I just read that McCain might name his Vice Presidential selection as early as next week. The idea is to take some of the spotlight away from Obama and give McCain a couple weeks of free publicity before the Summer Olympics.
I am torn on this idea. I like that announcing early is a bit unorthodox as I think McCain is at his best when he is acting against the status quo. However, I am worried that the actual person being selected is going to be Mitt Romney which would be a big mistake.
The Romney people have been pushing hard to get him the position. Their argument is that he is already vetted, has a background in business and can help raise tons of needed money. There is also some thought that he helps put Michigan in play.
Frankly he is a terrible choice. McCain needs to choose an unconventional partner. Romney is hardly unconventional. The biggest problem is Romney doesn't really help with the general electorate. He is a cookie cutter Republican in a year that is not trending Republican. He ran a lackluster campaign despite outspending all his other opponents. Finally, his fund raising prowess doesn't really help because McCain has already stated he is taking the federal campaign money which limits the amount he can spend.
It looks to me like the McCain camp is a little nervous. The see their poll numbers slipping and are desperate to change the tone and course of the campaign. A better approach might be to announce a major economic policy. Furthermore once you make the VP announcement you only get one bounce and it might be a little too early to use it. Especially while not many people are paying attention.
1 comment:
While Tim Pawlenty is my first choice for McCain followed by Tom Ridge, Romney is not as bad as you make him out to be. He is my third choice for the following reasons:
1) Fundraising. While McCain is taking the matching funds, he gets to spend as much money as possible leading up to the convention. Convention Wisdom says Romney can raise $60 million in 3 days. That is alot of money to spend between now and labor day if he picks him this week as Novak hinted.
2) Michigan, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana. In regards to the Mountain states it either takes those states out of play or makes them easier for McCain to win due to the Mormon votes, where Obama wants to pick up states especially if he loses say a Penn.
Romney does not guarantee a victory in Michigan. Yet, it allows him to talk economy in a democratic state and Romney knows how to do that.
3) The campaign is no longer about Iraq, which is why McCain is there and not Romney. If it were about the Economy Romney would be the nominee. There may be no greater expert in politics on economic issues than Mit and I do not care who you are.
4) La Jolla it would be cool to have both the Pres and VP to have their vacation homes almost accross the street from each other here in San Diego.
CJ
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