How many votes did Palin cost McCain?

[Bo]

She cost McCain NC and possibly IN. Probably no other states, though.

[Bo]

Now, the question is, who would have been a good VP pick for McCain?

John Thune probably would have been one of McCain's best options. Thune was a hadcore cosnervative, which would have pleased the base. Simaultenously, his nice guy persona would appeal to moderates. Not to mention that he isn't as stupid as Palin and thus isn't as prone to making large gaffes.

[Bo]

Palin was essentially a "Hail Mary" VP pick, which was what McCain needed at the time. He needed to attract the most amount of media attention possible, appease the conservative base, and to an extent it worked.

The problem is, Palin herself was poor on the stump and acted "on her own" at times, contradicting the top of her ticket. Palin energized conservatives, but cost McCain "experience" voters, and probably other independents.

Now, the question is, who would have been a good VP pick for McCain?

I think Kay Bailey Hutchison would have been a great vice presidential selection, but she is somewhat pro-choice so that automatically eliminates her. If he wanted a female, he could have selected Elizabeth Dole, but she was struggling to hold her own Senate seat, so I'm not sure. Trying to think of some other prominent GOP females - the Sisters of Maine would have been good choices but they're in the same bag as Hutchison, pro-choice and pro-gay so no chance in hell the Republicans would support them. As for House members, I don't know many too prominent GOP women aside from Palin's lunatic twin sister Michele Bachmann, the only person I know of who makes Sarah Palin look like she has a double-digit IQ.

Which articulates my point - no female energized & appeased the base except for Sarah Palin and Bachmann - the latter is merely a representative, which raises concern in the case that McCain dies during his Presidency.

Now, the question is, who would have been a good VP pick for McCain?

John Thune probably would have been one of McCain's best options. Thune was a hadcore cosnervative, which would have pleased the base. Simaultenously, his nice guy persona would appeal to moderates. Not to mention that he isn't as stupid as Palin and thus isn't as prone to making large gaffes.

The problem is, the media reaction would have been "John Thune, South Dakota" and the voters' response would've been "yawn." McCain needed something big. Unfortunately for him, Sarah Palin was simply too gaffe-prone.

The thing is, Thune might not have initially caused as much excitement as Palin did, but I think that as the American people would have gotten to know Thune throughout the camapign, both moderates and conservatives would have liked him to a large extent. Thus, I think that if the financial crisis would not have occured, a McCain/Thune ticket might have achieved an upset victory. Thune would have gradually given McCain extra support, in contrast to Palin, who immediately gave McCain a lot of support and then helped him lose a lot of support. Even with the financial crisis, I think that Thune would have prevented McCain from losing IN and NC and might have caused McCain to lose by 4-6% in the PV (even though McCain would have still lost by a decent margin in the end).

[Bo]

I agree with comments about Thune.  Also, Hutchison would have failed to alienate so many more educated folks as at least being qualifed to become President.  My hunch is that she would have cut Obama's lead in NY, PA, OH, and CA, but not have changed any states except possibly NC and FL.  Oh, TX would have been a much larger margin of victory for McCain, as well.

In regards to Hutchison, even though she might have helped McCain with moderates, she would have hurt him with conservatives. Thus, I don't think she would have been able to flip FL or NC to McCain.

[Bo]

VP is not a top 25 issue. However, Palin had more governing experience than Biden, Obama, and McCain put together. Somebody disagree!

Joe Biden served on the City Council of New Castle County, Delaware, from 1971 to 1973, home to some 500,000 people.

Sarah Palin had served a year and a half as Governor of Alaska during her time in office.  She governed over just 100,000 more people than Biden did.

Not to mention that Biden served 36 years in the Senate (from 1973 to 2009), represeanting a state with nearly a million people near the end of his Senate term.

[Bo]

VP is not a top 25 issue. However, Palin had more governing experience than Biden, Obama, and McCain put together. Somebody disagree!

Joe Biden served on the City Council of New Castle County, Delaware, from 1971 to 1973, home to some 500,000 people.

Sarah Palin had served a year and a half as Governor of Alaska during her time in office.  She governed over just 100,000 more people than Biden did.

Not to mention that Biden served 36 years in the Senate (from 1973 to 2009), represeanting a state with nearly a million people near the end of his Senate term.

He did not govern!

Having "governing" experiewnce does not necessarily make someone a great President. Bsuh Jr. and Carter were popular governors, but very bad Presidents.

[Bo]

good for him he didn't govern a state though. it's funny how we agree on some forums and disagree on other forums but hey that's democracy at work.

Doesn't matter. He still governed a large city which is almost as populous as Alaska.

[Bo]

Although Palin energized many conservatives, almost all of those conservatives would have voted for McCain (with less enthusiasn, though) if Palin was not on the ticket since they would not want to see a liberal Muslim socialist in the White House. On the other hand, Palin alienated many moderates and independents and caused many of them to vote against McCain. Thus, she hurt McCain more than she helped him.

[Bo]

If anyone hurt the McCain/Palin ticket it was Bush.

That's true, but Palin also hurt McCain's chances. Not to mention Greenspan since he was the one who blew up the housing bubble in the first place.

[Bo]

The housing market meltdown was staged for years to take place a few weeks before the 2008 presidential election. President Bush had his own bill in 2003 and the democrats fought it til the bill died in the senate. In 2005 McCain had his own bill that was voted against by both sides. The democrats had that up their sleeves for years. Not to mention Chris Dodd was the highest recipient of their loans with Obama coming in at number 2. They could've panicked 10 years earlier too. The collapse was bound to happen due to interest rates being too low and too many ppl being allowed to take out loans who had no intention on paying them back. The policies go back to Jimmy Carter.

Republican Fed Chair Alan Greenspn was the one who made interest rates too low for too long in the first place, though.

[Bo]

Well yes that is a part of it. Chris Dodd and Barack Obama should thank him.

Bush Jr. should also thank Greenspan for pumping up the economy enough for him tog et reelected.

[Bo]

Palin helped McCain in every state that McCain won. The Obama states Palin hurt McCain. The country was very divided on her. I still think overall McCain could've lost by 10-12 points without her.

lol

[Bo]

Palin helped McCain in every state that McCain won. The Obama states Palin hurt McCain. The country was very divided on her. I still think overall McCain could've lost by 10-12 points without her.

lol

You think that he'd do better or worse without her?

I think he would have done a little better. Even though Palin got a lot of conservatives energized, almost all of them would ahve still voted for McCain because they wouldn't have wanted "a librul Muslim socialist" to end up anywhere near the Oval Office. However, I think that Palin did cost McCain some support among more moderate voters due to her stupidity and rightwing views. I think that Palin cost McCain more support than she delivered, and thus I think she slightly hurt McCain's election numbers.

[Bo]

give it up. Bush cost McCain votes, not Palin.

Both of them cost McCain votes.

[Bo]

give it up. Bush cost McCain votes, not Palin.

Both of them cost McCain votes.

Palin cost him votes with some democrats and independents, but added to his base which was needed. Alright I guess she cost him the vote of Colin Powell.

The GOP base was going to vote for McCain anyway since they wouldn't have wanted a "baby-killing librul Muslim socialist" in the Oval Office. I agree that Palin did cost McCain a lot of votes with Democrats and independents. Many women who supported Hillary planned to support McCain, but once they saw how stupid Palin was they decided to support Obama instead since they felt that Palin made all women seem this stupid.

[Bo]

give it up. Bush cost McCain votes, not Palin.

Both of them cost McCain votes.

Palin cost him votes with some democrats and independents, but added to his base which was needed. Alright I guess she cost him the vote of Colin Powell.

The GOP base was going to vote for McCain anyway since they wouldn't have wanted a "baby-killing librul Muslim socialist" in the Oval Office. I agree that Palin did cost McCain a lot of votes with Democrats and independents. Many women who supported Hillary planned to support McCain, but once they saw how stupid Palin was they decided to support Obama instead since they felt that Palin made all women seem this stupid.

No, many of them would have stayed home if McCain had chosen some "moderate" loser like Lieberman or Romney or Giuliani.

All those GOPers are either pro-abortion or were pro-abortion, though.

[Bo]

give it up. Bush cost McCain votes, not Palin.

Both of them cost McCain votes.

Palin cost him votes with some democrats and independents, but added to his base which was needed. Alright I guess she cost him the vote of Colin Powell.

The GOP base was going to vote for McCain anyway since they wouldn't have wanted a "baby-killing librul Muslim socialist" in the Oval Office. I agree that Palin did cost McCain a lot of votes with Democrats and independents. Many women who supported Hillary planned to support McCain, but once they saw how stupid Palin was they decided to support Obama instead since they felt that Palin made all women seem this stupid.

No, many of them would have stayed home if McCain had chosen some "moderate" loser like Lieberman or Romney or Giuliani.

All those GOPers are either pro-abortion or were pro-abortion, though.

Exactly so more GOP voters would stay home in theory. I don't know that the GOP needs to be motivated like the democrats do though. We don't have college kids who sit around and get drunk all the time who would have to be really pushed to make it to the polls. We used to not have as many senior voters who were sometimes not able to make it for other reasons relating to health. Many people who aren't motivated and end up dependent on the government tend to support the democrats but how many of them say "oh it's raining, let someone else vote?" So voter turnout isn't as much of an issue for Republicans. Just ask Jesse Jackson who was busing people in Philadelphia in 2000.

If McCain would have picked a smart, competent pro-lifer, he would have still encouraged his base to vote for him in large numbers without alienating moderates and independents.

[Bo]

give it up. Bush cost McCain votes, not Palin.

Both of them cost McCain votes.

Palin cost him votes with some democrats and independents, but added to his base which was needed. Alright I guess she cost him the vote of Colin Powell.

The GOP base was going to vote for McCain anyway since they wouldn't have wanted a "baby-killing librul Muslim socialist" in the Oval Office. I agree that Palin did cost McCain a lot of votes with Democrats and independents. Many women who supported Hillary planned to support McCain, but once they saw how stupid Palin was they decided to support Obama instead since they felt that Palin made all women seem this stupid.

No, many of them would have stayed home if McCain had chosen some "moderate" loser like Lieberman or Romney or Giuliani.

All those GOPers are either pro-abortion or were pro-abortion, though.

Exactly so more GOP voters would stay home in theory. I don't know that the GOP needs to be motivated like the democrats do though. We don't have college kids who sit around and get drunk all the time who would have to be really pushed to make it to the polls. We used to not have as many senior voters who were sometimes not able to make it for other reasons relating to health. Many people who aren't motivated and end up dependent on the government tend to support the democrats but how many of them say "oh it's raining, let someone else vote?" So voter turnout isn't as much of an issue for Republicans. Just ask Jesse Jackson who was busing people in Philadelphia in 2000.

If McCain would have picked a smart, competent pro-lifer, he would have still encouraged his base to vote for him in large numbers without alienating moderates and independents.

He did just that.

No, he didn't. Palin is very stupid and incompetent, and thus she cost McCain a lot of moderate and independent voters.

[Bo]

give it up. Bush cost McCain votes, not Palin.

Both of them cost McCain votes.

Palin cost him votes with some democrats and independents, but added to his base which was needed. Alright I guess she cost him the vote of Colin Powell.

The GOP base was going to vote for McCain anyway since they wouldn't have wanted a "baby-killing librul Muslim socialist" in the Oval Office. I agree that Palin did cost McCain a lot of votes with Democrats and independents. Many women who supported Hillary planned to support McCain, but once they saw how stupid Palin was they decided to support Obama instead since they felt that Palin made all women seem this stupid.

No, many of them would have stayed home if McCain had chosen some "moderate" loser like Lieberman or Romney or Giuliani.

All those GOPers are either pro-abortion or were pro-abortion, though.

Exactly so more GOP voters would stay home in theory. I don't know that the GOP needs to be motivated like the democrats do though. We don't have college kids who sit around and get drunk all the time who would have to be really pushed to make it to the polls. We used to not have as many senior voters who were sometimes not able to make it for other reasons relating to health. Many people who aren't motivated and end up dependent on the government tend to support the democrats but how many of them say "oh it's raining, let someone else vote?" So voter turnout isn't as much of an issue for Republicans. Just ask Jesse Jackson who was busing people in Philadelphia in 2000.

If McCain would have picked a smart, competent pro-lifer, he would have still encouraged his base to vote for him in large numbers without alienating moderates and independents.

He did just that.

No, he didn't. Palin is very stupid and incompetent, and thus she cost McCain a lot of moderate and independent voters.

Keep your opinions to yourself. She's not stupid, she just doesn't talk in circles and has a great understanding of our constitution.

This is a political forum. Why would I keep my opinions to myself? And frankly, no offense, but my opinions are less biased than yours. And I bet Palin doesn't even know who was the Father of the U.S. Constitution. I mean, she doesn't read newspapers.