McCain gives more VP details

Posted: Monday, July 28, 2008 5:48 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Speaking via webcast to donors gathered at a fundraiser on his behalf in Bermuda, McCain got a bit more specific about his vice presidential selection process than he has in recent weeks when speaking to reporters. But he stopped short of naming any names.

"I just want to assure you that we're going through the process," McCain said. "There are so many highly qualified people in our party ranging -- and I won't mention names -- but ranging from people who have been stalwarts in our party for a long time, and great governors and senators and business people. It's a very tough decision."

He then educated the listeners as to some of the criteria he is considering in selecting his running mate.

"You want to make sure you have a candidate that's not going to hurt the ticket," McCain said. "The second thing is, and I think it's the key criteria, is it someone who shares your principles, your values, your philosophy and your priorities. The hardest thing for the president is to establish priorities and I'm -- I think we're blessed with having a wealth of candidates. But I haven't -- we really aren't mentioning names."

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Comments

"You want to make sure you have a candidate that's not going to hurt the ticket," McCain said. "The second thing is ...

ITS CALLED PLAYING NOT TO LOSE, BED TIME MCTOAST

Lone McCain Blogger (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 5:51 PM)

I don't care at all as I would never consider casting my vote for mccain.

Useless information (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 5:51 PM)

This process has got to be nearing the end. McCain wouldn't be talking about it as much if he wasn't prepared to deliver - and soon. It will be a welcome relief for the campaign.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:01 PM)

Don't care who he picks. It won't be enough to make me vote for him because I simply don't think he is qualified. A POW does not equal qualifications for president. Intelligence does, something McCain lacks. No one has really articulated all the so called experience that McCain has that qualifies him. Because there isn't any. If fighting in a war is the only qualification, then a lot of people are qualified and also have the added intelligence.

Treena NJ (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:03 PM)

"The second thing is, and I think it's the key criteria, is it someone who shares your principles, your values, your philosophy and your priorities."
Huh? If it's the key thing, John, why do you say it's the second thing after someone who doesn't hurt the ticket?
And how in the world are you going to find someone who shares your principles, your values, your philosophy, and your priorities when you change yours every ten minutes? Your own words - "The hardest thing for the president is to establish priorities" - defy anyone to share them. You don't even know your own priorities. I sure don't want a president who has such a diffficult time figuring out the nation's priorities...

KJ, CR, IA (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:04 PM)

"You want to make sure you have a candidate that's not going to hurt the ticket," McCain said.

Wow. This guy is brilliant. How could we not make him dog catch... uh, I mean, president?

pedestrian (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:05 PM)

Whatever.....just name Romney already....who are you fooling.

The GOP/RNC are all regretting that McSurge is the nominee. Here is there chance to get it right.....most of them thought Romney was a better conservative anyway but the voters thought otherwise.

Just name Romney as VP already.....Geesh.

Teddy R. in Boston (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:08 PM)

Speaking via webcast to donors gathered at a fundraiser on his behalf in Bermuda,
----------
Bermuda?????
First it's fundraising in London, instead of visiting those troops in Germany I might add Now it's Bermuda. I guess we can rest assure that the AMERICAN people aren't funding McCain's campaign.

John McCain A Hypocrite You Can Believe In

Tina,NC (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:13 PM)

Interesting that the first thing McCain says is "Don't hurt the ticket." Really inspires confidence. Shouldn't ability to assume the Presidency be #1?

Jorge, NYC (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:14 PM)

McCain needs an Iraq war vet for VP to provide him some credibility with the military.

This is how veteran organizations rate McCain:

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America - John McCain rating: D; versus Obama's B+

Disabled American Veterans - John McCain rating: 20%; Obama's rating: 80%

Vietnam Veterans of America -
John McCain rating: 15 votes against/ 9 votes for; Versus Obama's rating: 1 vote against/13 votes for veterans.

Who's Sane (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:16 PM)

Single Senior, MD (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:19 PM)

*** "You want to make sure you have a candidate that's not going to hurt the ticket," McCain said. ***

Oh, McSame, you're such a tough guy, brave leader, and independent thinker.

NOT!!!

Vets for Obama!

Dave in OC, Vets for Obama (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:20 PM)

Senator McCain, if they are 'just like you', then they will be equally tone deaf to the mood of the country -- and equally nasty. The result, Democrats win in a landslide.

Obama 08

NoMcCain (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:26 PM)

"You want to make sure you have a candidate that's not going to hurt the ticket," McCain said.

HA! Really no where to go but up my friend.

GP Chicago (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:27 PM)

You want to make sure you have a candidate that's not going to hurt the ticket," McCain said...

***

The first thing out of his mouth shows what his #1 concern is, getting elected. He wants partisanship, not help, not leadership if he dies while in office.

Senator Obama has said he is looking for some one who can assume the post of the Presidency on day one. He too will choose someone who holds the same ideology as his. He doesn't want to be fought at every turn. However, he also wants his Veep to be hard working, and help shoulder the massive mess that awaits them, careening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

donna (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:28 PM)

Wow, where did he read that? Oh, that's right, on the MTP transcript when Obama said it yesterday. He really doesn't have an original bone in his body.

Did he just say 'we are blessed with wealthy candidates'? Well, of course they are, they are Republicans, right? Clearly I misread that (purposely); but if I were a Republican, I would buy airtime and act like it was actually what he had said. Then I would get 20 mouthpieces to go on every show (radio and tv) and repeat it ad nauseum until the low information voters actually believed that is what he said.

Apparently for McCain, the hardest thing is to establish a principled stance. When he said he was going to run a clean campaign, do you think he meant it at the time? Or was that just more misinformation so when he went negative he could then say, "No,no - I TOLD you I was running a clean camp. That which you see in front of you is not me, it is some other jerk."

I really hope this doesn't continue to work; because I need to believe the majority of our citizens are not this stupid. I am proven wrong everyday with the likes of kenn, greg & susan in FL; but I still need to believe that you aren't all sheeple.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 6:28 PM)

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