The Institute of VP leaks, tips, and speculation (GOP edition)

[Mr. Morden]

National Review's Byron York reports:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Mjk1MjQwOWI4NjIwNDk4ZGQyNTgzMjIyYWYwOWYyNDg=

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[JSojourner]

A blatant pander to a Pro Choice woman, no less. The base will be oh so very pleased.

A 7% approval record from NARAL?  I've looked at her votes.  She's not as anti-choice as Tom Coburn, but she's pretty far to the right.  Look at her voting record.  Now, she might not favor overturning Roe (I don't know) and she does support stem cell (like McCain, Orin Hatch and Gordon Smith) but on all the other abortion issues, she's just plain dreamy to the theocons.

They'll be fine with her.  Moreso than with Ridge.  MUCH moreso than with Lieberman.

I'll be honest - I never really looked at her voting record on this issue. I've always heard that she is Pro Choice though.

She may be in that she doesn't think Roe can or should be overturned.  But she has voted against partial birth abortion, federal funding of abortion, abortion on military bases, funding for contraceptives and prevention efforts here and abroad, for parental consent and notification, and against allowing the transport of minors across state lines for abortions and abortion counseling.  She has also voted for legislation requiring offenders to be charged with two murders when a pregnant woman is killed. 

About the only think I can say that the anti-choice folks would dislike would be her support for stem cell research.   But yeah, I dunno where she stands on Roe.

[elcorazon]

If he took Christine Todd Whitman, he'd win the election.

[Mr. Morden]

Where is this phantom news about Rice being vetted?  I'm not finding it anywhere.

[JSojourner]

Rice is being vetted.  Just reported.

Yeah, AOL says Jeb Bush is still being looked at, too.  I don't believe McCain is that stupid.  He is going to choose wisely. If he were to choose Rice, Lieberman or Bush...it would be political suicide.  A liberal Democrat on social issues, a foreign policy bumbler and the brother of the biggest clown to ever occupy the White House.  Nah.  Mac is too smart for that.

Jmcfst is right that Palin would be a brilliant, out of the box move that would put Democrats in a tactical tailspin.

But McCain can select someone else.  Palin may not want the job, or she may have skeletons in her closet no one knows about yet.  I am not sure she's been vetted.  

Ridge would hurt because he is a Bush Admin castoff.  He can be sold as a guy who saw the ship was sinking and was smart enough to get off.  He can "get religion" on abortion as H.W. Bush did in 1980 or just promise not to make his pro-choice stance an issue.  He can counter Biden easily in Pennsylvania.  Another war hero on the ticket, too.

Hutchison could provide the PUMAs (if they even exist -- Chuck Todd has his doubts) with a convenient excuse for voting McCain.  She is a Southerner and a Texan, to boot.  Texans are usually good news for a Presidential ticket, Lloyd Bentsen notwithstanding.

Portman may be more problematic in that he, and Mitch Daniels, helped craft the disastrous economic policies of the Bush Administration.  But he's a smart guy, has a handle on foreign affairs and is quite likeable...even House Democrats seem to genuinely like the guy.

Romney, well...I personally think he'd be a terrible pick.  If one or two McCain commercials using Hillary against Obama "worked" (we don't know if they did), they would surely be buried under a wave of ads featuring Willard insulting McCain and McCain returning fire.  Even conservatives tend to agree Romney is a flip flopping opportunist.  Would that, in any way, enhance the Democratic message that McCain has flip flopped on many key issues?

If it's not Palin or Ridge, then look at John Thune or some  right winger with a nice smile.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

If he took Christine Todd Whitman, he'd win the election.

The woman who is near universally panned for her stewardship of both the EPA and New Jersey?  Yeah.

[HardRCafé]

If he took Christine Todd Whitman, he'd win the election.

Yes, Christie would flip New Jersey to McCain in a heartbeat!  Along with the rest of the Northeast.  Everybody still loves Christie.

As for Rice, I'm a fan, but that's stupid.

[J. J.]

If he took Christine Todd Whitman, he'd win the election.

Yes, Christie would flip New Jersey to McCain in a heartbeat!  Along with the rest of the Northeast.  Everybody still loves Christie.

As for Rice, I'm a fan, but that's stupid.

Both Christie and Condi are great, but not the best.

[Mr. Morden]

Drudge says "MCCAIN HAS DECIDED ON HIS RUNNING MATE... DEVELOPING... "

[Mr. Morden]

Larry Kudlow of National Review says:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzM5ZmU0YjJhMTUzNjhhNjIwMjU2ZWM3YmRhY2M1MDA=

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[Verily]

If he took Christine Todd Whitman, he'd win the election.

The woman who is near universally panned for her stewardship of both the EPA and New Jersey?  Yeah.

I have yet to hear someone suggest that competency at governing is an actual criterion for winning elections.

[Dan the Roman]

Why is no one discussing Huckabee.

He can more effectively reach out to working class voters on the economy than Romney, he would mobilize evangelicals, and he is disarming enough not to offend anyone else that seriously. Not to mention he could probably joke his way through a debate with Biden.

[Mr. Morden]

NYT says McCain has made his choice and will reveal it on Friday at 11am (not noon as previously reported):

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28repubs.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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Politico says McCain will inform the person he's picked tomorrow:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12915.html

[Keystone Phil]

Larry Kudlow of National Review says:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzM5ZmU0YjJhMTUzNjhhNjIwMjU2ZWM3YmRhY2M1MDA=

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Oh, God, I hope this is true. I don't want Kay but I really, really, really don't want Romney.

[exopolitician]

NYT says McCain has made his choice and will reveal it on Friday at 11am (not noon as previously reported):

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28repubs.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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Politico says McCain will inform the person he's picked tomorrow:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12915.html

Omg if its Lieberman...I will literally die.

[HardRCafé]

Why is no one discussing Huckabee.

He may have made the difference for Young, and he draws net negative votes outside Dixie.

Didn't everyone serious suspect it was between Romney and Pawlenty already?

[Spaghetti Cat]

Hutchison would actually be a great choice at this point.

[Mr. Morden]

On CNN, they just said that the McCain campaign might put out an official statement late tomorrow night (after Obama's speech) announcing who the running mate choice is.

[Keystone Phil]

On CNN, they just said that the McCain campaign might put out an official statement late tomorrow night (after Obama's speech) announcing who the running mate choice is.

Hmmmm...still an unnecessary risk.

[Verily]

Hutchison would actually be a great choice at this point.

Old Senator is old. She would have been a good choice for Romney. And I'm pretty sure all she wants is to ease into retirement as governor of Texas. Plus, pro-choice.

[Mr. Morden]

The Politico says that Rove has been pushing Romney and trying to throw cold water on Lieberman as McCain's running mate:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12922.html

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[ZamboniDriver]

For what it's worth:  "Romney Followed by Men with Ear Pieces"

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/as-veep-rumors.html

[Bono]

It'll be Condi Rice. Mark my words.

[Mr. Morden]

Drudge on McCain's running mate:

http://www.drudgereport.com/

SOURCE: NAME MAY LEAK AT 6 PM ET... WITH SOME SORT OF CONFIRMATION AT 8 PM... DEVELOPING...

[Mr. Morden]

More from National Review's Byron York:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDgzZjRkZmRiOWVmMDdiYzZlYjA2NjcwNWI4N2M3NDI=

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