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

Hurry and pick the VP before McCain makes more news by making more gaffes.

A funny thing happened the other day... the was media was all waiting for Obama to screw up and it was McCain that screwed up (and gets away with it once again.. cue the "what a funny old guy" excuse).

The media can be such a bunch of hacks. Remember when they all said, "McCain will pick his VP right after the Democratic convention... the schedule is the only thing on their side".

Wrong again.

Media, do your job! Let's get some facts on this drilling proposal! What does McCain's health care plan look like. Start calling him on these gaffes... get real and investigate.

How sound is this guy? Do you want your president to have a shaky finger on the button?

http://laststopmidwest.blogspot.com

James, Wichita, KS (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:51 PM)

But Chuck et al., your thoughts? Seems to me he mollifies the base, he loses (or at least may lose) the independents; he picks someone attractive to the indepedents, he loses the base.

Butch, Pine, Colorado (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:51 PM)

NObama --

Totally right on the "98% of Americans don't want John McCain" thing. But right though that post was, you (and I'm presuming it was you, and not the Bizarro NObama), you undercut your argument the way so many of my Democratic friends do by reverting to petty name-calling. I disown the name-calling on all sides because it doesn't further the debate; it just p*sses people off. You seem intelligent; can't we debate on issues, rather than on whose nickname is more derogatory?

Brendan D, Niles, IL (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:51 PM)

The Republican brand is so badly damaged that it truly does not matter what John Sydney McCain III does. The Electoral College totals will be 311 Obama to 227 McCain and that's if Bob Barr does not have an impact in Georgia, otherwise its 326 Obama and 212 McCain.
For your own fun, go to 270towin.com and plug in the RealClearPolitics.com numbers for all the states. Its gonna be a blast to follow on election night this year.

Benny, SFBayArea, California (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:51 PM)

Joe Scarborough is an arrogant personality that suffers from a lack of self-identity and self-confidence. Note how he talks over people and if anyone strongly disagrees with him he has been known to get up out of his cahir and walk out. He exhibits a "know it all" attitude on the outside while lacking a sense of true self on the inside. He is like an immature child who seeks to be the center of attention, has difficulty being told he is wrong, and sees the world in black and white with no gray areas. Therefore, you either agree with ihim or you don't. There is no room for compromise, no room for believing in something that Scarborough does not perceive as an opportunity to place himself at center stage.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:59 PM)

Hello Mr. Todd,

I am sure you have by now seen the new McCain's web ad mocking the media. Most of the faces on the ad are from MSNBC.
He just realise now that the media is covering Obama more than him when the news seem positive for Obama, where as when most of the news were negative, he did not have anything to say - This is the height of whining and desparation.
May I ask you why the media is not doing enough to generate news for McCain?

You guys should have spent about a week discussing his czechoslovachia gaffe, another two weeks discussing viagra, may be another two weeks discussing his calling social security "disgrace", another two weeks discussing his campagn derailment and possibly the comments by his economic guru that is "Mental Recession" and "Nations of Whinners" should have still been a subject by now. Then, I think he will feel good about the air time he is getting.

Nelson, Knoxville, Tenn (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 1:03 PM)

I hope McCain picks Romney. This will get the base rolling. No Obama ever!

qster (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 1:13 PM)

Senator McSenile had better hurry and pick someone before no one is paying attention to him...if it wasn't for the fact that he is a one man gaffe machine in the mold of bush he would be getting no attention...

Rick, NC (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 1:14 PM)

"The discussion ought to be focused on who can best address the issues that concern the vast majority of voters."

Like that's ever going to happen out of New York. Let's trade everything above to Pa. to Canada for oil.

Dave, Tn (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 1:23 PM)

I heard Chuck Todd the other day (on MTP?) saying that Obama would probably announce his VP pick in the next 10 days. I'm betting he's holding off until the convention.

Question: Can HRC use her delegates (since she's never released them)to force a nomination of herself for the VP?

CB, Hadley, NY (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 1:31 PM)

McStupid is just kidding himself and all his dulusional ilk that the SURGE IS WORKING. Bull let's not forget the the last 7 years has been a complete failure and has coast the American People Lives and billions. What about $500,000,000,000.00 Yes ELEVEN
zeros you flushed down the Old Johnny?Hmm

Obama 08

National Debt in Vegas,NV (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 1:34 PM)

Paul Miller you are right..those T. Boone Pickens commercials are cutting the GOP's message. He's one of them no less.

CJ (Sent Tuesday, July 22, 2008 1:35 PM)

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