Was the pro-choice trial balloon about Rudy?
posted at 12:30 pm on August 19, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Kathryn Jean Lopez writes today at The Corner about one interpretation of the recent John McCain trial balloon that hadn’t yet arisen in mainstream analysis. What if McCain might be thinking of Rudy Giuliani as a running mate, rather than Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman? She even notes that a recent staff move could signal this:
The McCain campaign has already hired a Giuliani staffer as the unnamed veep’s communications director…
Rudy would make more sense than either Ridge or Lieberman. Ridge doesn’t exactly have a national following, and Lieberman is a typical liberal Democrat on all issues but the war. Giuliani had led most polling for months in 2007, only losing his grip in the final weeks before Iowa and New Hampshire, as his Florida Firewall strategy turned out to be a creative catastrophe.
The boss employs her usual brevity at the prospect:
Shudder. Juan Hernandez approves!
In the primaries, I thought Rudy Giuliani would give Republicans their best shot at victory …. against Hillary Clinton. Only in the last few weeks did I change my mind, as Giuliani’s strategy started backfiring, but Giuliani could be a potent weapon on the campaign trail. Few politicians sound as authoritative and have banked as much respect as Giuliani.
However, that doesn’t make him a good VP prospect. Giuliani’s strength came in his tested leadership, and obviously not in his positions on social issues. John McCain already has the tested leadership qualities of Giuliani, and he needs someone with clearer ties to the Republican base on these issues. Besides, Giuliani won’t win New York for McCain, and even with his popularity, probably won’t make it close enough for Obama to spend more money there than he already has planned.
If McCain wants a game-changer for a VP selection but shies away from Sarah Palin for a lack of experience, how about — John Breaux? The Louisiana Democrat is pro-life, opposed to the estate tax, voted for NAFTA, supported the Bush tax cuts (the last of which McCain opposed), wants lower capital-gains tax rates, and supported tort reform over Bill Clinton’s veto.
A John Breaux pick would give McCain a stronger grip on the South, and the “unity ticket” could help bring independents and centrists to the ticket. If McCain wants to select someone outside the box, he could do worse than Breaux, who’d make a better Democratic partner than Lieberman on the basis of all these issues.
Update (AP): I’m mystified by the appeal of Giuliani as a VP. He brings all sorts of negatives, would destroy McCain’s newfound credibility with Christians, and adds nothing to the ticket except the same resolute hawkishness McCain himself already has in spades.
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Rudiani? Oh please no.
saved on August 19, 2008 at 12:31 PM
I’m pro-life and as long as we have the platform and the prez then he can choose whoever he wants. People need to stop being so harpy.
ninjapirate on August 19, 2008 at 12:33 PM
What is Rudy? I have no clue if he is pro choice or not.
upinak on August 19, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I supported Rudy initially, but I don’t think he will help the ticket now. Also I can just see the Dims making a commercial about the “extramarital affair ticket”.
HawaiiLwyr on August 19, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Hmmm. . .if not VP, then maybe Rudy as Secretary of State? Attorney General?
Gottafang on August 19, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Rudy has said that he is personally pro-choice but that he favors conservative judges.
I’ve always liked Rudy, but if Obama goes with Biden, I think that McCain can lock this up by going with Palin. And then I would dare Obama’s team to play the experience card!
SWLiP on August 19, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Read this commencement address:
http://externalaffairs.citadel.edu/giuliani_commencementaddress07
brilliant. Rudy is the only pro-choice possible VP nominee worth the risk. And like I said in the comments up in the headlines, lots of “True Conservatives” like Ann Coulter have already said they won’t vote for McCain no matter what. So McCain may figure that picking Rudy won’t lose him that many votes anyway.
And really, imagine a Rudy vs Biden VP debate. wowzer
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Breaux isn’t a bad choice. He left office well respected on both sides of the aisle.
If McCain were to take this strategy of seeking out independents and centrists, essentially telling social conservatives and evangelicals that they are unwelcome in McCain’s GOP, would that lead to a third party movement in 2012?
highhopes on August 19, 2008 at 12:39 PM
problem here will be with conservatives, McCain doesn’t have strong, perceived Pro-Life cred to get away with picking Rudy. This would help Bob Barr, not McCain
jp on August 19, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Apparently Rick Santorum and Rudy are friends. If Santorum gets on board, it’s a big winner.
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 12:40 PM
I’d prefer an AG Rudy
jp on August 19, 2008 at 12:40 PM
I said it last year and I will say it again, I will NEVER vote for Rudy Giuliani for any office.
EJDolbow on August 19, 2008 at 12:40 PM
He had me with the ferret rant…
And if I can be allowed to cheerlead a little here, I don’t think that Rudy’s stance on social issues should be a dealbreaker in a VP position when he’s so strong everywhere else. He’s an attacker and reinforces McCain’s strengths. If you want to kick terrorist ass I don’t see how you could not vote for McCain/Rudy.
Ed, who besides a political junkie could get excited by a no-name like Breaux?
sublime on August 19, 2008 at 12:40 PM
And what’s the difference between Liebs and the Drag Queen?
Giuliani’s conservative record is:
- Not a social conservative at all (Pro Abortion
Pro Gay)
- Not so much of a fiscal Conservative (The hypocrite first attacked Pataki’s cuts and after 10 years used them to boast himself – talk about chutzpah!)
- Less-than-McCain and equal to Liebs War on Terror conservative.
Aristotle on August 19, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Don’t do it, rudy. New York needs you to ride David “The Blind Radical Sheik” Paterson out of the Governorship on a rail.
Spanglemaker on August 19, 2008 at 12:41 PM
To about 100 million Pro-life Americans there is no such thing as an “acceptable Pro-abortion Candidate.”
You and McCain are fooling yourselves if you think this will be accepted by Pro-Life people.
EJDolbow on August 19, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Obama can NOT choose ANY woman except the Hildebeast — and he won’t do that. That’s why it is the perfect time for McCain to choose a woman. McRudy won’t buy him ANYTHING (New York simply isn’t winable for the GOP).
My collie says:
CyberCipher on August 19, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Giuliani is a great choice. A great republican with executive experience and stupendous results to back that claim up.
I went to a McCain rally in NYC and saw many people with Rudy signs, even though he dropped out of the presidential race. He got the most applause there.
Giuliani is a great pick to attract republicans, independents, moderates, and democrats.
jencab on August 19, 2008 at 12:42 PM
The abortion issue isn’t the only problem with Rudy; he’s also anti-2nd amendment.
FloatingRock on August 19, 2008 at 12:43 PM
I thought McCain, himself, covered that demographic; I thought he created and bares that brand.
Weight of Glory on August 19, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Rudy would make a kick-a** AG.
crazy_legs on August 19, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Smart collie. **Petting**
So Collie, who would you like to see?
upinak on August 19, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Giulianni is perfect . . . for Attorney General. If McCain chose Palin he’d be making a bold ‘maverick’ type move while energizing the base AND putting some energy into the future of the party. What a contrast that would be with Joe Biden or Evan Bayh. Unfortunately she’s not even being vetted for the job.
JonPrichard on August 19, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Rudy brings nothing McCain doesn’t already have, with the added baggage (not just pro-abortion). Nothing against Rudy, but I hope McCain chooses someone else.
Think_b4_speaking on August 19, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Isn’t John Breaux a lobbyist now? That would hurt McCain’s (dumb) anti-lobbyist message.
It's Vintage, Duh on August 19, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Eyeroll. Rudy G isn’t pro abortion. He’s pro choice.
Barack Obama? Actually pushes that boundary. The guy may qualify as radically pro abortion, and his performance on the BAIPA also makes him look pro infanticide.
And there aren’t 100 million voters who are single issue abortion fanatics.
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Why would anyone wish for a Republican attorney general who has a history of attacking the 2nd amendment?
Makes no sense to me, but then I was shocked at how many people here thought it would be a good idea for McCain to pick Lieberman for VP.
FloatingRock on August 19, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Actually, if we take a step back from the impenetrable shadow-play, it’s interesting that this time around that so many of the “credible substitute presidents” seem to be pro-choice to a greater or lesser extent. Rudy, Lieberman, Ridge, Colin Powell – even Mitt up until relatively recently… (sorry, but it’s the truth). We know that the military is full of SoCons, but social conservatives from the military scare the lefty children, so they tend either to stay away from politics or to get taken down by some political correctness purge (Gen Peter Pace).
The structure of our current political coalitions make it almost impossible to get a 100% security and 100% social conservative politician selected. It also pushes pro-choice Republicans either into the Democratic Party or focuses them on security issues. In the view of ideological leftists, McCain comes as perilously close to th 200% profile as any “scary monster” we’ve ever considered for the office, but in the real world, as we well know, many on the right don’t even accept McCain’s conservative credentials.
I’m not even sure it’s a bad thing, this reluctance to hand over the government to someone who’s 100% hard right on both military and social issues. We might want to save that option for a real crisis sometime down the line. In the meantime, it illustrates McCain’s conundrum. The high profile choices he trusts with the panic buttons aren’t acceptable to the base. The ones who excite the base (or sections of it) he doesn’t trust.
I wonder what put Gen James Jones out of the running – he was rumored to be an Obama possibility, but endorsed McCain, and is said to be a good friend of McCain’s.
CK MacLeod on August 19, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Rudy is pro-choice and pro-amnesty. I don’t believe that Rudy is anti-Roe, though he made some comments to that effect during the primary. For these reasons I wouldn’t support him in the primary. That said, Rudy is a truly smart guy (unlike the other fools who people like to call ’smart’) who understands how we must deal with our enemies – better than just about any other politician. I’m not sure how Rudy would do on judicial appointments, which is the real question. He says that he likes Alito/Roberts/et. al. but who knows what primary-speak really means?
I love Rudy, but I don’t like the idea of voting for him for a general position.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2008 at 12:51 PM
If McCain dropped dead a week after inauguration day (God forbid) Rudy would be OK taking over POTUS. Palin? Sorry, but not so much. I like her, but she’s just not ready.
Romney? Yeah, he’d be fine. Fred? He’d handle it also. Mark Sanford could do it. Pawlenty? probably.
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Well, I’ll point out that I’m a Christian, AP, whereas rumor has it you’re not, and I’d personally love to see Rudy on the ticket. He would only enhance McCain’s credibility with me.
What he’d also bring to the table is a huge bundle of executive experience and business acumen, both of which augment McCain pretty nicely.
I’d still prefer Palin, mainly because Rudy had his chance campaigning and blew it. But lots of people have a lot of respect for Rudy, and my-own-Christian-self personally, I’d be ecstatic if Rudy got the nod.
Typhoon on August 19, 2008 at 12:52 PM
CC,
Tell your collie that this will end with Allah declaring that the thread has become dry, stale and troll bait.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 19, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Yeah, and i’m not pro killing all cripples, just for allowing cripples to be killed by anyone who objects cripples being alive. Big difference here. :Eye roll out of socket:
Aristotle on August 19, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Oh, please, oh, please, oh, please…
Typhoon on August 19, 2008 at 12:55 PM
John Breaux and his son have been raking in the bucks as lobbyists since Breaux left the Senate. Terrible choice.
Somebody needs to find and post Rudy’s 2004 RNC convention speech. It was 10 times better than Barack Obama’s, and maybe one of the 5 best speeches I have heard in my lifetime. He absolutely electrified that crowd. I also heard him give a speech nearly as great in a campaign appearance for Rick Santorum in 2006.
Seriously, if McCain has one major weakness vs. Obama it is in his speechmaking. Giuliani gives him that. He’s also a great debater and will certainly not lose a debate to Joe Biden.
The combination of Rudy’s executive experience (after all, New York City has more people and a larger government than about 20 of the 50 states) and name recognition with McCain’s overall leadership and foreign policy skill would be a very formidable ticket. Joe Biden brings zero executive experience to the Democratic ticket.
Rudy could be surprisingly effective on economic issues as well, given the economic revival he presided over in New York City. His tax-cutting, bureaucracy-slashing credentials are indisputable.
A McCain-Giuliani ticket also gives the Democrats zero room to run against the “right wing.” It’s a ticket that will win Pennsylvania and put New Jersey into play (and perhaps even a Senate seat in New Jersey, with a shaky and ancient Frank Lautenberg running an almost non-existent campaign), and probably seal Virginia and Florida for the GOP as well. Makes the electoral map a whole lot better for McCain.
rockmom on August 19, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Maybe McCain is looking at Giuliani for his experience in cleaning up New York?
There was an article y’all posted on here one time talking about how a Vice-President should be chosen on the strength of how well they’ll help you run the White House, because electibility benefits were minimal, or some such.
Maybe that’s McCain’s plan – thinking they’ll elect McCain on his strength of character, and he wants a VP that’ll help him out.
apollyonbob on August 19, 2008 at 12:59 PM
If we need help in the South, we’ve got bigger problems than who McCain’s VP is going to be. I give Liebs a pass because he’s PROVEN that protecting this country means more to him than his own party. Breaux is just another Dem from a state we’re going to win anyway.
And unlike Breaux, Liebs would help in Florida where we could use a little dynamite. Liebs would also help in New England, which I really think could be the big surprise this year.
Infidoll on August 19, 2008 at 1:01 PM
People seem to think it would be a Giuliani slam dunk. I don’t get it. Biden is glib, Giuliani came off somewhat wooden and repetitive. Biden’s a total jerk, but what is there about him that a leftist wouldn’t like, or lead Dems to conclude that Giuliani wiped the floor with him.
JiangxiDad on August 19, 2008 at 1:02 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/19/nyregion/19rudy.html
Santorum will support this ticket. But I guess he’s a Catholic, which isn’t a “real” Christian.
///trying to channel St. Olaf
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 1:05 PM
upinak, have you seen Biden in action? it’s horriffic
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Only 122 million people total voted in 2004.
Tanya on August 19, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Cheney had no negative effect on Bush. He’s got a lesbian daughter, won’t comment on social issues, is a big oil CEO, etc, and brought no redeeming campaign qualities to Bush.
And Bush won twice.
Vincenzo on August 19, 2008 at 1:09 PM
There are exception to everything, and Rudy is a pro-choice candidate that I could support. For one thing he keeps his word.
pat on August 19, 2008 at 1:10 PM
i trust rudy. bottom line.
DrW on August 19, 2008 at 1:11 PM
I suppose, however Cheney is smart as a whip and he mopped the floor with The Breck Girl…
eanax on August 19, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Interesting. A Veep choice that can’t deliver his own state but a couple of neighboring states. It’s plausible that Rudy could tilt NJ, maybe PA and CT.
I’d like to put a woman on the ticket to go after dissaffected Hillary voters, but a woman didn’t help Mondale.
Are there states that could flip to Obama if Rudy were in the #2 slot? Maybe VA?
dedalus on August 19, 2008 at 1:16 PM
He loves his country. For those who think him simply another lib, you can’t say that about most libs.
JiangxiDad on August 19, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Rudy can be the hit man while McCain shows calm assurance. Rudy has the experienced executive credibility both McCain and Obama lack. He helps in Italian communities in large cities and has some Catholic appeal. His lifting of New York City ecomomically and reducing its deficit will play well at a time of recession and big budget deficits.
I really think he has performed well in the debates and as a surrogate. The biggest thing to me personally as a New Yorker is that he took on the mob and not only survived but won. McCain and Rudy both have guts and will not shy away from a fight on principles.
KW64 on August 19, 2008 at 1:19 PM
I’d vote for Cheney this election, if he were running. Cheney being around, and seemingly having a strong voice in Bush’s circle, was one of the things I liked most about Bush.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2008 at 1:23 PM
If we were being realistic, say Obama chose the one person for VP that could beat us; you would say Hillary, yes?
If McCain had to win against an Obama/Clinton ticket, who would be the person he would have the most chance of achieving that with?
McCain/Giuliani
One thing for sure, the WOT would not slip.
carbon_footprint on August 19, 2008 at 1:27 PM
McCain pick Rudy? Wow. I can’t believe McCain would even consider a Veep that strong. Given my family ties to New York, and the differences I saw in the City before, during, and after Rudy’s tenure, I could put aside my differences with many of Rudy’s positions, and vote for him. However, as long as he has that jacka** McCain on the ticket, I won’t go anywhere near it.
Man, old Backdoor John has come a long way from Huckabee as his primary candidate. If Rudy really is under consideration, I might find this halfway interesting to watch.
austinnelly on August 19, 2008 at 1:31 PM
Rudy’s pro-choice beliefs would hurt McCain in crucial states where the Evangelical vote might back away from Rudy, just after McCain hit a home run with them. Also, since some people are worried about McCain’s age, he needs a VP who agrees with him on most issues if the VP might need to replace McCain. Rudy has a following in the New York area, but the primaries showed that he’s not that great as a national campaigner–where was the Florida firewall?
Sarah Palin looks like the best pick right now, although I’m not sure McCain has the guts to make it. Another good pick would be former Congressman John Kasich, although nobody seems to be mentioning him lately. Rudy would be a liability as VP nominee, but he would make an excellent Attorney General or Homeland Security Secretary in a McCain Administration.
Steve Z on August 19, 2008 at 1:33 PM
There are three reasons to consider Rudy, other than his obvious good leadership credentials, in my opinion:
1) To blunt the effect in NY if Hillary is the VP. Rudy on the ticket could, in theory, sway NY toward McCain if Hillary is the VP.
2) He’s arguably a good choice for an economic VP. The Dems don’t have anyone who can keep up with him on that front.
3) Giuliani has some measure of organization to bring to the table.
In the last two reasons, he’s kind of an alternative to Mitt, in case Mitt doesn’t want it or in case being LDS is too much for religious bigots. Not that Rudy is an obvious choice in any way for evangelicals, but is he more palatable than Mitt? Maybe.
(I’m so tired of people wanting to “advance the gospel” through government.)
beatcanvas on August 19, 2008 at 1:33 PM
He probably wouldn’t be shy about discussing the Obama-Ayers connection which seems to be getting a pass from McCain at present, although there is the Kerick thing hanging around his neck.
a capella on August 19, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Everyone brings up Rudy being Pro-Abortion, He’s Pro-Law. He’s said, just like the line item veto, the law states one thing and untill the law is changed thats what he’ll listen to.
I’d much rather have Palin or Jindal before Rudy, but I’d take Rudy anyday over guys like Romney, atleast Rudy has his values.
Rbastid on August 19, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Limbaugh seems to like Rudy:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_042507/content/01125115.guest.html
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_080108/content/01125110.guest.html
great pic at the second link
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 1:35 PM
I’m not knocking the guy, just expressing realities about his image. I remember in ‘04 when everyone was praying that Cheney wasn’t running for a second term and Giuliani might step in as VP mate to Bush.
Of course, he didn’t need it, and Bush won.
Vincenzo on August 19, 2008 at 1:36 PM
You hit on one of my big thoughts over at Redstate when trying to open up the minds of people that McCain does have a better shot at NJ then Bush did, and Bush closed the gap by a ton here.
This year we have to vote for a Senate seat, in 2000 and 2004 we didn’t vote for Senate or Governor in NJ, which brings in a big Republican turnout, with us trying to vote Lautenberg out this year any push to bring people to vote for Zimmer and McCain would be helpful to the party, and Rudy would bring that turnout.
Rbastid on August 19, 2008 at 1:43 PM
The Bush/Cheney relationship has been a positive aspect of this administration- they’ve really worked as a team instead of the VP biding his time until getting to be the presidential nominee. Sadly, I don’t see either Obama or McCain willing and able to continue this kind of collaborative leadership. Obama’s too arrogant and McCain is too stubborn to listen to anybody’s advice but his own counsel.
highhopes on August 19, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Nice call with Kasich but I think McCain would want to keep his distance from anyone being able to say “Look Fox News isn’t only in the tank for McCain but he also has one of their host as a running mate”
I think Kasich likes the private sector money he gets right now, he said he may try again for Congress or Senate though.
Rbastid on August 19, 2008 at 1:48 PM
Hey, what have I been saying? I’ve been hoping for Guiliani on the ticket. I hope it’s true. Okay, I’ve been sounding like whats-her-name in When Harry Met Sally, I’ll admit it.
But seriously, I’ve suspected Rudy’s going to have a big role in a McCain Administriation since I saw them both on the Tonight Show the night after Florida.
Sekhmet on August 19, 2008 at 1:59 PM
I’d love to see Rudy as the undercard. He is tested as a leader and would not go astray in the WOT if he had to take over. He also adds economic chops and put together a 50 state organization when he was the presumptive front runner in the polls. He will put in play a few north east states and solidify Florida.
He has old baggage, but he is vetted. All the NYT could do is run old articles again.
tommylotto on August 19, 2008 at 2:01 PM
The teamwork seems to have worked very well. I don’t like the way things turned in the second term, but I write that off to a lessening of Cheney’s influence.
Cheney doesn’t get much credit or many accolades for it (and he doesn’t seem to care) but he has been one of the greatest examples of the ideal public servant in a long, long, long time. He sought nothing higher and did his time in office to the best of his abilities, giving up hundreds of millions he could have made in the private sector, I’m sure. Dick Cheney has my undying respect.
Yeah. Although, I think McCain can be turned. The problem is that a rational argument doesn’t seem to do it, often. Once McCain thinks he is right, though …. whoa, nelly! That ship’s not coming back in. But on issues where McCain is not set I think he is open to slight movement.
Obama’s just a moron. The idea that such a lightweight, in every sense, is almost our chief Executive is just absolutely mind-boggling. I write off to 9/11 PTSD. Russia is trying to snap them out of it, though. The far left have to be sent back to the sandbox, where they can’t hurt anyone.
progressoverpeace on August 19, 2008 at 2:10 PM
I bet it’s Joe Lieberman for VP and not Rudy.
As others have noted, Rudy would make a better AG or Secretary of Homeland Security…
eanax on August 19, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Cheney ‘12 :)
terryannonline on August 19, 2008 at 2:20 PM
I was a Rudy supporter too. I think he would also make a good VP – but not for McCain. Maybe Romney or Thompson or some other solid conservative, but not McCain. I would like to see him as McCain’s Director of Homeland Security or perhaps AG.
Kafir on August 19, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Said it before and I’ll say it again…
Rudy – A.G.
Fred – Supreme Court
Bolton – Sec. State
Never gonna happen, but what the H*ll.
ChrisM on August 19, 2008 at 2:34 PM
I think it’s Rudy. I remember from the first debates they seemed to be very friendly, perhaps to the point of having a gentleman’s agreement.
Plus, Rudy still has broad appeal. If McCain is running on leadership, he couldn’t do any better than America’s Mayor.
Finally, the Veep is traditionally the attack dog. Rudy can certainly fill that role well.
TallDave on August 19, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Rudy. RUDY. RUDY.
I think it would be a compelling ticket.
connertown on August 19, 2008 at 3:01 PM
I think McCain’s people may believe they nailed down the evangelical vote with the Rick Warren program last a few weekend. And I still don’t see any states going to Obama if a few of those voters stay home because they don’t like Rudy.
What has been done so brilliantly by the McCain campaign, in concert with the White House, so far has been to take away Obama’s major lines of attack against McCain and make the election about Obama and his readiness to lead. Bush has virtually disappeared, McCain has gotten on the side of the people on offshore drilling, and they have assiduously avoided anything resembling playing the race card. Obama is starting to show his frustration at not being able to land any blows against McCain.
Thus it is super-important that McCain’s VP pick not allow any line of attack by Democrats, and that the pick helps McCain pivot into an election about his strengths compared to Obama’s weakness. Giuliani does this more than any other potential VP pick. McCain’s close enough in the polls that he doesn’t need a “Hail Mary” pick, and he doesn’t need to play identity politics with a woman or a minority. I don’t think he needs a “pander to the base” pick either. He needs to pick the best and strongest guy out there who the Dems cannot attack, and that’s Rudy.
Rudy never attacked McCain during the primaries and McCain never attacked him, so there are no snarky debate videos Dems could use against them. Giuliani’s main attacker has been the New York Times, which only helps him with conservatives. Democrats cannot attack Rudy on experience, on the economic issues, or on taxes. He doesn’t have any major area of disagreement with McCain on policy, foreign or domestic. And he is certainly ready to be President if anything happens to McCain. He was TIME’s Man of the Year in 2001, which trumps even Obama’s celebrity status, and he actually earned it by performance under pressure, unlike Obama.
Dems cannot attack Rudy for being too close to Bush, as he was Mayor for only a short time after Bush took office and when Bush was still popular. They sure can’t attack him for being a right-wing Dick Cheney clone, for being a bad manager, for being “too Washington” since of course he hasn’t served in Washington since the Reagan administration, or for being divisive unless they count pissing off Al Sharpton as divisive. All they’ve got is that he has been making money as a lobbyist and was too close to Bernie Kerik – a stone that will be pretty hard for Tony Rezko’s pal to throw.
Seriously, I see some major wrist-slitting on the Democratic side if Rudy is the pick. I can’t think of anyone else who would scare them half as much.
rockmom on August 19, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Oh yeah- someone with skeletons in the closet who’d further alienate social cons, and who failed miserably in the primaries. I’m sure the Dems would be shaking in their boots out of fear.
Rudy makes a horrible choice; I seriously doubt McCain has given half a thought to the idea.
Abortion is nowhere near one of my top priorities, but it is for quite a few Republican voters. If McCain nominates a pro-choice candidate, it would probably be just enough to sink him (I give McCain a 55% chance of winning as things stand now). I’m guessing that his pro-choice trial balloon is sinking like a lead brick with the base.
Hollowpoint on August 19, 2008 at 3:29 PM
The Republican has become the Fetus Party.
mylegsareswollen on August 19, 2008 at 4:23 PM
It’s true Rudy’s not as bad as Ridge (well, I’ll confess I don’t know that much about Ridge actually) or Lieberman (that one’s for sure at least), but he’s still certainly not the best. For the love of Pete, why not Mitt?
OneGyT on August 19, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Rudy?!?! Why not a C-o-n-s-e-r-v-a-t-i-v-e? Oh yea…that would require McNumbnuts to be one himself…sorry…sigh…
sabbott on August 19, 2008 at 5:21 PM
First of all, I can’t believe that people would be so dense as to ignore Giuliani in all of this pro-choice VP talk.
Second, Giuliani’s loss in the primary is not viewed by most moderates as discrediting; rather, many see it as the same old case of a few social conservatives in the early states getting their way, while the rest of the population gets screwed. We’re happy there was an acceptable second option (McCain) this time; Giuliani’s lead in the polls was nice while it lasted.
Third:
MCCAIN DOES NOT NEED TO STRENGTHEN HIS GRIP ON THE SOUTH! The game is in the near and upper Midwest, a few mountain states, Florida, and the Mid Atlantic, as usual.
Big S on August 19, 2008 at 5:51 PM
CT, NJ, PA, and NY are so close to one another that residents in that area often commute from one state to the next on a daily or almost-daily basis. Many more of these States’ residents are also in the NYC media markets, and are very familiar with the city and its issues.
Big S on August 19, 2008 at 6:11 PM
I wish. I love Rudy. I haven’t been lucky this year though, so I’m sure I can wish in one hand, ____ in the other, like my dear old Dad used to say.
capitalist piglet on August 19, 2008 at 7:33 PM
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