VP Shortlist: Republicans
Although I’m in Mexico, I have been keeping on tabs on the election. My favorite website for this is FiveThirtyEight.com. It has the latest poll information in a format that is both useful and through. It has been tracking trends for a while and reports on the latest headline grabbing polls, while also putting them in perspective.
Another thing it has mentioned recently is the VP selection process and a VP’s impact on the poll numbers. With this in mind, they’re skeptical of my Republican VP pick: Tim Pawlenty. Although FiveThirtyEight is probably correct to be skeptical of claims that Pawlenty can deliver Minnesota and Wisconsin, Pawlenty can make the race in Minnesota closer and force Obama to spend more money there. Minnesota is a competitive state with Obama Organizing Fellows, but was not included in Obama’s first ad-buy of the general election. (In case you’re wondering, Minnesota’s seen as a “likely Dem” state.)
Pawlenty is also young, from a blue state and has been with the McCain campaign since before his turn-around on Super Tuesday. (That is the reason he wasn’t included in the Memorial Day VP shortlist weenie-roast.) He won’t scare away independent voters with allegations of being a former exorcist, and wasn’t caught in the relatively short and brutal Republican primary (see: Huckabee, Romney, etc). I’m also unconvinced by Charlie Crist’s chances in the general election. He’s been the victim of some pretty awful rumors recently that might keep evangelicals at home. Dirty politics and smears have always been part of politics and this toxic whisper-campaign is already out there from his last gubernatorial race. A fresher candidate would definitely help McCain more.
My dark horse pick is the current Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. My professor, Jack Pitney, pointed Palin out to my class last year and I can see why. Alaska is pretty Republican, but Palin can help McCain’s current terrible numbers with women. She is a fresh face that might be able to undercut Obama’s theme of change and stand strong with McCain’s message of fiscal responsibility.
Filed under: Politics on June 22nd, 2008
A commenter on another post says it much better than I can:
“They say McCain reads the blogs, so here goes –
Senator McCain- Don’t let the campaign kibbitzers muddle things up.
First and foremost, Sarah Palin shares your values. She killed the bridge to nowhere. Need we say more?
As for the politics, Sarah Palin transcends geography. Her constituency, like yours, goes beyond state lines.
She will get your ticket access to voters all over the country based on who she is and what she stands for. Because she’s young, a woman, a mother with young kids, she will grab media attention more than any other potential candidate.
Gov. Palin also has a son in the active duty military. You have very wisely taken your son’s service in Iraq off the table as a campaign talking point. That is and should be respected. But others can talk about it and reflect on what it means.
A McCain-Palin administration would be the first in memory which has family members in uniform during wartime from both the President and Vice President. That would be a powerful statement as to the importance of national service, especially in uniform.
Most importantly, any Vice President should be ready to step up and serve in the event she is needed. Frankly, who is really ever ready? Gov. Palin is as ready as anybody, she is a quick learner, and in her public career has exhibited the courage and decisiveness needed for a great leader.
Godspeed to you in your campaign and in making this important decision.”
I can see it all now, Alaska Gov Sarah Palin’s husband, Todd, introducing Sarah as the next Vice President of the United States at the Republican National Convention later this summer, to the tune of Shania Twain’s “She’s Not Just a Pretty Face”.
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMlcZDorjuE
Just imagine!!! (Dems, eat your heart out)
[...] PS: Sarah Palin? Totally called it. [...]