Sure, everyone's looking for the next Prez, so we have sights on who's making the play to become the next VEEP, the ultimate #2! At vicepresidents.com it is about people in the shadow-the second string, the runners up. Breaking 2008 Election News...
Romney Suspends Bid For the Presidency, Positions Himself for VEEP!
Could Romney humble himself enough to play second fiddle to McCain?
It's hard to say. If you watched him closely after the Super Tuesday results were in, you could see his uneasiness as he claimed they would "stay in the fight" and you just knew that all these "meetings with advisors" couldn't be good.
Perhaps he's been humbled just enough to consider staying in the race -- but in a new capacity. He seems to have money in the bank and the will to go on, so why not saddle up for a Cheney-like position in the White House?
On one hand, McCain has said the only roles he wants for his VP are to inquire as to the status of his health and to cast the tie-breaking vote in the senate. Yet, he's also stated that he'll need economic advice from his VEEP... and as Chuck Norris pointed out, McCain's "old."
Political analysts suggest that Romney fits the balancing ticket: Romney being from the North and having the business/economic skills that McCain lacks. Romney could also help woo Conservatives who worry about McCain's immigration policies.
Let's Talk About VEEPs!
Every once in a while, I come across a fantastic article on VEEPs that I'd like to share. This piece by Paul R. Dunn sheds light on the importance of selecting a good VP nominee (and the consequences of selecting a bad one!) He also gives his recommendation for the Dems' nominee that could offset McCain.
02/07/08:
Haley Barbour Fans Make a Bold Push for McCain's VP
It's no secret by now that McCain needs a Conservative from the Deep South to help him unite the party behind him. After crushing Romney in Super Tuesday performance, McCain is still far from out of the woods if many conservatives opt to simply "boycott voting." Exit polls showed 60% of the Conservative vote going to Romney on Tuesday, which is a troubling sign for McCain.
Here at VicePresidents.com, we've mentioned Haley Barbour before. Now his supporters are running a "Draft Haley Barbour for VP" campaign, complete with its own website. (That's how you KNOW it's for real!)
He may be mired in just enough "dirty business" to appeal to wheeling and dealing Republicans who fear McCain may strip the GOP party of their power. He's essentially a more affable Cheney in that regard. Nevermind that he's worked as a tobacco lobbyist, overlooked low income families and thwarted Democratic efforts to "get out the vote." Isn't that kind of in everyone's* best interest? (*By "everyone" I mean high rolling GOP business moguls.)
Of course, this is not to say Haley Barbour isn't fully qualified to stand alongside McCain. He's economically savvy, having transformed Mississippi's $720 million defecit into a $246 surplus (without raising taxes, obviously). He's known for tort reform, increasing education budgets, job creation, emphasizing prevention and reform for Medicaid and taking a tough stance on national security by increasing state trooper presence. Suddenly, he seems like a perfect fit for McCain.
Bob Dole Says "Condi Rice For VEEP"
Reiterating upon one of Bob Novak's points from several weeks ago, Bob Dole dropped the Condoleeza Rice name again for McCain's VP on The Colbert Report this week.
02/05/08:
EX-VP Nominee Bob Dole Stirs Up The 2008 Election
Just in time for Super Tuesday, the 1976 vice presidential candidate Bob Dole makes his voice heard. What better way to sprint ahead in the media than to write a letter to none other than Rush Limbaugh? It's no secret that Rush has a chip on his shoulder regarding John McCain.
Limbaugh is quoted at Time.com, saying of McCain, “He stabbed his own president in the back on legislation, a number of times. He doesn’t support his party or his president when the chips are down. He called people who want to protect the border racists, nativists, protectionists, and worse. And what kind of character is it that tries to slide all that through under cover of darkness, in a back room.”
In Dole's letter, he urges Rush to reconsider his harsh feelings on McCain, stating in his letter, "I was the Republican Leader from January 1985 until I left the Senate voluntarily in June 1996. I worked closely with Senator McCain when he came to the Senate in 1987 until I departed. I cannot recall a single instance when he did not support the Party on critical votes."
As expected, Mitt Romney weighed in, commenting on Fox News Tuesday, "Well, it’s probably the last person I would have wanted to have write a letter for me. … I think there are a lot of folks who tend to think that maybe John McCain’s race is a bit like Bob Dole’s race — that it’s the guy who’s next in line, the inevitable choice." He later clarified that "Senator Dole is an American hero, a war hero, a fine man and a great leader for our party” when McCain called Romney's response "disgraceful."
Some speculate that the McCain team put Dole up to it, but Dole insists that he speaks of his own volition and that if anything, he's dragged into the race by his wife Elizabeth, the "good conservative" who's running for reelection in North Carolina.
Sarah Palin Campaigns for VEEP!
As you may recall, we first mentioned Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin as a potential VEEP just over a month ago. Her campaign for the #2 Spot has been picking up steam on the front page of the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Magazine, as well as radio talk shows like BlogTalkRadio and AKRadio.org to name a few! It seems that VP-Mania is kicking off in full force. Here at VicePresidents.com, we can't help but admire those gutsy enough to campaign for VP!
McCain's VEEP: Condi??
Last week Conservative political commentator Bob Novak floated Condoleeza Rice as McCain's VEEP! Watch the video here!
02/04/08:
Will Kathleen Sebelius Appear As a VEEP or Cabinet Member?
Just one week ago, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius endorsed Barack Obama. She's appeared in several ads to say, “Barack will turn the page on the old politics to boost our economy, fix healthcare and end this war. That’s real change for our future."
“She's clearly on a national list either for a cabinet level position or perhaps a vice presidential position,” suggests political analyst Dr. Jeff Jarman.
Kathleen has a commendable history of "fighting the institution," as Barack often preaches. In a surprise 1994 win, she became the first Democrat to be elected as state insurance commissioner in 100 years. As commissioner, she refused to take any campaign contributions from insurers and blocked monopolizing mergers.
She's also noted for getting rid of $1.1 billion of inherited debt, taking a bipartisan approach to governing, supporting public education and cutting out government waste (instead of raising taxes).
In 2001, Sebelius was one of Governing Magazine's Public Officials of the Year. In 2005, Time Magazine called her "one of the five best governors in America" and she was recognized as one of "8 in 08" (women who could possibly be elected as president or vice president).
Clinton-Coulter?
I'm 110% sure it'd never happen, but wouldn't it be funny if Ann Coulter was Hillary's running-mate in 2008?
If that were the case, do you think Coulter would pry any of the votes from McCain or attract the conservative base at all?
She recently came out and said that she intended to campaign for Senator Clinton if she's up against McCain in the general election.
Coulter told Fox News: "She's more conservative than he is. She lies less than John McCain. She's smarter than John McCain. I will campaign for her if it's McCain."
Romney Attacks McCain (RE: Kerry?)
Romney recently picked on John McCain at an airport rally in West Palm Beach Florida, saying, “I don’t think McCain’s a Democrat … but I do recall a story that he was thinking about being John Kerry’s running mate—he gave that some thought."
He added, “Had someone asked me that question, there would not have been a nanosecond of thought about it. It would’ve been an immediate laugh. And of course, if someone asked him if he would consider me as a running mate, he would have also laughed immediately.”
McCain's VEEP Is Especially Crucial, Analysts Say!
John McCain is in serious trouble, should be win the GOP nomination.
His failure to woo Conservative voters will surely cost Republicans the election.
Conservatives are frankly pissed about McCain's stance on immigration (amnesty, what???), as well as his history on taxes (he initially opposed the Bush tax cuts), global warming (he chaired hearings on the issue) and campaign finance reform (he backed it, which would surely strip power from the Conservatives).
Options include:
1. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. "McCain needs to pick a man of the right, and South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford would be the best, at many levels," said economic conservative Pat Toomey, president of the influential Club for Growth and former Republican congressman from Pennsylvania.
2. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. "The only thing that will unite conservatives is a good — make that very good — V.P. choice," says former Republican National Committee General Counsel David Norcross. "Haley knows and understands the party. He is the essence of a party man, has won bipartisan praise for his leadership in the wake of the [Hurricane] Katrina catastrophe at a time when the Republican-led federal government responded in a way that still brings the word 'incompetence' to the lips of many Republicans."
Obama-Webb Ticket?
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, an early supporter of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, said he'd be "well served" to consider VA Senator Jim Webb for the #2 Slot.
“I think he should choose someone who is strong in foreign policy and defense issues -- like Senator Webb."
Lieberman Passes on VP, According to AP
"No, I'd tell him, 'Thanks, John, I've been there, I've done that. You can find much better,'" Lieberman told The Associated Press during an interview Tuesday in his Senate office. "I'm not seeking anything else."
Lieberman plans to continue his fourth term as senator, he adds. "I don't have any intention of leaving the Democratic Party. I want to be a senator."
