Veepstakes: Pawlenty does Morning Joe
Posted: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:05 AM by Domenico Montanaro
On Morning Joe, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was asked by MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski what would make him a good running mate, and he demurred. “I don’t think it’s up to me to decide that,” Pawlenty said, pivoting instead to McCain’s strengths. “He will find a vice president that will amplify his strengths.”
VIDEO: The New York Time's Mark Leibovich discusses his take on possible VP candidates and their role in the presidential race.
He also called Charlie Black’s comments “inappropriate.” “I think Charlie was just trying to emphasize rightly that Sen. McCain is stronger on national security. But the way he said it was inappropriate.”
Huckabee sat down for an interview with
Reuters while in Japan and told the news service that he’d accept the veep slot if asked, but doesn’t expect to be asked. He also weighed in on the Democratic veep selection process and said he doesn’t think an Obama-Clinton ticket would happen, because of “some real tensions.”
NBC/NJ’s Mike Memoli has more on the veepstakes front… The AP profiles McCain vetter Arthur B. Culvahouse. “Culvahouse has been involved in vetting people for positions at all levels of government for three decades, roles he's gotten partly because of his reputation for under-the-radar maneuvering.”
Roll Call says former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge failed for nearly two years to register a $500,000 lobbying contract.
The New York Times looks at Jindal’s handling of the legislative pay raise. Jindal had been propelled “into the front ranks of Senator John McCain’s possible running-mate choices. But now some conservative critics are saying the pay-increase episode demonstrates weakness as well as Mr. Jindal’s unreadiness for the prime time of the vice presidency.”
Has drilling taken its toll? A Miami Herald poll of South Florida voters finds Crist’s approval rating down for the first time in his 18 months as governor.
Sen. Evan Bayh’s (D-IN) press secretary is going to head up Obama’s press shop in Indiana.
Chris Dodd is again denying he got special treatment from Countrywide Financial, and says the controversy won’t hurt his standing to handle the mortgage crisis.
In case there was any doubt, Obama spokesman Reid Cherlin “threw cold water on the rumor” that Obama will announce Hillary Clinton as his running Friday.
