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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



McCain Veepstakes speculation begins

Posted: Friday, February 08, 2008 1:01 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Although McCain will not admit he is the Republican nominee, he did answer a question on how he would pick his vice president -- telling reporters in Norfolk, Va., that where a potential vice presidential candidate lives would not impact his decision.
 
"The process will begin and the fundamental principle behind any selection of a running mate would be whether that person is fully prepared to take over and share your values, your principles, your philosophy, and your priorities," McCain said, explaining how he would pick a vice president. "I think that's the first and only real criteria for the selection of a running mate."
 
"And by the way, from a practical standpoint, I think that former President Clinton and former Vice President Gore showed that you don't have to be regionally different," McCain continued. "I think that America is such now, that the quote, regional differences, don't play the role that maybe they did in earlier times."
 
McCain stressed he is not thinking about that decision now and reminded reporters that Huckabee is still in the race. "I don't want in any way to discount the candidacy of Governor Huckabee. He's in this race and for me to dismiss him, I think would be inappropriate and would be inappropriate and unrealistic."
 
The Arizona senator also said although he doesn't know if we'll know the Republican nominee earlier than the Democratic one, he would rather the process not be drawn out.
 
"If there's a contested race, if it continues to be contested on the Democratic side, then there's more attention to the candidates, there's more current media on their part," he said. "I don't know how this thing plays out but from my personal standpoint, the earlier the better."

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Comments

Scooter Libby for VP!
I sure would like to know where these two rocket scientists, Montanaro and Murry get their stories. The GOP at a disadvantage?  Well, maybe, according to you and the rest of media that thinks Obama is the messiah on his second coming.

I am a veteran of politics, government and advisor, let me tell you, look at the primary votes per state what was it in the thousands?  In a general election it will be in the millions per state. Those people that did not vote will come out in masses.  

You better hang on tight to Obama' ass cause your gonna go down with him, he is gonna have the biggest and lowest voter count in US history.  Keep bringing him up, He is the anti-christ and the media is the Pale Horse.  Remember you heard it here first.
He can say what he wants he is probably going to pick Joe Liberman if its his choice. Or he is going to have to pick a very conservative person so that he can have a shot at winning some of the conservative republicans over to his side.
joe Lieberman--------please he is no longer a democrat
If people will remember in Nostradamus, the person that will ride that Pale white horse (Obama on the media) will be the greatest disaster for the US.

Inexperience and the great black hope that the media has propelled him to, but people will remember the media, that will be the biggest laugh.

Print this if you got the chutzpah!!!
Did anyone check out the recent picture of McCain burying his head into Bushes chest during a gigantic hug? It appears he is smelling Bush as well...EEEWWWWWWWWW!!The troll hugging the moron. Oh YUCK!
"The process will begin and the fundamental principle behind any selection of a running mate would be whether that person is fully prepared to take over and share your values, your principles, your philosophy, and your priorities,"

Hmm...which by implication could rule out Huckabee, no?  That would be unfortunate, as I think the only way the moderate McCain can win in November is if he has someone more conservative sharing the ticket to appeal to that side of his party.  Otherwise they'll just stay home, especially if his opponent were to be Obama.  On the other hand, if he's up against Hillary they'll probably turn out in droves regardless, driven by the anyone-but-her sentiment, which may afford McCain the opportunity to bring in his friend Joe from Connecticut.  I can see him wanting to make that happen, but I think it would be a pretty risky move regardless as he'd pretty much be turning his back on  50% to 70% of the GOP.
Just curious, is the liberal media just feeling guilty about needing to push and shove down everyone's throat an Obama, cuase they didnt do it for Powell?

Maybe the white media is guilty about slavery and needs to push Obama on everyone like if he was the messiah!  Which in this instance he is not he is the anti-christ.
I for one would love him to pick Romney or Thompson.I really believe it would be a great ticket.He needs a strong VP to get all Repubs to get out & Vote!!!
Joel from winchester:  Obama is worst than Hillary for this country if you did not know it.  The media is feeding you nonsense.  The Republicans are hoping for an Obama nomination.  Obama is so far to the left and when real voters come out in November Obama (the anti-christ) will have to wait to bring destruction later on as predicted.
Hey Fred from Dallas why do you keep calling Obama the anti Christ? Listen everyone thought a Black Man didn't have a chance to be president. Especially now hes running against a White woman, but you know what Obama's winning simply because he's not losing>>>>
I'f people will remember in Nostradamus.....

I just opened a fortune cookie that said "Fred's an idiot, look out".

Get help.
Me suspects that we have another right wing nut to deal with now that Jerry/Corpus Christi has gone into consultation with the likes of Limbaugh,O Reilly, Beck, Coulter, etc., the replacement (DRUM ROLL PLEASE!)Fred of Dallas,Texas.
I think you've lost it there, Fred from Dallas. I've been a pretty diehard Republican, and being such, I have a healthy dislike of many Democrats. But Obama as the "antichrist"? Nostradamus? Revelation? You're completely out your mind, dude...
Colin Powell would have been the AMERICAN  candidate, Obama is a muslim and a black candidate, in fact he admitted some weeks ago he was a muslim but non-practicing.  

Obama is riding the Pale Horse as in Revelations 6,  if he is not the anti-christ he is setting the stage for Satan himself. Either way this nation will be a disaster under Obama.

Obama and Jim Webb as a ticket
Hey Fred--

Go out and extinguish the cross on your front yard, asshole.
I sure would like to know where these two rocket scientists, Montanaro and Murry get their stories. The GOP at a disadvantage?  Well, maybe, according to you and the rest of media that thinks Obama is the messiah on his second coming.

Fred, Dallas, TX (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 1:17 PM)

Fred,

Uh, they got this story from NBC's Lauren Appelbaum. It is right at the top of the page. Not very detail-oriented are you, Fred? I also tend to overlook the bolded text at the beginning of a story.
I think he will Thompson and I think it will be a good choice.
JK - I definitely agree with you... Romney or Thompson would make for a great VP to balance out McCain's liberal views.
That may be so, Fred, but in politics (especially voting) perception is just as important if not more so than reality.  Regardless of his actual views and record, Obama's seen as appealing to moderates and independents, whereas there's a pretty strong anti-Hillary sentiment out there.  When it comes right down to it they're not very different position-wise, but any anti-Obama feeling that may be out there is based largely on rational thought about his positions and record.  The anti-Hillary bit, on the other hand, is well-established, deep, emotional, and I suspect highly motivating.  Sad to say, but rational thought, while quite valuable, doesn't motivate voters nearly as well as fear and loathing.
McCain will pick someone who shares his ideals, etc....that would mean he will pick another neo-con in the vein of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, etc. because McCain is not independent, he is not a maverick, but instead, has voted over 98% of the time in line with what the republican party wants.  I see him picking someone like Bill Frist or Rick Santorum, or Former Sen. Macaca himself!
BUSHlight-JOHN McCAIN.
McCain, my advice to you is to have vice president Cheney as your PV since he agrees with your view about prolonging the war in Iraq at any cost. If not, then select one of Bush's war hawks, since you said you believe U.S. troops may stay in Iraq for as long as 100 years.
HAD a shot at decent man in MITT-but his child isn't guarding IRAQ's border.
You didn't read it first from these, "journalists".


Breaking: Hillary Campaign Goes To War With MSNBC Over Chelsea "Pimp" Comment
By Greg Sargent - February 8, 2008, 1:19PM

This is really something. The Hillary campaign has just gone to war with MSNBC, dispatching a top Hillary adviser to launch a lacerating attack on the network on a conference call with reporters moments ago.

On the call, top Hillary adviser Howard Wolfson suggested that there's a "pattern" of reprehensible comments by MSNBC personalities, and said outright that the Hillary campaign could no longer "envision a scenario where we would debate on that network given the comments that were made and have been made."

Wolfson made the comments in response to a question about a now-notorious comment by MSNBC's David Shustser, in which he asked if Chelsea's campaigning on her mom's behalf meant she was being "pimped" by the Hillary campaign...
Though Shuster apologized this morning, the Hillary campaign has clearly decided to seize upon the opportunity to launch a major attack on the network. A few weeks ago Chris Matthews publicly apologized to Hillary after suggesting that her whole Senate career and presidential candidacy was made possible only because of Bill's shenanigans in the White House.

Asked about Shuster's "pimp" comment, Wolfson denounced the comment as "disgusting" and "beneath contempt," adding: "It's the kind of thing that should never be said on a national news network."

Then Wolsfon added: "You have to question whether or not there is a pattern here on the part of the network." He added: "Is this part of a pattern? I don't know, but [it's] beneath contempt."

Then, unbidden, he concluded: "I'll say this. We've done a number of debates on that network...I at this point can't envision a scenario where we would debate on that network given the comments that were made and have been made."

That he would effectively rule out future debate appearances for the time being strongly suggests that the Hillary campaign discussed this in some detail beforehand and decided to launch this broadside against the network. It also suggests that the Hillary camp sees the potential for political gain in drawing media attention to negative and sexist comments made on MSNBC about her and her daughter.

More soon.
You didn't read it first from these, "journalists".


Breaking: Hillary Campaign Goes To War With MSNBC Over Chelsea "Pimp" Comment
By Greg Sargent - February 8, 2008, 1:19PM

This is really something. The Hillary campaign has just gone to war with MSNBC, dispatching a top Hillary adviser to launch a lacerating attack on the network on a conference call with reporters moments ago.

On the call, top Hillary adviser Howard Wolfson suggested that there's a "pattern" of reprehensible comments by MSNBC personalities, and said outright that the Hillary campaign could no longer "envision a scenario where we would debate on that network given the comments that were made and have been made."

Wolfson made the comments in response to a question about a now-notorious comment by MSNBC's David Shustser, in which he asked if Chelsea's campaigning on her mom's behalf meant she was being "pimped" by the Hillary campaign...
Though Shuster apologized this morning, the Hillary campaign has clearly decided to seize upon the opportunity to launch a major attack on the network. A few weeks ago Chris Matthews publicly apologized to Hillary after suggesting that her whole Senate career and presidential candidacy was made possible only because of Bill's shenanigans in the White House.

Asked about Shuster's "pimp" comment, Wolfson denounced the comment as "disgusting" and "beneath contempt," adding: "It's the kind of thing that should never be said on a national news network."

Then Wolsfon added: "You have to question whether or not there is a pattern here on the part of the network." He added: "Is this part of a pattern? I don't know, but [it's] beneath contempt."

Then, unbidden, he concluded: "I'll say this. We've done a number of debates on that network...I at this point can't envision a scenario where we would debate on that network given the comments that were made and have been made."

That he would effectively rule out future debate appearances for the time being strongly suggests that the Hillary campaign discussed this in some detail beforehand and decided to launch this broadside against the network. It also suggests that the Hillary camp sees the potential for political gain in drawing media attention to negative and sexist comments made on MSNBC about her and her daughter.

More soon.
Mac and Fred, POTUS and VPOTUS. Now that would cure insomnia for the next four years. Executive-branch purchases of Depends would increase.
He calls Obama the anti-Christ because he is an idiot and a bigot. Sorry if I insulted you, butyou are saying things that just are not true and you showed only your desperation and your bigotry.
Does America still love bigots who gave foreigners, including terrorists, that we are not a democratic but a bigoted nation and have no say in spreading democracy?
Fred "...Obama (the anti-christ)..."

You need to get out a bit more.
Fred in Dallas said it all for me too - way to go Fred. A loyal conservative in Cherokee, Tx
How about former Oklahoma Congressman JC Watts for Veep?  
#1 ISSUE: REAL DOMESTIC ENERGY(oil,natural gas, nuclear power)for REAL American economy and for REAL help to thwart GLOBAL WARMING.

THANKS FOR NOT MAKING DOMESTIC ENERGY-A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE AS WELL AS WEAPON AGAINT GLOBAL WARMING
vis a vis ALASKA, REFINERIES AND NUCLEAR POWER.
-NICE JOB OILMAN BUSH/cheney.


CONVERSELEY: NICE JOB WITH HIV guys-maybe saved world in 1980-and continues to provide cover for pharmaceutical testing.

GIVE LEGAL AMERICANS $50 PER AND BUILD BORDER WALL JOHN.
EXCEPT MOST ILLEGALS AREN'T PICKING CROPS-JOHN.
The antichrist?  Don't you think that's a tiny bit extreme?  Fred, maybe you should go post on the Fox website instead.  You'll probably find the two people in the country who agree with you there.

OBAMA '08!
joe Lieberman--------please he is no longer a democrat
HMT-MI (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 1:26 PM)


Amazing, must have been the only one with a brain.
McBomb ought to pick Annie Coulter for his running mate. It would placate the all-important whacko wing of the Pub Party, and would also put a woman (sort of) on the ticket. McBomb is going to follow the  whacko party line anyway once he becomes president, so he might as well have a Veep who knows the ropes already.

They'd have a good chance of winning, too. All they need is for Bin Laden to release a  video attacking McCain and endorsing the Democrat candidate, and people on the low end of the IQ scale will fall for it. Chris Matthews already implied last night that he'd probably vote for McCain if there was a terrorist attack. A Bin Laden video would probably do the trick, too. There are, unfortunately, lots of American voters as slow on the uptake as Matthews.

Bin Laden isn't stupid. He knew that scolding Bush would help Bush (and himself) in his 2004 pre-election video, and he has every reason to think the same thing would work again this time. McBomb would get to continue his Hundred Years War and Bin Laden would maintain the steady flow of terrorist recruits that Bush gifted him with by invading Iraq. Seriously,  I think there will be some sort of PR move by Bin Ladin to help Mccain right before the election, although I doubt there will be the sort of terrorist attack that has Matthews cowering in fear already.

Then we can look forward to four more years of the Christian crusaders allied with the amoral military industrial complex against the "Islamofascists". And the fun will continue.
Fred from Dallas: Seek professional help immediately.
Maybe this "veteran of politics" named Fred would carry a bit more credibility with people reading this category if he (A) appeared to have any objectivity regarding race or politics and (B) could spell and punctuate correctly.  For now, though, it looks like he may be one of the more ignorant among my beloved Texans.
To Fred from Dallas.

What kind of a person are you?

In the 1960's we had a saying that went like this:

Fred is God
God is Dead
Fred is Dead.

Therefore, Fred with all your Anti-Christ bantering, you are no darn better than them.

Therefore, you may just be the Anti-Christ.

But then again, you think you are God, but remember
God is Dead.  What about you and your views.
Your views are DEAD. this is the 21st century.

Get with the program Fred.
Did anyone check out the recent picture of McCain burying his head into Bushes chest during a gigantic hug? It appears he is smelling Bush as well...EEEWWWWWWWWW!!The troll hugging the moron. Oh YUCK!
j fl (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 1:33 PM)


Yah man, probably making excusses that he can't reach up any further because of his busted arms and five years of torture in North Viet Nam.  How dare he look crippled because of that - what a troll. j of fl you're the man.
yeah, CLINTON AND GORE BOTH LOST THE SOUTH.

(arkansas and tennessee; HILLARY/AL)
He owes Charlie Crist a lot after the big endorsement in Florida.  I think Crist is the next VP.  By the way things are going to get ugly between McCain and Huckabee.  For the past three days Dobson has made it clear that he will not Vote for McCain ever.  Now he is buddy buddy with Huckabee.  There is no way, McCain will see eye to eye with Huckabee now.
MITT WON MICHIGAN/MASSACHUSSETTS.

that's enough for a shot.
Fred [[Maybe the white media is guilty about slavery and needs to push Obama on everyone like if he was the messiah!  Which in this instance he is not he is the anti-christ.]]

Or maybe McCain could pick Fred for Vice President. Yeah, that's the ticket!
I don't know who's worse, McCain or Hilary...  It's like having 2 democrats running.  
Did anyone check out the recent picture of McCain burying his head into Bushes chest during a gigantic hug? It appears he is smelling Bush as well...EEEWWWWWWWWW!!The troll hugging the moron. Oh YUCK!
j fl (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 1:33 PM)


Moron?  I could think of a few more names, but I think you were probably the school bully type and don't need any help talking tough as long as you can hide behind a computer screen.  Obviously another one of the Moveon.org types that give Democrats such a bad name.  Let me guess you're an Obama supporter.  Talk is cheap, just like your shots.
Fred from Dallas...your a racist jacka$$.  And if that weren't enough, your actually quoting Nostradamus, which also makes you a moron.  Why don't you put your tin foil helmet back on your head so the bad aliens can't read your thoughts, and go back to examing your potato chips for images of the Virgin Mary.

Sincerly,
Scott from Austin
I would wonder if any of the candidates that have withdrawn from the race would consider being V.P.?  I doubt that most would.  If McCain really wants to lose, he could pick Pat Buchanan; or make a crazy choice and ask Alan Keyes to be his running mate.  If you want a contrast, go with that!  That would definately kill McCain's chances with either one.  
I am also in government and I have never known another colleague or advisor to go on a website message board and call another candidate the "anti christ".  I would never call someone else a racist but this comment seems backed by something else besides the facts.  So I guess my question would be, What in Obama's message and policy stances would persuade you to call him the anti christ? Obviously I can see disagreeing with him but the anti christ?  And your political evaluation of thousands turning into millions is so stupid that it really doesn't warrant much of a comment.  But than again, I would like to see if John McCain would beat Obama by millions as Fred says in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California, Minnesota, Delaware, etc, etc, etc.  Um, I don't think so.
All you so-called conservative Republicans have destroyed the Grand Old Party.

Thanks to your voting stupidity, you've put in pole position John McCain: a socialist, Keynesian, liberal, gun grabbing, war mongering, illegal-alien-embracing, totalitarian democrat. I use small "d" in democrat on purpose, though I'm sure the significance will be lost to most of the readers of this post.

All the while, the real conservative in the race, Ron Paul, has been the subject of scorn by a party talking his walk. This is like an episode of the Twilight Zone; the one guy with the message and record of limited government, Constitutional adherence, individual freedom, low taxation, and America first foreign policy is maligned rather than revered.


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