Why Is Sen. McCain So Gung-Ho to Name His Running Mate Early?
News reports are indicating that Sen. McCain may name his running mate within the next couple of weeks rather than holding off until the traditional period leading up to the Republican Convention. The question I have is why?
My guess is that it's for 1 of 2 reasons:
- Sen. McCain is set to name a running mate who will not add much lustre to the ticket (and thus not much of a bounce in his poll numbers). The names Gov. Pawlenty and Gov. Romney come to mind. Sen. McCain could be thinking that he should go ahead and get the collective yawn over his dud choice out of the way now (and give the country a little time to get to know his choice better) rather than have it affect whatever momentum he achieves coming out of the GOP convention.
- Sen. McCain is set to name a running mate who will be controversial among key GOP constituents (read: conservatives, especially of the social conservative variety). The names Gov. Ridge and Gov. Crist come to mind. His thinking could be to get the controversy over with now and allow the buffers of the Olympics and the Democrat Convention as a cooling off period for conservatives. The last thing Sen. McCain can afford is for social conservatives to come out of the Convention even less motivated to vote for him. Of course, if McCain goes this route, I wouldn't put it past him to think he can pull out a win without those troublesome and "divisive" social conservatives.
Labels: Elections, McCain, Social Conservatives
posted by Pro Ecclesia 3:44 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Or it xould be for the reasons in the article that seem valid.
I am not sure a pick of Gov. Pawlenty woud be so boring or ad nothing. Having a chance to pick up Minnesota to offset losses elsewhere perhaps adds something. I so not know mcuh about his GOvernorship
As to Govr Crist I do not not know a huge amount about him
However I have to think McCain would not pick someone so controversal to infame a wing of a party that has to endure a month of headliines and stories about a conservative revolt and let that fester for a month. IF he wanted to do that I think he would wait days before the convention before opposition could be mounted
The flip side could be: McCain is not used to not being the press's darling. Sure, he's tried to trot out the "The MSM is in love with Obama" pity claim, but no one wants to give him much pity on that front when he's gladly thrown conservatives under the bus in the past to get kudos from the media.
Being used to being in the spotlight, I could see McCain watching all the Obama coverage over the last week and thinking he's got to do something to grab a headline, even if it means selling short a later bump.
is there something about Governor Crist I don't know?
Theophilus: Crist is the Florida version of Schwarzenegger - perhaps a little more conservative than he, but not a friend of social conservatives.
If he went the No. 2 route then McCain is dead to me.
Here is a wishful thinking #3 or probably fantasy thinking pick. He picks a VP like the Gov. of Alaska that excites the base and helps his campaign raise funds.
Crankycon is right about Crist. He is my governor and he is no social conservative, though he is moderating that tendency for political reasons.
...I wouldn't put it past him to think he can pull out a win without those troublesome and "divisive" social conservatives.
Is there any doubt that Sen. McCain thinks this?
Whoever it is -- an enemy (Ridge, et al.), a dud (Pawlenty, et al.) or a gimmick (Palin, Jindal) -- that person will almost certainly outshine Jurassic McCain. He runs a great risk having that person go out on the stump and demonstrating greater energy and enthusiasm and knowledge on the issues than he does, thereby highlighting his own shortcomings.
So are those who rammed McCain down our throats as "the most electable" admitting to any buyer's remorse yet?
is there something about Governor Crist I don't know?
Yes.
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