Summer CE Week #2: “Romney’s Value & HodgePodge”
QUESTION: Who do you think each party should put forth as their VP nominee? Defend your selection.
July 26, 2008 By Robert Novak
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The principal reason why former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has climbed to the top of Sen. John McCain’s practical wish list for vice president is the possibility that he could bring Michigan’s 17 electoral votes to the Republicans for the first time since 1988.
Private polls show Romney could make all the difference in Michigan. A McCain-Romney ticket carries the state by a moderately comfortable margin. With any other running mate, McCain loses Michigan.
George Romney, Mitt’s father, was a Detroit auto executive and the popular three-term governor of Michigan. The younger Romney won the 2008 primary in Michigan over McCain, who had won there in 2000 against George W. Bush.
Jindal Survives
Reports of a decline in the popularity at home of Louisiana’s first-year Gov. Bobby Jindal over his mishandling of more pay for state legislators have been greatly exaggerated. His long-shot chances for the Republican vice presidential nomination remain.
A private Louisiana survey of 800 registered voters taken July 6-8 by The Polling Company shows 60 percent favorable (with 39 percent strongly favorable) and 18 percent unfavorable for Jindal. Those numbers contradict Jindal’s reported precipitous decline after the 37-year-old governor reversed himself twice on the legislative pay issue but ended up opposing it.
A footnote: A select audience of New Hampshire Republicans was startled Tuesday when McCain told them “you are really going to like” Minnesota’s 47-year-old Tim Pawlenty — what sounded like a possible tip-off of his vice presidential choice. But McCain’s intimates are accustomed to hearing him praise Pawlenty.
Fundraiser Obama
Sen. Barack Obama is employing his fundraising prowess to raise money not only for his presidential campaign but also for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, seeking a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.
Recipients of Obama’s summer mailing include many lobbyists who are called “switch hitters” in political parlance — contributors to lawmakers of both parties who seek to open Capitol Hill doors to them on a bipartisan basis.
A footnote: While Democrats have a good shot at picking up four more Senate seats to put their majority at 55 to 45, collecting the 60 seats needed to break filibusters without Republican help seems out of reach. “We must have a deadlock-proof Democratic majority,” Obama said in his letter.
Gramm Gone
Although former Sen. Phil Gramm’s resignation as national co-chairman of McCain for President was considered to be essential by the campaign, he resigned on his own without being asked.
As this column reported a week ago, Gramm apologized to his old friend and political ally John McCain for embarrassing his candidacy, and McCain told him not to worry about it. Shortly thereafter, Gramm resigned rather than become an attack target for having called America “a nation of whiners” whose recession is “mental.”
The same McCain strategists who felt Gramm had to go also consider his departure a major loss. McCain valued Gramm’s economic and political advice.
Endangered Democrat
Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a 71-year-old, 12-term congressman from a solidly Democratic Wilkes-Barre, Pa., district, may be the only incumbent House Democrat to lose in what shapes up as a disastrous 2008 for the Republicans.
Kanjorski is running behind Lou Barletta, the Republican Mayor of Hazleton, Pa., who has made a national reputation as a foe of illegal immigration. Kanjorski has a big money advantage and is waging a substantial television campaign, while Barletta has not yet been on television. But Barletta has 89 percent identification in the district, four to one positive. Kanjorski, who voted against the Iraqi troop surge, has been under fire for saying he “forced” President Bush to make the move.
A footnote: Barletta did not show up for Sen. McCain’s rally Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre. No more than 600 of the 2,500 theater seats were filled for the event.
Copyright 2008, Creators Syndicate Inc.
I think that Mitt Romney might be the better choice for McCain, because he could be what it takes for McCain to win the presidential election. Romney is an experienced governor, who can help McCain win the 17 electoral votes from Michigan. If he wins these votes, Democrats would have an upset in the election and there would be a very good chance that McCain would win the presidency. His views are also very close to McCain’s ideas on Iraq, abortion, and the economy and these agreements could make McCain’s presidency a major influence in American history. But one cannot forget Jindal, who is a first time governor of Louisiana and could also help McCain win the election. Since he is very popular to the state of Louisiana, he could help win a considerable amount of votes there. Also since he is newer to politics, this could play to McCain’s advantage because many people are looking for someone who is new and wants to bring change. But if I had to choose someone, it would be Romney. For Barack Obama I would have to choose John Edwards or Hilary Clinton. John Edwards has the same ideas as Barack Obama and he is not new to politics and how the government works. He is also immensely popular with many states and could help Barack Obama win the election. Then there is Hilary Clinton, who could help him win the women’s vote and Latino vote. She also has some of the same ideas as Barack Obama. But I would probably choose John Edwards, because he is capable of serving the VP spot without trying to be the president. He would be the best choice for Obama and could help him win the presidency.
In response to Ashley Rowe:
I think choosing Mitt Romney for VP would be the absolute worst thing McCain could do in his bid for the presidency. People freaked out when Kennedy was elected because he was Catholic. Mitt Romney is a Mormon and the people of United States will not take kindly to that. Senator McCain should not pick Romney because some moderates who are on the line between Republicans and Democrats could be pushed over the line to Democrats because of Romney’s religion. It’s not necessarily a good criterion to judge on, but it would happen. As for Governor Jindal, he’d only take nine electoral votes from Louisiana. Every little bit helps but that’s not much. I’m not sure who I would pick to be McCain’s VP, but it would certainly not be Romney. As for Barack Obama, I would definitely choose John Edwards. He’s had six years of experience in the Senate and he could possibly bring 15 votes from North Carolina that are currently Republican. He also is older than Obama by nine years and that might look favorable for those thinking Obama is too inexperienced or too young. Under no circumstances should Obama choose Hillary Clinton as his VP. Clinton could bring the women vote. She would not bring the Latino vote because Obama already has it. However, she’s a woman (don’t act all surprised) and that would put off people who are still undecided and are generally more traditional. Also, who would want a potential president with Whitewater in her history. McCain and not Romney. Obama and Edwards. That’s my opinion.