The Cafferty File: How Should John McCain Pick A Running Mate?
By Nicole Belle Wednesday Mar 05, 2008 3:15pm 
Because the media has gotta have a horse race. Now that John McCain has locked up the Republican nomination, the focus moves to who he will choose as his running mate. Will he choose someone who offsets his age, his lack of appeal to the Religious Right faction of the party (what, Hagee isn't good enough for you people?), his perceived lesser conservatism (because wanting to be in Iraq for a 100 years doesn't quite cut it, you have to want to fence the US off from Mexico too, apparently) or perhaps a minority or woman to counteract the Democratic ticket? McCain has set up a committee to look into different methodologies of picking that running mate. But Jack Cafferty asks his viewers what they think, and bless their little hearts, it looks like some snarky liberals got in some good zingers:
Download | play 
Download | play (h/t Heather)
Sky says: "Maybe he should look over at Shady Pines. There should be plenty of his contemporaries there. He might even find one who agrees with his brilliant suggestion to keep our GIs in Iraq for 100 years."
Ed in Houston: "McCain ought to let Rush Limbaugh help him pick the vice presidential candidate as soon as possible. It sounds by his comments today regarding a Clinton/Obama dream ticket that he will be re-entering rehab again soon."[..]
Dan in Gulfport, Florida: "Unfortunately, a lot of potential candidates are in jail or soon will be. McCain might be better off if he placed an ad in the jobs available section of The Times. The nice thing is that after Dick Cheney, the bar for vice president is so low that it won't be difficult for anyone to hop over it. My personal recommendation would be Senator Larry Craig. He'd lock up the public restroom vote and there might not be many other places Republicans will be able to find votes this year."
Oh snap!
Transcripts below the fold:
Jack Cafferty is here with The Cafferty File -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: Do you know off hand -- how many terms has John McCain been in the Senate?
BLITZER: About 20 years or so.
CAFFERTY: Like three terms, maybe more?
BLITZER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: OK. Now that he's the nominee, the Republican nominee, people are starting to wonder who's going to fill out that number two position on the ticket. "The New York Times" reports McCain and his advisers insist that there is no short list of potential names for vice president. Instead -- and here's the reason I asked, Wolf, that question -- John McCain has directed his campaign to study past methods that nominees have used to pick running mates. This is a 71-year-old guy. He spent half his adult life in Washington, D.C. . He's run for president twice, a three-term U.S. senator and he's going to have his campaign study how to get a vice president.
There's no hope. There is just no hope.
Some suggest McCain's selection of a vice presidential candidate is more important than usual given his age. If he wins, McCain would be 72 when he's sworn in -- the oldest candidate every elected to a first term. Of course, there are already some names floating around out there -- several governors, Florida's Charlie Crist, Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty, whose executive experience could be a plus for the ticket. Former governors, too -- Pennsylvania's Tom Ridge, he of the -- what was it -- clear plastic sheeting and duct tape. He's been mentioned as a possible vice president. There are also former governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee who, until recently, were McCain's rivals.
One expert says that McCain basically has three choices when it comes to a vice president -- pick a conservative who could rally the base, pick someone who has crossover appeal to try to attract Independents or make a geographical decision and try to win a specific swing state or region. These are all things that the campaign will be studying, no doubt.
Here's the question -- how should John McCain go about selecting his running mate?
[snip]
BLITZER: Get back to Jack Cafferty. He has got "The Cafferty File" -- Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How should John McCain, is the question this hour, go about selecting his running mate?
William in San Diego: "McCain's main weakness, the conservative base. Look at the numbers in Texas, 38 percent Huckabee, 51 percent McCain. If he goes into the general election lacking a half a million votes in Texas, he will stand no chance against the Democratic nominee. It's vital he choose either Huckabee or Romney and appeals to all of the conservatives that he has so far failed to impress."
Eileen writes: "John McCain has to pick someone with more than a room temperature IQ who acknowledges the diversity of religious belief in this country."
David writes: "George Bush may punk him into picking Jeb Bush.
Sky says: "Maybe he should look over at Shady Pines. There should be plenty of his contemporaries there. He might even find one who agrees with his brilliant suggestion to keep our GIs in Iraq for 100 years."
Ed in Houston: "McCain ought to let Rush Limbaugh help him pick the vice presidential candidate as soon as possible. It sounds by his comments today regarding a Clinton/Obama dream ticket that he will be re-entering rehab again soon."
Jake in New York: "John McCain ought to choose a somewhat younger running mate with shared ideals and executive experience. I personally hope he picks Charlie Crist."
Dan in Gulfport, Florida: "Unfortunately, a lot of potential candidates are in jail or soon will be. McCain might be better off if he placed an ad in the jobs available section of The Times. The nice thing is that after Dick Cheney, the bar for vice president is so low that it won't be difficult for anyone to hop over it. My personal recommendation would be Senator Larry Craig. He'd lock up the public restroom vote and there might not be many other places Republicans will be able to find votes this year."
And Vinnie in New York writes: "If he wants to win, he had better dig up Ronald Reagan."
That's all I have at this time.
BLITZER: That's enough.
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Fooooist!
he definitely should not pick from the same troth he lives in.
He should do like Bush and have Cheney find his VP.
(We all knew who he picked.)
Ooooh shit!!! Wow...sounds like McBain ain't got too many fans out there...
He should pick his nose. What's snot to like there? Whoever he picks it's gonna be a booger.
ron paul
Two words: Alan Keyes.
Carrot Top
the #1 issue is bullshit
I agree with Dan from Gulfport - Larry Craig would be great VP. He would be reaching across...the... something... either way he would be reaching.
Signed: Cats Hussein r Flyfishn
Are there term limits in place for VP? If not, I say Cheney!
Even if there are term limits for VP, I'm sure Addington can find a way around it.
Uno the Wonder Beagle
Maybe he should start out easy ... pick a Walking Mate first.
Oh, please, please, please pick Joe Lieberman - he'd be an automatic death sentence for the McCain candidacy. Look what happened with Gore.
he should pick this guy (this pic might make you puke): http://www.toryhobson.com/new/image/0/0/1/fff/upload/bush-endorses-mccai...
I vote dart board.
As I have said in the past McCain is going to need to bring a highly fractured GOP back into lock step against the Democrats come November. To do that he is going to have to find a VP with the qualities that he lacks. He is seen as an experienced foreign policy hawk with a strong military background so he has that locked up with the Conservative voters. Another foreign policy hawk as a VP might work but if he/she is not highly religious and a social Conservative as well then McCain can give that choice up pretty quick.
What McCain needs in my opinion is someone who has a business background with connections, knows the economy in order to attract the fiscally Conservative voters and can attract the Socially Conservative Evangelical vote as well. Many of the Republicans out there may have some of those qualities but are not well known. The only one that fits and even comes close to that is Mitt Romney. Romney may not be the poster boy for Evangelicals with his Mormon beliefs but he did attract a lot of them until Mike Huckabee started making his presence known. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to learn that McCain is considering Romney. Whether Romney accepts or not is of course another matter.
I'd like to suggest Jeff Gannon/Jim Guckert to garner the gay-male-prostitute-fake journalist vote.
I think he should pick Linda Graham. That way he could satisfy the women in the repug party.
I say re-animate Strom Thurmond and put him on the ticket. That'll get the Southern vote.
effing priceless...sometimes watching msm is worth it.
I'm guessing Jeb Bush.
Bugsy @ 20:
probably get you the sci-vote, too. What with him being un-dead and zombie like.
To win he would have to dig up Ronald Reagan?!! Holy crap, republicans
are either brain dead or love things totally fucked up...or both!
McCain should pick a Vice Presidential candidate who is much older than himself. This would make him look more animated by contrast. It would also give Nancy Pelosi a good chance to become President.
Easter Day wants? Chocolate bunny or Marshmellow chick?
How about flipping a coin. Heads he picks the white guy...tails he picks the white guy.
If Rush tells him who to pick the repugs will follow like sheep. They did in Texas.
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Texas_GOP_voted_Hillary/2008/03/05/78...
the challenge for Cnn and the other infotainers is to keep john McSame in the news cycle , so they'll have to work overtime on their speculation shtick . No doubt McSame going to England and France will provide great coverage .
Fanon @ 23:
Oh please.... Do you want to stare at a face of a 100 years old crippled man? He should pick Trent Lott. Lott can swing a few millions KKK votes.
postmort, Leavenworth KS @ 25:
Liddy Dole.
Jake in New York: “John McCain ought to choose a somewhat younger running mate with shared ideals and executive experience. I personally hope he picks Charlie Crist.”
Isn't there some question as to Crist's preferences in the sexual area? I'm sure that will taken into consideration. It would be fun to be a fly on the wall during these discussions!
I'm still sticking to my previous call at post #17. McCain is going to have to pick a VP that encompasses everything that he lacks from a Conservative perspective in order to bring the GOP behind him and from this article it looks like that may indeed be the case:
Republican McCain trails Clinton and Obama: poll
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain trails Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in hypothetical matchups, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Wednesday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0565259320080306
Remember when Chris Matthews was pushing Haley Barbour as a VP for Rudy back when Rudy had the nomination almost wrapped up? Rudy would alienate the South and Haley would do the same for the north, or something like that. McCain needs someone who would alienate the white male base so ... tada ... Condoleeza!!
Dan Quayle
It's totally gonna be Cheney. He will inform McCain that he is too important to be replaced.
Seriously, he's going to study this question? I thought he would go with his mavericky, straight-talkin' gut feelin'.
gowest272004 @ 31:
I can't look at her without imagining Bob taking his Viagra and jumping her! I'm sorry - I just have this picture in my mind...........!
How about Charles Keating?
ChrisM70 @ 38:
Zing!
"How about Charles Keating?"
We have a winner!
ChrisM70 @ 35:
I wonder why he was sitting behind GH Bush when he was endorsing McCain. He was one of the signers of the PNAC - so I wouldn't count him out being involved in a McCain Administration. He was pretty much ignored as a VP but it seems that he is still in the game.
Did Wolf just laugh ?! That's never happened before !
He should consult with campaign consultant and pick a candidate based on their insights. I hear that both McCain and Hillary have ties to lobbyist Mark Penn, so maybe he could ask him. If Penn can convince voters that the 3am call thing is an issue, then his firm is guaranteed a victory in November as both Clinton and McCain have tight relationships with him. So, I think McCain should ask Mark Penn on how best to win in the Fall.
Choosing Connie Rice would be wrong on many counts. Though she is a loyal conservative she is also a single woman which would not go well with the party who promote marriage and family. Both Democrats and Republicans will question who is dating and why hasn't she been married. If something did happen to John McCain, god forbid we have a non-married woman in the White House.
As for getting the black vote it's more of getting the conservative white vote who can say "See we are "The Big Tent" party. Unfortunately, Ms Rice have not been to many black neighborhoods except to get her "hair done" other than that she is a white girl in "black face". It would motivate the majority of African-Americans to vote against McCain. Beside if Obama is selected why would you.
Alan Keyes!!! Again majority of African-Americans cannot relate to him.
Someone with strong domestic credentials... a red-state governor. Huckabee would be good, except he doesn't have the strong fiscal conservative chops.
Howard @ 44:
Who CAN relate to Alan Keyes? My guess is some kind of mollusk.
McCain should pick a Vice Presidential candidate who knows something about economics, since he has already stated for the record that he does not know anything about that subject.
Here is the latest news....
Home equity slips below 50%
Federal Reserve says homeowners' debt on their houses exceeds their equity for the first time since 1945.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/06/real_estate/home_equity.ap/index.htm?pos...
Remember a vote for McCain is a vote for the same. The same downward drive toward the abyss.
"Someone with strong domestic credentials . . ."
David Duke's available . . .
gowest272004 @ 30:
cheesesauce @ 5:
Gross, and I'll never eat cheese sauce again.
or perhaps a minority or woman to counteract the Democratic ticket?
Please, please, please let it be michelle malkin.
If you are going to pick a VEEP, use the BUSH CRIME FAMILY METHOD:
Choose someone the country does NOT WANT EVER for President.
That way they won't assassinate you.
I'm sure it'll be another loser cause they don't stand a chance in hell.
Bob Dole maybe, he's used to losing and they can be the "old as dirt" ticket.
Ron @ 19:
Because typical repug men aren't equipped to satisfy repug women any other way.
Let him pick a wheelchair , 1st ............
I'm not going to give McLame any ideas to help him. I just wish the media would give us a rest for a couple of months from any news about him.
How about Rudy Juliani - He loves war and killing and he can stand in as First Lady in a pinch.
He should pick a running mate with extreme caution.
No more Dick Cheneys - the country couldn't handle the one we got now.
I really could care less since I'm not voting for him anyway.
well if mccain stays true to form he'll make the choice that will end up pissing off the most people humanly possible. in short, he's going to choose joe lieberman in my opinion.
sassafra @ 58:
I wouldn't be surprised if you're right, particularly after Joe's endorsement and seeing their affectionate relationship.
I believe the general practice for picking a Repug veep is to acquire an internationally compiled list of human right abusers or war criminals and pick the most photogenic- its ALWAYS an American.
BigTobacco @ 45:
I think you're confusing fiscal conservative for corporatist. When I lived in AZ from 98-2002, McCain was known for balanced budgets and so forth, I would consider that a fiscal conservative, no the bushie type that borrows money to give to the wealthiest Americans and stick the rest of us with the bill, I would consider that more a corporatist or a feudalist.
McCain should offer the job to either Hillary, or Dick Cheney. Both would win it for him.
I thought he already picked Limbaugh.
The highest bidder (donation) has all ready taken care of that. Just what kind of an idiot does it take to spend millions of their own money to get a job that pays a small fraction of the out of pocket cost?
A. A crook or a philanthope. We haven't had many of the latter volunteer in our lifetime. I can think of 3. maybe be kind and go with 5.
McLame & Arnie Schwartenfluffer --- the Outsourced Presidential ticket.
Hillary would be perfect.
Charlton Heston. A manly man. And suitably geriatric -- in fact, one foot already in the grave. A dream ticket!
The GOP team for 2008:
John "The Maverick" McCain and
Hillary "I've Always Been a Republican" Clinton
Campaign Motto: "War Without End. Amen"
Chuck Norris!! Anybody questions McInsane and Chuck Norris kicks his ass!
Richard Peterson @ 69:
The media could call them "Jillary".....has a nice ring to it
nwmuse @ 22:
Give nwm a star!
Who said Bush and Shooter were leaving come Jan 09?
1. Terra attack
2. Martial Law
3. Bush Dictator for life
I know! He should hire Dick Cheney to do the VP search, he's good at that shit...
If republicans had any love for the country or the people they would not even run.
After all every problem we have today can be laid squarely at the feet of the republicans. Over the last twenty years they have put forth there insane ideology of corporate rule with out any rules or enforcement of rules, they have used enron style accounting practices in the stock markets, the banking , & housing or mortgage companies.
they have perverted the constitution, twisted the meanings and installed judges that will interpret against the people and for the corporation or the rich contributor.
The republican style of government is dictatorship by fascist and this should be the last we ever hear ofthe republican party. The Greedy old pedophile party.
He should pick me,i have a WIDE STANCE on many issues.
I say LIEberman. Chrissy Matthews says Tom Delay! my friends.
/my friends
Bill Donahue ... they can kiss 'n' make up.
Cheney is the answer. A McBush/Cheney ticket - yeah, that's The Ticket!
I have a terrible feeling about this. I'm betting he picks...Richard Nixon's head!!!
Dick Cheney is tanned rested and ready
angry donkey @ 73:
Yes the end of another great imperialist republic. History repeats itself. First time Sulla and Ceasar. Now Bush. And then who knows the second coming of Christ? Of course he would be labeled terrorist and antiamerican extremist, locked up in Gitmo and waterboarded
I pick Joe Lieberman as McCain's VP
The picture then will be complete!
On the opposite tack, who should Obama pick for VP? I vote for Jim Webb (D) VA
Top pickin's are Lieberman, Hickabee, Romnee.
What about a Rick Santorum? Or maybe a George Allen comeback?
I've seen Tom DeLay on here, but he's too scandalicious.
Oh and dang, somebody way above me picked the name "allhailthehypnotoad", which is awesome. Good job.
"Aaaaand... Hypno Toad... wins the Presidency." *clap* *clap* *clap*
samdog @ 84:
Obama/Richardson '08
Yeah, that's the ticket!
samdog @ 84:
So many options, it's hard to choose one.
Mitt Romney because after his mysterious death Mitt will be it.
Why not Jack Cafferty himself ?? Two grumpy old men on the same ticket.
McCain/McDonald '08. A couple of clowns on the same ticket.
Paul just dropped out. Howz about McCain/Paul?
missmarple @ 37:
I wish you would keep images like that to yourself. I just finished dinner here!
McCain will wait until the Dem nominee is chosen to pick a running mate. He has to. If it's Hillary, he'll pick Liddy Dole or Kay Bailey Hutchinson - neutralize any chance Hillary would pick up Republican women. If it's Barack, maybe Condi Rice. Don't delude yourselves into thinking McCain is the least bit desperate about any of this, from where he sits, I'm quite sure he sees a path to victory, and it's no joke.
McBush should pick either Hillary or Chris Matthews. Both seem to have a teenybopper style crush on him.
Nothing for or against McCain. But what's wrong with being 70??If McCafferty is lucky in a few years he might reach that age. He sure don't look all that sweet and innocent to me. And the bunch of YOUNGESTERS that support obama look like a bunch of zombies at their meetings swaying and chanting no mind of their own.
Never underestimate the public restroom lobby.
samdog @ 84:
Obama/Richardson
Obama/Edwards or
Obama/Sebelieus
If MI goes to Obama, he should offer Jennifer Granholm a job in his cabinet. Maybe Sec. of State?
i believe it would be disasterous for the republicans to deviate from their time tested method of choosing a vice president. have mccain turn around very quickly. the person closest to him will be the "yes man" who had positioned his head up mccain's ass the furthest. this will be his runnung mate. i wasn't aware that the republicans considered other methods.
"...after Joe’s endorsement and seeing their affectionate relationship..."
Yep, they'll be blathering nonstop about what a team of uniters they are. The Dems had better get ready. Joe won't phone in his debate performance this time like he did against Cheney.
Why not pick Hillary Clinton? She already stated that she and McCain has more experience than her fellow Democrat Barak Obama.
Hillary is the ultimate selfish candidate and I have switched my support from her to Barak Obama!!
motorfingaz @ 100:
Who'll win the catfight? Hillary or Cindy?