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Continuing Veep talk
By windstone | May 24, 2008
Lace provides us with the list of potential vice-presidential candidates. Upcoming posts will deal with why Senator McCain should pick Governor Crist(my choice of the three), Governor Romney, or Governor Jindal. But I want to look at the other candidates that may be under consideration. There are some stipulations. First, the candidate cannot be a current Bush Administration official(due to the Democrats’ howls if someone resigned from their job or tried to stay on and campaign). The candidate must be born after 1943. The candidate must be a Republican(sorry, I love Joe Lieberman too, but then you’d have to consider Michael Bloomberg and that is something I want to avoid). The candidate must be either a current or former governor, U.S. Senator, Member of Congress, or Cabinet-rank official(sorry Michael Steele fans). I didn’t mention any senators, but Sen. Coburn, Sen.DeMint, Sen. Burr, and Sen. Thune would be good.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Huck brings advantages to the ticket-he’s affable, likable, and charming. His support for the FairTax is spot-on and admirable. He did a great job improving Arkansas roads(what’s Senator Obama done for transportation?) and is a strong pro-life and traditional marriage supporter who could turn out weary social conservatives to the polls. But there are downsides. Huckabee has a troublesome record on tax and spending issues that would burden Senator McCain’s efforts to reach out to fiscal conservatives like the Club for Growth, who tried to stop Governor Huckabee’s candidacy with all its might. He has a penchant for gaffes, especially with foriegn policy issues. His connections to pastors under congressional investigation would surely bring headaches the McCain campaign wouldn’t need, as would the old charges of gifts recieved and not reported when he was governor. So there’s a lot to consider if he’s the guy.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. T-Paw has some downsides, such as his views on climate change, controversies over transportation, and the cigarette tax hike. But overall, he’s done a good job of growing jobs in Minnesota, holding the line on spending, passed tort reform, lowered the tax burden on Minnesotans, pushed for strong trade relations with other countries(which helps with reaching out to farmers), and passed tough crime legislation cracking down on meth and putting more State Troopers on the road and forensic scientists in the labs. Would help McCain on domestic issues and could swing Minnesota and other Upper Midwest states.
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. . His strong record on spending restraint, economic growth, market-friendly health care reform, and good steward of the environment put him on the list. His business background would be a plus, as would his experience in the Reagan and both Bush White Houses. He doesn’t have the political or foriegn policy problems Romney presents. However, he comes from a deep-red state and is running for re-election. That should keep him off the ticket in 2008.
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels-See above and add controversies over daylight savings time and lease of the Indiana Toll Road. He will face a tough re-election fight unlike Huntsman and is also from a deep-red state. His budget expertise is bar none as the former OMB director, but Senator McCain should not put Governor Daniels on the ticket.
Former OMB Director and Ohio Congressman Rob Portman-Portman has a strong expertise on economic and fiscal matters going back to his days in the Bush 41 White House. He has a strong conservative record on virtually every issue and his time as White House trade representative gives him gravitas on international issues. Some conservatives might be concerned for his support of the Bush 41 tax hike, but he supported the Bush 43 tax cuts. He is popular in Ohio, which is essential to winning the White House. McCain would have to fight the Democrats’ efforts to demagogue his service under President Bush, but he would be a great pick.
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour-His record as White House Political Director, RNC Chair, and Governor are storied. He is a great budget-cutter,pro-lifer, tort-reformer, and his response to Hurricane Katrina showed his excellent leadership skills. But the pundits would make hay out of his lobbying career, painting him as cozy with Big Tobacco and Big Pharma, undercutting Senator McCain’s reformer image. That’s too bad, because he would be a great veep.
Former Congressman John Kasich-A good conservative who’s been out of politics awhile. Look for a statewide run instead.
Former Congressman J.C. Watts-See above.
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin-She’s accomplished ethics reform,fought for more energy exploration, and held the line on spending. But she is needed in Alaska. She will be a national figure, but not yet.
Congressman Eric Cantor-The chief deputy whip in the House is a strong conservative across the board and would help in Virginia. He would also bolster efforts to reach Jewish voters as the only Jewish House Republican. Cantor would probably turn down the job because of aspirations to lead the House one day.
Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn-She’s a strong conservative woman from the South and one of our favorites down here in Tennessee. Blackburn worked against Governor Sundquist’s state income tax and has fought for lower taxes, less spending, and strong families in the House.
Congressman Paul Ryan-The only other contender born in the 1970’s, Congressman Ryan is a lion at the tender age of 38. In Congress he’s sounded the alarm for entitlement and budget reform as the top Republican on the Budget Committee. A pro-lifer,he’s a strong supporter of market solutions in health-care and education as well. Ryan would put Wisconsin in play and energize conservatives.
There’s the rundown. Thoughts and comments?
Topics: John McCain, Republican Presidential contenders, elections, Mike Huckabee, Tom Coburn, Club for Growth, house republicans, Jim DeMint |
May 24th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I’ll bet McCain hasn’t made the final choice yet, but Mitt Romney is definitely stepping up activity. Romney sent an email to everyone last night, his first one in some time, saying among other things:
“I’ve also been busy traveling the country again, campaigning for John McCain and appearing as a surrogate on his behalf. We’ve been to Pennsylvania, Nevada and Maine with plans to go to Oregon, Colorado and Texas in the coming weeks. Next week, I’ll be hosting President Bush at my home in Utah for a Victory 08 fundraiser to benefit the national ticket.”
May 24th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Sarah Palin is a national figure NOW — especially in view of the current oil/energy situation as well as the disaffacted female Hillary voters situation — which makes her perfect as VP w/McCain RIGHT NOW!!!
(I’m assuming the poster is not fully aware of Governor Palin’s more than remarkable and unique remarkable assets. The GOP (currently in woe) needs her, as well as McCain and the nation.
May 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
And this is a comment I made yesterday (right before the Hillary gaff) which remains relevent even if, and perhaps especially if, Hillary is now completely out of any VP consideration:
Here’s an important piece of advice: If it looks like it’s going to be McCain/Palin anyway (and that should be a “no brainer” for Team McCain), McCain should announce NOW or VERY SOON, rather than later towards the convention. There’s currently a growing chorus for Obama/Hillary (as VP) ticket (in fact the Dems are likely aware of the Palin phenomenon). If the GOP waits while movement for Hillary as VP grows — even worse until after it is solidified that Hillary will/could be VP pick — selecting Palin will be portrayed by Dems/liberal media more as a reaction by GOP selecting its own female (overshawdoing Palin’s own remarkable assets), rather than McCain taking the lead on this. Selecting Palin now or early (contrary to the punditocracy) will mean McCain will be seen as driving the course of this campaign overwhelmingly, and the DEMS will be seen as merely reacting. And, there’s absoultely no down-side to this because even if Hillary is a no-go as VP for Obama, the GOP gains by acting early. McCain the maverick. Palin the maverick. Do it now!
There’s no reason, and actually substantial negative, in McCain waiting to see what the Dems do first insofar as his picking Palin as VP, because, no matter who Obama picks, Palin is by far (and I mean far) the best pick for McCain and the GOP, especially in this time of GOP woes. The GOP can be seen as the party of real ‘change’ (albeit I hate that mantra, change, change, bla bla), while not really having to change from GOP core conservative values, which Palin more than represents.
In light of the current oil/energy situation, as well as the disaffected female Hillary voters situation, and growing focus on McCain’s age and health, Palin is more than perfect — now.
(Perhaps Team McCain is already on to this.)
May 24th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Interesting note about Huckabee’s record: In his ten years in office, Arkansas moved from 49th to 8th place in national education rankings.
May 24th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Sarah who?
May 24th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
I hope its Coburn or Watts.
May 24th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Coming from a Florida CR, you do NOT want Crist on the ticket.
May 25th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Rob Portman is at McCain’s barbeque.
This Rob Portman: http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/RobertDNovak/2008/03/28/portman_for_vp
Sanford is there too.
May 25th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
She is no conserevative.
See her unconstitutional votes at my old blog:
mickeywhite.blogspot.com
See current info at:
bluecollarrepublican.com
Mickey
Rossville TN
May 26th, 2008 at 11:37 am
As listed above McCain can choose from many people. This is an important choice to make, however, the platform that’s put together in my opinion is more important. The negatives listed for Huckabee are far out weighed by his positives. Had he been treated more fairly during the debates he could have squashed many of the negatives and buried them. The general election and VP debates will be way different. McCain knows enough about the FairTax as does Romney to be supporters. Why aren’t they? The FairTax is real positive change!