Politico: Congressional Republicans told to expect a “traditional” VP pick; Update: Romney’s out?
posted at 8:05 pm on August 28, 2008 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
In a strong sign that John McCain has not selected Joe Lieberman to be his running mate, Republican members of Congress were told today by McCain’s campaign that the Arizona senator would tap a traditional number two, according to a GOP source.
The source said that would indicate that McCain has tapped either Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty.
“Traditional” has a lovely connotation vis-a-vis Joementum and a not so lovely one vis-a-vis Gingrich’s warning to McCain last month about boring white guys. Drudge, conspicuously, is teasing a link to a weeks-old Journal profile of Pawlenty as I write this, and a reader e-mails to say that David Gregory was dropping heavy hints on MSNBC a little while ago about McCain’s VP possibly appearing on talk shows this Sunday (Pawlenty’s booked for “Meet the Press”). I can’t believe they’d be holding back if the pick had leaked, but clearly everything they’re hearing is pointing them towards Pawlenty. I’ll back McCain regardless, obviously, but in all candor it makes me nervous to think that a guy I’d never heard of three months ago could be next in line behind one of the oldest presidents in history come January. And if I’m having that reaction, what are independents going to think?
Update: For what it’s worth, and probably not much, a source tells James Poulos at the Confabulum that Romney “no longer understands himself to be in consideration” and that he’ll be home in Massachusetts tomorrow. I wonder if this is why.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »
Go on without me.
sulla on August 28, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Me too, but considering that all these threads are looking exactly the same (MITT! NO, HUCK! EFF YOU, ITS MITT!) I just thought we should try and keep the similarity going.
Bishop on August 28, 2008 at 8:45 PM
RedState pretty much confirms it’s Pawlenty.
lutherjw on August 28, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Gingrich is right (this time)!
McCain/Palin!
jgapinoy on August 28, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Sorry for the repeat, but this was at the end of page 1 and I doubt anyone will see it:
New bumper sticker: “Pawlenty…at least he ISN’T Lieberman.”
*sigh*
ManlyRash on August 28, 2008 at 8:47 PM
How about “McCain…at least he ISN’T Obama”?
Marcus on August 28, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Why Oh Why Pawlenty?!
Palin, Romney, Thompson, Cantor, etc. Yet he probably and most likely pick this boring candidate.
jencab on August 28, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Actually and sadly, rockmom, there will be many of those who WILL bring it up. And because the media is in the tank for the Dems, they’ll make sure that’ll be a top topic.
“And how many houses do you have, John McCain?”
They’ve milked that one for days now and gotten lots of mileage out of it.
Marybeth on August 28, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Mitt’s out.
Pawlenty’s out.
It’s Huck!
SaintOlaf on August 28, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Someone being pro-active? McCainPawlenty.com ??
SouthernGent on August 28, 2008 at 8:49 PM
I’ll keep your bumper sticker in mind though when I vote for the VP. Keep mine in mind when voting for Prez ;-)
Marcus on August 28, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Works for me.
ManlyRash on August 28, 2008 at 8:49 PM
I saw this at Powerline:
Rumors swirling around John McCain’s Vice-Presidential choice are now focusing mainly on Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on the buzz surrounding Pawlenty a little while ago. I’ve thought for a while that Tim is the most likely–and best–choice, but that’s not based on any inside knowledge. To an impressive degree, a cone of silence has descended around McCain’s decision. People whom you’d expect to know, if anyone does, don’t.
So it’s still speculation, and I still think it’s Tim Pawlenty.
John at powerline is pretty conservative.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Tell ya what, I’m far from a ‘rich person’, but I AM a free market capitalist. And when I see our pols failing to stand up for economic incentives and economic rewards being entitled for achievement and productivity in our country, then these pols need no longer have the support of our party.
petefrt on August 28, 2008 at 8:50 PM
fwiw, certain posters on the much lesser known “PalinForVP” blogspot site are saying RNC sources have told them all day
“expect a SURPRISE”
“none of the invited guests to dayton is it”
and “It’s a WOMAN”
probably not worth anything at all, but i still have hope :)
battleoflepanto1571 on August 28, 2008 at 8:50 PM
I’ll see your echo and raise you one.
Palin.
Conservative_SAHM on August 28, 2008 at 8:50 PM
heh – my brain’s all asplodey already.
sulla on August 28, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Well, not really confirms.
I did appreciate the background info on Tim P at the link. He seems like a true conservative.
jgapinoy on August 28, 2008 at 8:50 PM
He/she/it claims to be a disaffected Hillary supporter voting for McCain.
Sounds more and more like a troll with every post though.
Pay it no mind.
SuperCool on August 28, 2008 at 8:50 PM
this is one of those you know it isn’t going to happen so lets all say we want Palin forums.
tomas on August 28, 2008 at 8:51 PM
It’s a sad state of affairs for the Conservative movement when Mitt Romney is held up by most Republicans as the ultimate Conservative choice. Nice guy, but his Conservatism is about 18 months old.
Guys, we can do better.
edgehead on August 28, 2008 at 8:52 PM
I think the houses thing was meant to scare McCain away from picking Mitt Romney. I expect they will drop it after the RNC convention.
Pawlenty has had plenty of practice talking about the bridge.
rockmom on August 28, 2008 at 8:52 PM
A hollow voice says ‘Palin‘
xyzzy on August 28, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Sakaki and Rockmom…
Don’t shoot the messenger. I agree with you both. It wasn’t remotely his fault and I am sure he handled the answer well. (will YouTube for it in a bit, cause I’d like to hear more from him)
Personally, Pawlenty strikes me as a down to earth, well meaning guy with a good head on his shoulders. He’s done well with the talking points. But he’s still boring. All rational people will support McCain,even if he picked Satan for VP, because rational people understand the Obama is the equivalent of Presidential American Idol without the talent. The problem with the election is the stupid people. All of Obama’s support is the same idiots that voted for Clinton because he played the sax on MTV. What is worse is that those morons have been breeding and there are more of them.
Unless McCain can appeal to the non-thinking, American Idol crowd, he will lose.
Damiano on August 28, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Mitt’s out.
Pawlenty’s out.
It’s Huck!
SaintOlaf on August 28, 2008 at 8:49 PM
I’m afraid Stolaf is correct, Huckabee has been chosen as the candidate for the ‘Wild Eyed Sore Loser Party’ in 2008.
Congratulations Mr. Huckabee and best of luck.
Bishop on August 28, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Obama/Bayh bumper stickers.
I’m just sayin’.
Virginia Shanahan on August 28, 2008 at 8:53 PM
From what I just learned about Pawlenty, I like the cut of his jib.
Thanks to lutherjw on August 28, 2008 at 8:46 PM
TheSitRep on August 28, 2008 at 8:55 PM
Zork humor. What’s not to like?
plugh
sulla on August 28, 2008 at 8:55 PM
well AP, by my un-official count this is your one millionth “Romney’s Out” post or update. congratulations.
what a lovely country we now live in where studying you a$$ off, leading your peers both in the classroom and on the athletic field, working longer and harder than all of your competition to achieve the American dream of success, both financial and spiritual, and using that success to provide mightily for your family is considered just the right stuff to disqualify you for high public office.
welcome to hell, boys.
DrW on August 28, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Heh.
Big S on August 28, 2008 at 8:56 PM
If it is Huck, then we may just as will hang it up.
I’d rather waste my vote on Barr.
TheSitRep on August 28, 2008 at 8:56 PM
if he picks Lieberman we’re fu*ked
Dr. Magic on August 28, 2008 at 8:57 PM
http://images.publicradio.org/content/2007/01/02/20070102_swearingin2_2.jpg
The Pawlenty Family.
Praise Jesus! they don’t look like they eat out of a trough.
(for StOlaf)
Marcus on August 28, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Pawlenty is great…if you looked at Petraeus you never would have picked him ot in a crowd either…and look what he did.
tomas on August 28, 2008 at 8:57 PM
My voice still shouts for Palin, too.
It will knock the media for a freaking loop.
It’ll knock the Dems way off guard.
Oh, I hope beyond all hope for Sarah!
(ack! All this “hope” talk — I’m sounding like an O-bot!)
lansing quaker on August 28, 2008 at 8:57 PM
That’s what you get for “realizing” your incorrect stance on abortion after 45 years.
Quite the road to damascus moment, huh?
will the real mitt stand up???battleoflepanto1571 on August 28, 2008 at 8:57 PM
If the VP is Huck I promise to never post on Hot Air again. SaintOlaf can you make the same pledge if it’s not Huck?
Thanks.
lan astaslem on August 28, 2008 at 8:57 PM
If its Pawlenty, McCain probably loses the election. Bush barely got away with picking nobody for VP, instead of McCain, and the tides were in his favor.
Vashta.Nerada on August 28, 2008 at 8:58 PM
I like Palin but I want her to get a few more years under her belt.
Maybe a Jindal/Palin in 2012 or 2016
Virginia Shanahan on August 28, 2008 at 8:58 PM
I can agree with Romney, Pawlenty, and Huckabee on the issues but I think they’re all boring picks that don’t excite anyone other than the base. I keep thinking that Obama had a much better (more strategic for him) list to choose from. I can’t see Pawlenty helping to pick up women or independents. No?
jtoms3 on August 28, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Seems to me Tim Pawlenty is the embodiment of what conservatives always say they want. He bucked a scared, wishy-washy Republican establishment who said he was too conservative to win statewide. He won on a platform that included a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, a concealed carry law, and no new taxes. He did not move significantly left to win reelection.
Pawlenty checks all the boxes for McCain. He’s conservative (even a real evangelical), he’s a reformer, he has real experience, and he has handled a crisis really well. He has even traveled to many countries on trade missions (including China, he can slap Barack Obama hard on his comments about China’s wonderful infrastructure) and he chairs a governors’ working group on energy.
rockmom on August 28, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Damiano – Understood. I’m just a might bit peeved at people who like to use the bridge as an excuse to raise gas taxes (like the DFL did), or to beat it over someone’s head like a political drum (like the DFL does).
Pawlenty may not be sexy or exciting, but he’s able to carry the base. That’s the most important thing.
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 8:59 PM
I wonder if Caesarama is going to name the leader of his Praetorian Guard tonight? My pick would be Sharpton.
Bishop on August 28, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Hmm. Pretty safe/boring pick for the maverick. I guess a Christian would do less harm than a Mormon.
philnewkirk on August 28, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Mitt saying he expects to be in Massachusetts tomorrow may not mean anything more than he expects to return there after all the appearances he has to make.
backwoods conservative on August 28, 2008 at 9:00 PM
T-Paw is a strong candidate, he has a strong Midwestern charisma. The kind of guy that can look you in the eye, tell you something you don’t want to hear and make you realize he’s got the right idea. He’s a quick wit, self-depreciating and a quick study with a good grasp of issues. He’s kinda moderate-right in Minnesota, but will move right on the national stage. He’s a low tax guy, who has fought hard for it.
billhedrick on August 28, 2008 at 9:00 PM
I am almost to the point that I hope John McCain loses this election.
This will not strengthen conservatives and McCain knows it and that is why he did it.
I am tired of being a foot soldier for this dumbing down of the Republican Party.
Elizabetty on August 28, 2008 at 9:01 PM
lan astaslem on August 28, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Heck I’m with you on the pledge and I just now, after so much waiting and lurking, got to make an “account” but if it’s the Huckster I will give it up and go back to just reading. He infuriates me.
Cardiganfox on August 28, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Vashta.Nerada on August 28, 2008 at 8:58 PM
What’s your definition of a nobody? Maybe you haven’t heard much about Tim Pawlenty because he’s a damn good governor who hasn’t had any sex scandals, and while the assclowns in Washington fool around and go on 5-week vacations, Pawlenty is working hard for his state, not jetting all over the country promoting himself 24/7.
rockmom on August 28, 2008 at 9:01 PM
I am not so sure that boring is a bad thing to some extent. Boring and competent beats the hell out of exciting and crazy.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 9:01 PM
We’ll know soon enough.
Jeb 2012.
Zorro on August 28, 2008 at 9:02 PM
The truth is I bet more people have heard of Pawlenty than Palin.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Pawlenty/Gore in 2012, the only way to fight off the two-headed beasts of Global Warming and Small Government!
thecountofincognito on August 28, 2008 at 9:02 PM
How do you figure? T-Paw is a real Conservative who has fought libs for decades in probably the left-est state between the coasts. Don’t dismiss him you will like him.
billhedrick on August 28, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Well there are a heckuva lot more people in Minnesota than Alaska, and it’s way more of a blue state than Alaska, so getting elected there twice as a conservative Republican should make him a hero on the Right.
rockmom on August 28, 2008 at 9:04 PM
(fingers crossed)… let it be Mitt…let it be Mitt…
Amy Proctor on August 28, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Elizabetty:
I am tired of people acting as if losing elections is some sort of tactic to gaining votes and supporters, it is not. Losing is losing and if conservatives do not want to win elections, who could ever depend on them?
There are too many people who act as if it is all about them.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Betty, stop drinking the Kool-Aid and start drinking your Sunny D.
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 9:05 PM
I don’t know much about Pawlenty but I heard him today on the radio criticizing O’Bama and he did a pretty good job of it. He comes across as a nice guy but he still got the digs in. It would have been nice to have a woman (Palin?) but Pawlenty seems to have real Conservative creds. I’ll give him a chance if he is in fact the VP choice. (When I heard the bit today I immediately thought they were setting him up for the VP role.)
mrsmwp on August 28, 2008 at 9:05 PM
In this case, traditional=conservative.
texette on August 28, 2008 at 9:06 PM
I like Pawlenty. Solid right of center record, and he seems like a solid person.
therightwinger on August 28, 2008 at 9:06 PM
You guys realize that Pawlenty followed Jesse Ventura as governor, right? Can you imagine the mess he inherited? That should be good for some fun stories on the campaign trail.
rockmom on August 28, 2008 at 9:06 PM
WTH? Michael McDonald shaved his mustache but kept the goatee? UGH!
Virginia Shanahan on August 28, 2008 at 9:06 PM
thecountofincognito:
My God, what a name.
Pawlenty is in Minn. He is as conservative as you can be in that state and win elections there.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 9:07 PM
I’m just saying:
You put up even something like this stock fan ad with McCain-Palin, and you vastly undercut any positive ads Obama-Biden put out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkRjBFneUAU
Trust.
lansing quaker on August 28, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Take a look at this: http://www.johnmccainvp.com/ Looks like it is indeed Pawlenty.
McBaine on August 28, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Pawlenty mader a great dig today when asked about his experience if he should get the VP nod. He said he has been governor for 6 years (and before that was Senate Majority Leader), and commander in chief of the Minnesota National Guard. Then he mentioned that even Bill Clinton had been governor for 12 years before being elected President, and he was also a National Guard CinC. Barack Obama hasn’t been commander in chief of anything. You all really would have loved this answer.
rockmom on August 28, 2008 at 9:09 PM
What I mean is that McCain is not conservative enough to pull off a win by himself, like Bush I did with Quayle. Bush II snubbed McCain (number two in primary) and barely won running against 8 years of Clinton. Pawlenty may be great, but 2 months is not long enough for voters to know that. Game theory and republican tradition say that if the race is not close, McCain can get away with Pawlenty, but if it will be close, the best bet is the known and supported number two, who is Romney. We could all be pleasantly surprized by Pawlenty, but it would be after Barry blows the election and McCain wins by default, not that Pawlenty helps McCain to win.
Vashta.Nerada on August 28, 2008 at 9:11 PM
I’ll repeat this from another thread. Remember that delegates to the convention are insiders, and insiders are conservative. The delegates and money people and big donors were told two nights ago that the choice would be a conservative. These articles are just catching up with that.
texette on August 28, 2008 at 9:11 PM
lansing:
I think Palin is unknown and too inexperienced and has too much going on in Alaska and looks like an affirmative action pick. If McCain picks her I will support the ticket, but I think a few more years down the road might be better for her.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Obama/Bayh
Virginia Shanahan on August 28, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Vashta:
I am not sure how Romney would do on a national ticket. He polls badly. I know people think he can carry Michigan, but I am not so sure about that.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Intrade shows Pawlenty up big, Romney down big, and McCain down pretty big. Looks like the money agrees with me.
Vashta.Nerada on August 28, 2008 at 9:13 PM
give it up. real campaign sites don’t have ads and a parking image.
sulla on August 28, 2008 at 9:13 PM
He might carry Michigan, but he definitely carries Nevada and Colorado. All McCain has to do is win the same states that Bush II won, and he starts off with a likely win in NH as well….
Vashta.Nerada on August 28, 2008 at 9:15 PM
I trust Intrade like I trust a divorce lawyer: With utter contempt and suspicion.
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Palin Lovers:
Choosing Palin may backfire. They (Libs) could very easily insinuate or say something to the effect of: Chosen by McCain because she’s a cutie. Then they would play the condescension angle (not picked by merit, just looks), throw in some phony “McCain called his wife what?” stories and dig up things from his first marriage. On and on and on and on. You get my drift?
Cardiganfox on August 28, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Here is the link to his full speech. Just posted.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Conventions/story?id=5680403&page=1
http://www.conservativepolitics.today.com
Virginia Shanahan on August 28, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Vashta:
McCain has not been up in the markets all along. I doubt the VP pick will make a difference. Several days of sustained polling ahead of Obama is the only thing that will change the trade numbers.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Pawlenty is out. Not attending Dayton rally.
He is like Obama’s Kaine.
SaintOlaf on August 28, 2008 at 9:17 PM
battle, if you heard something whistling past your head as you wrote this post, it was probably my point, which i completely missed. Mitt is not begin kicked to the curb for his stance on abortion. are you a one note charley?
DrW on August 28, 2008 at 9:17 PM
I don’t care for Pawlenty. He’s a global-warming advocate who believes “the era of small government is over” and has made (what I consider to be) snide remarks about “Sam’s Club Republicans,” as though having money is a sin.
Well, that last fits right in with the anti-wealth/populist theme of both campaigns, doesn’t it?
Really makes you want to work hard and be successful, doesn’t it? Since when is that wrong, or at least to be frowned upon and scorned?
Don’t forget, he really looked silly a few weeks ago debating Evan Bayh on the surge:
While debating the troop surge in Iraq, Bayh turned the focus to Pawlenty.
“Tim, you opposed the surge,” Bayh said. “So obviously, reasonable people can — ”
“That’s not true,” Pawlenty interrupted.
“Yeah, yeah,” Bayh said. “I read about it in your hometown newspaper.”
Pawlenty responded moments later.
“Allow me, if you’d indulge me in one correction,” he said. “I did not oppose the surge, I said I was skeptical of it because I thought it was too late. Like Senator McCain, I wanted it to start earlier.”
That’ll go over really well.
/my 2 cents, FWIW
Marybeth on August 28, 2008 at 9:18 PM
And that would just tick off the Hillaryites/PUMAs even more and continue fracturing the party (”At least she’s a GOVERNOR rather than a do-nothing MALE SENATOR!”). Trust!
lansing quaker on August 28, 2008 at 9:18 PM
The McCain campaign believes all they NEED is a “good enough” conservative to wim. They are probably right about that given the ammunition they have on Obama.
They know the base longs to be fired up, but are not sure it’s the safest path to election.
And then there’s McCain’s tendency to want to surprise people.
texette on August 28, 2008 at 9:18 PM
I have thought Pawlenty all along and I still think Pawlenty.
drjohn on August 28, 2008 at 9:18 PM
McCainPawlenty.com = McCain08.com Definitely not an official McCain registered website.
lutherjw on August 28, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Vashta:
You are assuming that putting Romney on the ticket would not cost McCain some states where it is close. I am sure that McCain has his own polling people. He probably has a pretty good idea who will hurt or help him and where.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Someone today described Pawlenty as a “ferret in a suit” and that pretty well nails it. He is way too jumpy and his nervousness distracts from what he is saying.
JA on August 28, 2008 at 9:19 PM
lansing quaker on August 28, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Ahh indeed, very true. Touche.
Cardiganfox on August 28, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Let me try this post at a more up-to-date thread:
Portman has an exceptional background to add to the ticket.
onlineanalyst on August 28, 2008 at 9:19 PM
I would vote for McCain if Mark Foley was the VP. If anybody would vote for Obama after hearing all the Democratic b.s. of this last week, you aren’t a conservative. These people are literally socialists who want to turn us into Germany Jr.
Speedwagon82 on August 28, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Portman is attached to Bush and has already confirmed he’s not in contention.
So, no. Portman is NOT an exceptional pick. He’s not even A pick.
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 9:21 PM
lol at xyzzy.
You are inside a large building, a well house for a large spring…
Gaunilon on August 28, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Housegate is the most overblown inconsequential scandal in the history of the world. Evah.
Paul-Cincy on August 28, 2008 at 9:21 PM
I can’t find a state where Romney hurts, but you are right, I don’t spend as much on polling. We’ll have to see.
Vashta.Nerada on August 28, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Portman is an admirable person.
texette on August 28, 2008 at 9:23 PM
McCain’s team has already said that it is between Pawlenty and Romney – unless that is a smokescreen. One never knows. I stick by my math – Romney is the theoretical best shot.
Vashta.Nerada on August 28, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Marybeth:
Pawlenty is a conservative. I am sure that we can find things he said to criticize, especially if he is not our pick..but he is not a progressive or a liberal or anything like that.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Mccain has to win Virginia and Ohio.
Who got the second most votes in those states and has a strong base there?
Mccain has to win blue collar whites, in rust bowl states.
Mccain has to rally evangelicals in a big way.
Mccain has to pick a VP with a built in grassroots support team.
Mccain needs to pick a VP with very enthusiastic supporters to counteract his own blah factor.
Any names coming to mind yet?
SaintOlaf on August 28, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Give what up? I just stumbled acrossed it, and thought I’d post it.
McBaine on August 28, 2008 at 9:24 PM
I think Palin’s strengths outweigh any drawbacks. As a female VP she’d be almost untouchable to attacks, and given that this year’s voting base seems to care more about American Idol than a resume (given that Obama has lead, much less ever been close in the polls) then Palin would give plenty to talk about. Any attacks on experience effectively negate Obama, and given Biden’s predilection to gaffes of the sexist persuasion, it could make an interesting debate. That said, I’m an unabashed Fredhead and would love to see the cult-like energy come out of the right like it does on the left for Obama!
Buckeyes on August 28, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »