Newsweek Ruckus asks:"What would be the boldest vice presidential choice John McCain and Barack Obama could make?":
Newsweek is asking each of it's blogging members of The Ruckus to give their honest opinion about who would be the best Vice Presidential running mate for the Democratic and Republican nominees. My honest answers may surprise you-at least one of them will.For Barack Obama: Contrary to the notions of some people, Hillary Clinton is not the best Number Two choice for Obama. Even when one takes into account her most die hard supporters, he unfavorable numbers among the electorate are astoshingly high. A Clinton nomination for Vice President might give Obama a temporary boost, but her baggage and that of her husband may come back to bite Obama.
Instead, it might behoove Barack Obama to reach for the female vote by nominating Senator Claire McCaskill of Missori. McCaskill has not only been a supporter of Obama during the primaries, her public stance on many issues is more moderate than the wing of the Democratic Party that has given the most support to Barack Obama. McCaskill is on record as supporting the partial-birth abortion ban, supports stronger border security, and opposes allowing illegal aliens a driver's licence. She also supports efforts such as coal liquification as an alternative energy source, supports an earmark moratorium, and even favors parental consent before a child can receive an abortion. Her overall record is quite liberal, but these stances mean McCaskill would not be frightning to many in Middle America. She also helps Obama with women voters, which is an obvious plus after the primaries.
For John McCain: The best choice would likely be former Arkansas Governor and Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Despite the protestations of some that Huckabee is somehow not conservative, cultural conservatives were and continue to be drawn to Huckabee in droves. Mike Huckabee has the very solid pro-life and pro-Second Amendment "movement" credentials that John McCain now lacks in the wake of many of his Washington escapades. Huckabee also has a base of supporters that will turn up for the ticket on Election Day if Huckabee is on it, and that could really matter in a close election where McCain needs the South to vote as a bloc to have any chance at winning.
Labels: Democrats, Presidential Election, Republican Party
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 5:49 PM
3 Comments:
David,
Huckabee is not the worst pick McCain could make but I doubt he'd be the best. After the primaries Huckabee was/is seen by the radical and loud right as Conservative-lite (much like McCain himself) and on the left he's seen as a theocratic loon. Somethig that won't be that hard to do, regradless of whether it's true or not. Get away form the Premellinial Dispenstional crowd of Evengical Christianity and you'd be absolutely amazed how nutsy they think the whole thing is. I discovered that traveling back from a DFT meeting in Nashville. The subject came up and being the good Baptist I am I expalined the Rapture, the seven year Tribulation, the Anti-Christ and so on and they (one Catholic, a couple of athiests, two methodists and a Jew) thought I was making it all up. Besides Independents didn't flock to him and if he gets the nod they still won't.
Also if Huckabee gets the nod McCain will be painted as pandering to the Dobson crowd and it'll hurt him even more.
Yes, Huckabee supporters are passionate for him; there just aren't enough to make him viable.
And too, don't forget, we're talking about McCain here - it's not going to make any difference - it's McCain and he's what you got and he's all you got.
SteveMule
Steve;
I know A LOT of Catholics who supported Huckabee, and not a few more who say they would do so if he ran in 2012. He's a lot more viable than I think you realize.
David,
In east Tennessee perhaps and probably only becuase of what they know about his stance on certian social isssues. Get out of east Tennessee and past those issue and into what the man really thinks about the comiong of the Lord, what he really thinks about economic issues and he'll fizz like a stale alka-selzter tablet.
Huckabee simply doesn't bring enough to the table.
SteveMule
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