RE: Which VP candidate said the following?
So what does McCain do now?
For a long time (like since 2005) my ideal republican ticket for 2008 has been McCain-Lieberman. I guess that's the centrist in me. There are those who say that would rip the republican party apart, and I find that sad. Perhaps a worse problem is that they are both so heavily tied up in the Iraq war that this could become a one-issue campagin, and perhaps not the issue that they'd like to see. One possible advantage of Lieberman, if he won, his replacement would be appointed by a republican governor which would help with the Senate. In the short run, if he decided to caucus with the republicans, they would retake voting control of the senate briefly, and if the republicans could get enough centrist democrats to avoid a filibuster, and could push through a "drill here, drill here" plan that Pelosi would have to do something with before the election, that could be a way to make more hay out of what has been their best issue. Might even save another senate seat or two in the process.
Right now I think there is strong sentiment in the country that we need a centrist, consensus-builder. Obama has gotten a lot of mileage by claiming to be that, but his record clearly shows that he isn't. McCain has actually been that, but his party doesn't seem willing to let him run on that. Lieberman would be a step toward reclaiming that position, and I think he'd pick up more votes than he'd lose (not to mention that the votes he picks up would otherwise vote for Obama, while the votes he'd lose won't). As I've said before, I like the kind of president that Obama describes in his stump speeches; but a look at his record, or the proposed policies on his web site, reveal very quickly that Obama isn't describing himself when he makes those speeches.
If not Lieberman, then I think his primary consideration needs to be who can pick up a key state or who can help with a key voting block.
Would Romney deliver Michgan? Would he have any influence toward making Massachusetts close enough that at least Obama would have to spend some resources there? Will the religious right hold ranks behind a Mormon on the ticket?
Would Ridge deliver Pennsylvania? Would the religious right tolerate a pro-choice VP? Do you have the same risk of turing this into a one-issue election given Ridge's homeland security background?
Would Pawlenty deliver Minnesota? Is he well enough known in the region to help with any adjoining states?
What about Palin? Given the extent of Obama's rejection of Hillary, and the fact that Obama and McCain are virtually a dead heat with women voters (per a poll I saw yesterday), does Palin turn enough women voters to help out in any key states? She's certainly a fresher face than Biden, and that could stem or offset a bit of the Obamamania. She's socially conservative enough to keep that wing in line. And she is definitely strong on energy. Obvious weakness is that she doesn't bring any key states with her, but the women angle might more than offset that. Another thought is that if Biden tries to go attack dog on her, that could rub a lot of people the wrong way.
I guess I'm just not that excited about Romney or Pawlenty, I don't think Ridge will fly, and Palin kinda gets my attention in several ways.
(This post was last modified: 08-23-2008 01:06 PM by Owl 69/70/75.)
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Which VP candidate said the following?
