The McCain Huckabee dance

[MikeWaters]

The idea of having a super old president, who has had cancer, with the Huckster a heartbeat away, is probably enough to turn off a lot of voters.

Huck has no gravitas, and if you are the straight-talker, you always have to choose gravitas over the easy way out.

[SeattleUte]

He's going to pick Charlie Crist. Crist can even change his name, adding an h after the C, kind of like when Joe Theisman changed the pronunication of his name from Theesman when he was campaigning for the Heisman trophy. That should appeas the Tex-Coulter-types.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

He's going to pick Charlie Crist. Crist can even change his name, adding an h after the C, kind of like when Joe Theisman changed the pronunication of his name from Theesman when he was campaigning for the Heisman trophy. That should appeas the Tex-Coulter-types.

I tend to agree. McCain owes this election first to Crist, second to Huckabee.

[myboynoah]

Crist looks like a weasel. A very tanned weasel.

[bluegoose]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

...and for VP will go with someone who will appeal to the conservatives, but who won't be as much of a liability as Huck.

Don't leave us hanging, Babs. So who's going to join him on the ticket?

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

He's going to pick Charlie Crist. Crist can even change his name, adding an h after the C, kind of like when Joe Theisman changed the pronunication of his name from Theesman when he was campaigning for the Heisman trophy. That should appeas the Tex-Coulter-types.

Would be better than Huck.

[hyrum]

What about Newt Gingrich?

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

I was thinking about this last week when I said it appeared Huckabee and McCain were working in collusion to take down Romney. What are the ramifications for McCain?

Assume that McCain goes with Huckabee for VP, which I think right now he is seriously considering.

1. Yes, Huckabee appeals to conservative voters of the religious right who might not otherwise resonate with McCain. BUT, these voters are never ever going to vote for Obama/Clinton anyway. So choosing a VP specifically to please that voter base is rather short-sighted.

2. Huckabee is on record with any number of statements that are either ludicrous, offensive, or both. Plus, the fact that he IS the embodiment of the religious right's stronghold on the GOP will be disappointing/disconcerting to both moderate Republicans and to swing voters. So in the general election, this makes Huckabee more of a liability to McCain than an asset.

So the point is, Noah, that I think you're right. McCain is leaning toward Huck, which on first glance makes some sense, but upon deeper analysis may not be a wise choice. He's basically painting himself into a corner and at some point he's going to have to mop up the mess. I think his analysts/advisers are going to realize the drawbacks of a McCain-Huckabee ticket and have to leave Huck out in the cold. Does this piss off Huck?? Probably. Does anyone other than Huck care? Not really. I'd imagine McCain would offer Huck some sort of lesser position in a proposed administration, and for VP will go with someone who will appeal to the conservatives, but who won't be as much of a liability as Huck.

BatGirl, you are genius.

To see Huck left at the alter would be very satisfying.

Who are the acceptable conservatives? How about Haley Barber, Governor of Mississippi? Are there any MidWestern conservatives, preferably Governors?

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by hyrum

What about Newt Gingrich?

bad choice. very divisive figure.

[BlueK]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

bad choice. very divisive figure.

I agree. Even most conservatives aren't big fans of Newt anymore, espeically with some of the things he's been saying lately about the Bush administration and the GOP in general.