Sooner the better for McCain?

Posted: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:19 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray and Chuck Todd
Republican pollster David Winston has a column in Roll Call today arguing that McCain would benefit from naming his veep as quickly as possible. Why? "[N]aming his VP choice now moves McCain¹s campaign beyond the unhelpful debate about the base and whether his running mate will appeal to the most conservative voters out there. The discussion ought to be focused on who can best address the issues that concern the vast majority of voters."

VIDEO: In the Hardball Power Rankings, a panel takes a closer look at who's best suited to become the next vice president.

More: "For McCain, much of the VP speculation has focused on two criteria -- age and mollifying the base. His VP announcement gives him the opportunity to put the base argument to rest and take back the No. 1 issue for most voters: the economy."

Then again, if McCain wants to pick someone who isn't in tune with the base -- say a Tom Ridge, who supports abortion rights -- then you do it very late, so drama doesn't build for the convention.

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Comments

Morning Joe, Halperin, Tried 2 Set Obama Up On Surge Today - come on guys!

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/22/91843/8991/227/555049

SMS67 (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:24 AM)

Wake me up when he 'picks' Romney. Who wants to be a passenger on the Titanic?

I don't actually feel 'sorry' for McCain, but he is kind of spitting into the wind on this one.

iowan (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:27 AM)

There's No Hope in GOP la-la-land anymore. the Only ones who care about Mccain's VP pick, is the MSM. The rest of us know this race is Over.

Come back with some New Leaders in about 10 year's Republican's. Maybe by then, the American voter will be ready to almost Forgive you for the last 8 year's.

Maybe, just Maybe!!!

Rick,Ky (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:30 AM)

I just hope the guy, and it will be a white guy, doesn't mind changing the depends and wiping up the drool.

Old Peoples Home Worker (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:30 AM)

Naming a VP is NOT going to help McCain what so ever. He's still old, grumpy, creepy, out of touch with America and WRONG for the country. How can ANYONE he names combat THAT? Watching the Repubs struggle this year has been so delightful, hasn't it? Couldn't happen to a better group!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:30 AM)

"If Sen. Obama had had his way, the troops would have been out by this past March, and Sen. Obama voted to cut off funding for our troops in Iraq," McCain said to reporters

Yes, yes, you are so right McWar and if Obama would of had his way 4200 Americans would still be alive. We would have saved 4 trillion dollars and had lower oil prices. keep talking Mcwar you are helping Obama win this thing.

I am still waiting for someone to tell me what we have gained by this war in Iraq? What have we gained?

Capt. Smash Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:31 AM)

I for one will be very interested to see who McCain ultimately picks for VP. If he picks Romney, will he still be able to pickup Evangelicals? Even if McCain does name is VP this week, I seriously doubt that it will take much attention away from Senator Obama. No matter what McCain does, Obama always seems to trump him. I'll be even more interested to see who Obama names as VP. I see Biden won on Veepstakes. I know it is ultimately up to Obama, but I for one, as do many other apparently, hope that he does pick Biden. I liked Chuck Todd and David Gregory's analysis of the VP situation and agree. THANK YOU!! Obama is laid back, while Biden is the opposite. I very much admire Biden's attack dog style. Also, Biden gives him the foreign policy experience which Obama is lacking, and Hillary could not have helped him there.

Obama/Biden, 08

A Latte Lover, Seattle, WA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:32 AM)

His VP is also important because if elected, McCain, given his age, will die in office, and people voting for McCain are actually voting for his mid-term replacement.

McCainIsTooOld (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:32 AM)

What are "abortion rights"? The correct term is a woman's right to choose.

Grannie Annie, Knoxville, TN (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:32 AM)

There is no VP choice in existence that would be sufficient to compensate for McCain's numerous and varied failings as executive officer material.

G (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:33 AM)

Nice to see the media running with the "let's speculate more on who McCain's VP will be angle" at his campaigns request.

It's not gonna work, but ya gotta write something, right?

How about we talk about how John McCain's foreign policy ideas are ALL WRONG?

Has anybody asked him to explain why Social Security is a disgrace yet?

How is he going to pay for Social Security anywho?

Does he still think we should privitize Social
Security and let people invest in the stock market?

Now that more people are unemployed, how will "tax cuts and health care rebates" help them?

How does he propose to pay for the extended Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and possibly Iran?

What is his overriding foreign policy agenda?

Senator Obama has given a DETAILED view of how he would approach foreign policy in his administration (remember when the media was complaining about no details? Now they have details, and not a word - strange)- what is Senator McCain's view?

This is just scratching the surface of course, but it looks like the media is having trouble thinking of something to talk about - so how about the ISSUES?

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:33 AM)

Republicans are recommending McCain do what he can to take back the economy issue...

I think I might have called it when I said earlier this morning to watch for Republicans to try to change the subject from Iraq, now that the Iraqi government seems to share Obama's views on withdrawal.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:34 AM)

McWar/Hadji Now thats something to think about!

Capt. Smash Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:34 AM)

I have a suggestion for McBush. Since in his town hall meetings he likes to say that he "Knows how to win wars", he might pick someone who has actually fought in a war that was won. Maybe a bad idea, they would have to be older than him! History says we the USA lost in Vietnam. Sad to say this guy would be even worse than Bush!

CA born, West Covina, CA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:35 AM)

I would in general agree with the above wisdom.

--Does McCain have anything to gain by waiting for Obama's VP pick? Some group is going to feel left out by Obama's pick, can McCain capitalize on that sentiment? Does anybody feel that is or that there may be other considerations to influence McCain?

Nicholas: Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:36 AM)

But if McCain picks Ridge a few days before the convention, the convention become all about the base flipping out. Whereas if he does it now the base will flip out for a couple of weeks, and then realize they still like McCain better than Obama.

g (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:36 AM)

It's funny to watch the press - including MSNBC - get all excited about the "rumors" that McCain is going to name his VP this week.

They're like giddy school children who get to take a field trip. They unashamedly display their affection for all-things McCain. In truth, I'm embarrassed for them.

The neophyte Obama is giving them their "gaffe of the century" to report on. They're pissed at him. Especially Andrea Mitchell (she's an absolute joke).

MSNBC correspondents haven't gotten the memo yet. So here goes. Keep giving McCain his preferred doughnuts. But the country doesn't want him to be our next President. So you guys can stop trying to make the race "close". It's not going to work this time.

Mike (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:36 AM)

Choosing a veep is the only way McCain can grab positive headlines this week. He simply has no new ideas on the domestic front. He even had his Op-Ed sent back by the NYTimes!

http://ilfamilypolitics.blogspot.com

Julia Kelly, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:37 AM)

I doubt it will make a difference in the coming weeks. Obama will dominate the news cycle for a while.

Testing since not one of my comments has been posted today. Hmmm

JessicaElaine (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:39 AM)

If McCain picks a running mate now, he's an idiot. Unless he scores a major get with someone like Bloomberg, I don't see anyone worth announcing now. But I bet they do annouce, cause they've been short sighted this entire time. They are getting whomped on right now in the press so they knee jerk reaction want to put out a big story.

The problem is...

After the Dem convention, with Obama accepting the nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.s "I have a dream" speech in front of 80,000 people, Obama's going to be a freight train in the news cycle till the Repub convention with nothing McCain can do to stop it.

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:40 AM)

McCain does have a dilemma. He is in a no win situation. Whomever he picks will gain some votes and lose others. Althought John likes Tom Ridge, I don't think he will pick Tom. He will alienate the evangelical conservatives. The Evangelicals will not be too happy with Romney either. They like Huckabee.
Also, I don't believe Ridge or Romney will put Penn or Michigan in the MaCain Column. The CW is probably correct. Romney, turn on your cell phone. You have a call from McOld.

Ron Indiana (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:41 AM)

DISTRACTIONS OF ANY KIND WILL NOT WORK FOR MCCAIN. AFTER HAVING HIS CAMPAIGN RUN BY PHIL GRAMM THE ARCHITECT OF BANK DEREGULATION, THE SUBPRIME MORTGAGE MELTDOWN, AND THE ENRONLOOP HOLE, DO YOU REALLY THINK AMERICANS CAN TRUST THIS MAN. THESE PEOPLE GRAMM, MCCAIN AND BLACK THE LOBBYISTS WITH THE MOST UNSAVORY CLIENTS IN HISTORY FOREIGN/CLIENTS/DICTATORS THAT GO AGAINST EVERYTHING THE USA STAND FOR, NO THEY WANT TO FIX WHAT THEY BROKE?

WHILE MCCAIN IS BASHING SEN OBAMA FOR CAUSING HIGH GAS PRICES, WHICH IS JUST RIDICULOUS, HE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE 3+DECADES HE HAS SPENT SITTING IN CONGRESS WHILE THIS MESS IMPLODED UNDER HIS AND THOSE IN CONGRESS LEADERSHIP.

MCCAIN AND THE DECADES CONGRESS/REPUBLICANS REFUSE TO PUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FIRST AND FOREMOST AND INSTEAD SUPPORT BIG BUSINESS, AS LONG AS CORPORATES PROFITS ARE UP AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE LIVING HIGH, RICH MCCAIN, GRAMM MADE MILLIONS FROM THE ENRON DEBACLE AND HIS WIFE, AND BLACK MAKES MILLIONS FROM FOREIGN DICTATORS,.........................

THOSE OF US WHO ARE FEELING THE PINCH ARE JUST A BUNCH OF WHINNERS.................RIGHT?

MCCAIN IS ALL BASHING, NO PLANS, NO STRAGETY, JUST THE CONSTANT REPUBLICAN DISTRACTIONS, BASHING OF THE OPPONENT, FEAR MONGERING AND MORE OF THE SAME.

VL, FL (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:42 AM)

Who Cares - John McCain and whoever his VP would be still doesn't change the fact that 98% of America don't want him as President.

The Democrat Soldier (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:43 AM)

I am sincerely interested in opinions regarding a VP pick for McCain. I don't see anyone that provides a "wow" factor for him.

Anyone???

sotiredofignorance (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:43 AM)

Why waste time on MAcain he is history you have a new KING BOW AND do as he says OBAMMA WANTS YOU to go fight in afganistan whats a matter islamic extreamist got your tougne, blame the school system or just shut up and answer the question or is it to scarey to think your king might be fooling with you like the puckers king just got done with them TWO PARTY SYSTEM with the media as its lap dog is what you want its what you get now SIT!!!

kenn (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:50 AM)

An early roll out of a McCain Veep will just mean more of the same for him. A lackluster....ho-hum..., and a so what?

Why? Because the repub brand is dog food, and his choice of Veep will just be more Alpo...Kibbles 'n Bits.

After all Hagel, and like minded Republicans against Bush's war, do not appeal to McCain. They would bring some excitement to his tired ticket, but he's too stiff necked to choose their kind.

donna (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:50 AM)

... and while looking for a subject to which the Republicans can redirect the conversation, guess immigration policy won't work, what with McCain's famous flip flop on that one.

Republicans are in a pickle. They're running a national security "expert" who keeps making mistakes talking about national security and world affairs. And now the Iraqis are telling us they want us out of their country sooner rather than later.

Can't change the subject back to immigration when your candidate is so vulnerable on that one.

Try economy? Well, your candidate already said he doesn't know much about that, and what he does know is purely from the supply siders playbook, which as we've seen leads to serious debt accumulation (and then your candidate's dumb comments about balancing the budget in four years...).

Perhaps the only place left to go is energy policy. Sure, there's your candidate's flip flop on drilling, too, but maybe people are hurting enough at the pumps to look past that one. Then again, those T. Boone Pickens commercials are like broken glass under bare feet, but what else can you do?

My suggestion would be to nominate someone else. Nothing is official until the convention. Tell your candidate he needs to come up with some excuse, like health, and then open the convention to a new candidate search.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:51 AM)

The base of the Republican Party WILL support McCain. What other choice do they have? But if McCain announces a VP choice that his base loves, then he risks losing a bigger pool of voters, Independents.

Independent in Maine (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:51 AM)

There is no way the Republicans will win this election. No matter who the VP might be. After Bush, you can pin a Democrat on any man on the street and that man would win.

We are lucky enough to have a choice between Hilary or Barrack to take the next helm and get us going again.

So yes, do announce your VP Senator McCain, it won't really matter anyway. I am a Hilary supporter. Although devastated with her loss, I will support whoever the dems nominate - and that is Obama. Just so not another Repub take office.

We can't take more of Bush's continued failed policies.

Joyce, NY (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:51 AM)

McDunce will get the name of his pick wrong.

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:52 AM)

he loses no matter who he picks

thats a fact jack (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:52 AM)

For McCain to try to argue that he is not being treated fairly by the media is downright outrageous. Nobody in the history of modern politics has been a bigger media sweetheart than John McCain. http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/john_mccain

SMS (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:53 AM)

Senator McCain is kind of caught in a bad spot.
If he picks now, it allows Senator Obama to counter his move and checkmate him in a few weeks with his Obama's se;ection.
If he waits until the latter part of August, he gives the spotlight to Obama and the Dems for the next few weeks until the Olympics starts.

Going now - May not get the attention he really wants as Obama is still overseas and continues to do well. And, gets the cache for just a short period of time to boot.
But, it knocks Obama from completely dominating the news cycle. And depending on who McCain picks, could pressure Obama into making a selection he would otherwise not(want to?) make.

Going (much) later - May lose too much traction with the electorate so much that he can't recover. But, going later does allow him to blow all of his General Election money now (before the Rep convention when he gets $84 million in taxpayers money) to close out his campaign.

Roofin Reality, Houston, Tx. (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:53 AM)

It's an interesting argument in favor of the early pick, but McCain really needs to blunt the momentum Obama is likely to have coming out of the Democratic convention. You can only play the VP card once, and McCain has to know the GOP convention will seem short on excitement following the charged event the Democrats have planned. He could limit that problem by announcing his choice, the day after Obama's acceptance speech.

One other point, the VP choice has the POTENTIAL to help him...but only if he makes a choice that appeals to as broad as possible a coalition of social conservatives and moderate swing voters. That's a tall order.

LESD (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:54 AM)

Looks like the ‘under-dog’ candidate has gone further ‘under’.
John McCain should just give up and retire to retirement home in AZ.
John McCain's Greatest Hits w/ Video
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/10/14255/2989/509/533434

McDumb As Bush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsiADdmoh3E&eurl

John McCain... War Monger?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlX9l1g1ZE0&eurl

banko (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:54 AM)

Who Cares - John McCain and whoever his VP would be still doesn't change the fact that 98% of America don't want him as President.
---------------
Democrat Soldier: apparently you don't read well. Haven't seen any poll with Stinky having 98% of the vote! You Obamatots need to realize that in spite of the media bias and your own koolaid intoxication, there is about half the country that prefers McCain over Obama. You can keep calling McCain old, give him goofy Mc names but that won't make people like Stinky!

NObama (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:58 AM)

NObama (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:00 PM)

MORNING JOE IS JUST ANOTHER SAD REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

THE SHOW WAS ACTUALLY VERY GOOD THIS AM FOR ONCE UNTIL JOE SHOWED UP WITH HIS DAILY BASHING OF SEN. OBAMA.

MSNBC LETS THIS GUY RUN LOOSE AND COMPLETELY UNDERCUT THE REAL MEANING OF JOURNALISM, FAIR AND BALANCED FOR WHICH TIM RUSSET REPRESENTED.

IT'S THE FIRS TIME MANY TUNED IN IN A LONG TIME ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT "JOE" IS STILL PEDDLING THE SAME OLD RHETORIC AND MECA IS NOT FAR BEHIND.

WHAT ASHAMED, WHEN TIM RUSSERT VISITED THE SHOW HE KEPT IT IN LINE OR PUT THEM BACK ON TRACK. TOO BAD HIS GUIDANCE IS NO LONGER.

SANDY, AR (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:00 PM)

this VP hype is a fake media story the mccain camp cooked up to get the media to take away from obama overseas

Video of unenthusiastic PUMA, Just Say No Deal Protest
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/video-of-puma-just-say-no-deal-losers-hold-a-protest/
or
http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camkui (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:01 PM)

Picking a VP this week will do little to take the spotlight away from Obama considering the lack of enthusiasm for McCain, much less his VP pick. Most McCain voters are just anti-Dem or anti-Obama voters, not people thrilled with McCain so don't look for intense interest lasting much past the announcement. At least not among the public as opposed to the chattering class.

It will also give Obama the luxury of getting to pick last, knowing exactly what kind of ticket he's going to be up against. Like the home team last change advantage in hockey.

Felix, CO (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:07 PM)

Does it really matter who he chooses?

Julie, Houston, TX (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:16 PM)

MUST SEE today. hypemovie.com

Obama for king (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:19 PM)

Joe - and his show is a big joke.....

He was useless as a politician and even more so as a journalist

Bad joe (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:30 PM)

Please make it Romney. Then we can show all of the video of Romney beating up on McCain during the primaries. Then we can see how two Multi Millionaires can claim they feel regular voters pain.

Mike, Chicago (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:31 PM)

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:52 AM)

Terry! how ya doin man? Long time no see.

Gary Schear, bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:31 PM)

I think Stinky will delay his pick for veep as long as possible. After the HRC supporters hear it isn't Hillary, that will cause an uproar they want to avoid. That's why they won't come out right now and say she isn't being considered for veep. They're trying to sucker her supporters in. Then, they will drop the Stinky bomb.
NObama (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:00 PM)
------------------------------------------------------

No way would any true democrat vote for your sad sad excuse for a candidate. This guy has sold of the country time and time again, and is leaving his legacy (since he'll be lucky to make it through a full term without having a stroke) to his lobbyist buddies and advisors.

Lastly, Your ship is sinking...McGaffe, McCon, McNutjob, McAlzheimers, McCrooked, McCouldn'tfindtheUSAonAmap...i'm sorry I got carried away with the name calling. I'll stick with his real name:

Sellout

ProBama (USA) (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:34 PM)

McCain was picked because he was the only candidate that the Republicans could stomach. The Huckster preacher was too much for the non religious conservatives (and there are plenty of them), and Romney is not Christian. He'd never get the vote from the south, nor in many other places. They really do not have a great bunch to select from. If there are some young Republicans who can reform their party, bring it into the mainstream, and actually have some vision that fits the future instead of the past, they might reconstruct the party, otherwise they need to depend on charisma and one shot chances.

mexed, san antonio, texas (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:35 PM)

NObama - Ok you got me - maybe it's more like 75% either way - John McCain has no chance at all of winning anything.

Well - to appease you - maybe a game of bingo on bingo night.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:41 PM)

How bout this MSNBC????
When do you BALST McShame for this??

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/22/new-john-mccain-ads-show_n_114277.html

Nj (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:41 PM)

McSame now has to resort to theatrics to take attention away from the next President of the US ... OBAMA!

Lone McCain Blogger (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:43 PM)

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