’t you all hold your breath!
upinak on July 21, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Please please please let it be Palin!
Yossarian on July 21, 2008 at 8:35 PM
God willing it will be Palin. I agree that it needs to be a woman and Palin is the best and most qualified. We have no rumors of a JC Watts or Steele so Palin is the best choice out there.
I like Romney but he just does not make sense at this time in this election.
azcop on July 21, 2008 at 8:35 PM
I have Palinmania. :D
It's Vintage, Duh on July 21, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Damn it people. It’s not going to be Palin. It’s not going to be Jindal. It’s down to Crist or Romney. I’m putting my money on Romney.
Seixon on July 21, 2008 at 8:36 PM
If McCain does indeed pick Bobby, WOW, that will give out a shockwave that will affect all the congressional races and senator races. We will finally again have a true conservative who will explain why liberalism is so rotten to the core. I really hope when he goes down to LA, he says to Bobby, look I NEED YOU and the country NEEDS you to be my VP. Bobby will make McCain win comfortably. Bobby as VP will get the conservative base HAPPY and EXCITED to go out and VOTE. THE GOP will get A LOT OF MONEY also if Bobby is the VP. I am praying right now that McCain does the right thing and picks Bobby
BroncosRock on July 21, 2008 at 8:37 PM
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