Subscribe by RSS
Seems to be official now, John McCain has chosen his vice presidential running mate and the person will soon be notified. The choice will be revealed at a campaign rally on Friday at noon eastern to steal some thunder coming from the Democratic convention.
Report from Politico:
Sen. McCain has chosen his running mate and the person will be notified on Thursday, a senior campaign official said.
A friend said McCain had pretty much settled on his selection early this week, and it crystallized in the past few days. Campaign manager Rick Davis flew to McCain’s cabin in Sedona, Ariz., a few days ago to confer, and another meeting about the choice was held with top aides Wednesday.
The news leaked on the third night of the Democratic National Convention, detracting attention from speeches by former President Bill Clinton and the Democratic ticket mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware.
McCain’s selection process has been conducted mostly in secret, but officials said he was considering one or more candidates who support abortion rights. The disclosure set off a fracas on the right wing, with talk-show host Rush Limbaugh saying such a selection would destroy the party.
McCain is planning to roll out his vice presidential nominee in three battleground states this weekend, with large-scale rallies planned for Ohio, Pennsylvania and Missouri, according to aides and advisers.
The GOP nominee-in-waiting will move to immediately change the campaign conversation from Barack Obama’s football stadium acceptance speech Thursday to the new Republican ticket, to be revealed at a noontime Friday rally in a Dayton, Ohio, basketball arena. McCain and his running mate will then travel by bus to Pennsylvania, where they’ll hold an outdoor event at a minor league baseball stadium in Washington County, just southwest of Pittsburgh. On Sunday, the duo will head to suburban St. Louis for another event to be held at a minor league baseball stadium, this one in O’Fallon, Mo.
McCain’s communications director on Fox News discussing the veep issue:
Will keep you posted and awaiting the Friday morning announcement. No fancy text message, just a campaign event appearance by the new ticket on Friday at 11am eastern.
Update
The official day and time for McCain to reveal his VP choice is Saturday around noon at a campaign event in Dayton, Ohio. However, word is now that the name may be released tonight in lieu of Obama’s acceptance speech.
Report from Yahoo News:
DENVER - Republican presidential candidate John McCain decided on a running mate early Thursday, and one top prospect, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, abruptly canceled numerous public appearances.
The Arizona senator will appear with his No. 2 at an Ohio rally on Friday, aides said, though they provided no details on who McCain had picked.
Without explanation, Pawlenty called off an Associated Press interview at the last minute, as well as other media interviews in Denver, site of the Democratic National Convention.
Others believed to be in contention for the No. 2 slot on the GOP ticket included former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who was meeting with donors throughout California, and Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who was vacationing on New York’s Long Island.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, too, was still a possibility, as was the idea that McCain would choose a dark horse from any number of names that have circulated.
McCain, however, was uncharacteristically silent.
As McCain and his wife, Cindy, boarded a plane in Phoenix bound for Dayton, Ohio, reporters shouted a barrage of questions at the senator about whether he’d made up his mind. McCain wasn’t biting. He flashed a double thumbs-up and boarded the plane.
Earlier, he played coy.
In an interview aired Thursday morning, McCain said he still hadn’t made up his mind. Far from quieting speculation, this only fueled it as he sought to siphon attention from Democrat Barack Obama’s acceptance of the presidential nomination in Denver.
Will update when news is released concerning the leak or concerning the Friday event.
Update
Video report from MSNBC:
No leak tonight, probably just a tease. We’ll find out Friday around noon but I’m betting it will be leaking Friday morning already. I’m thinking either Tim Pawlenty or Mitt Romney.
Update
Surprise! It’s Sarah Palin of Alaska! Read more from the official story:
Official: McCain picks Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as VP
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...Visit the You Decide 2008 Store »
Loading ...
I was watching MSNBC and I agree with them on this: McCain will only steal some thunder from Obama if he chooses an interesting candidate. Announcing a choice like Pawlenty would barely create a ripple in the news.
If his choice is radical (Lieberman or Huckabee or something) then Obama will definitely be pushed into the background (for me at least)
I think Huckabee would be a better choice than Lieberman for the VP slot but it’ll be very interesting who he does choose.
Since the gloves are off, what if McCain announced his running mate the same time as Obama’s speech, how much thunder would that steal from him?
Well, I think if he says Friday a.m. it will be Friday a.m. The funny part to me is the news media keeps touting that McCain is choosing his running mate according to who Obama chose. This is extremely funny to me, because word from headquarters LAST Thursday was the choice had been made - 2 days before Obama announced Biden. Of course you can hear anything, but the source was pretty solid on the inside. It made me feel better to think he didn’t make the choice as a reaction to Biden.
I have my fingers crossed for 2 long shots, knowing they’re long shots. But we can hope on this side, too.
I wouldn’t believe a single word on what either headquarters said. McCain definitely waited to see who Obama picked before making his final decision otherwise he’d have mentioned who it was sooner and completely taken the wind out of Obama’s sails.
If McCain does not pick a “fresh” candidate and I am not talking about Palantey or what ever his name is he may as well volunteer to drive the limo that Obama and Biden use to get to the white house.
It needs to be a surprise pick that generates some excitment
McCain/Romney or McCain/Pawlenty just ain’t it
nzpudding, of course McCain was waiting on Obama’s VP announcement before making his decision. It’s like in baseball when the home team is up to bat last, they have the advantage.
In order to win the Conservative party over, McCain better pick a pro-life VP. I was really excited about Kay Bailey Hutchison’s name being mentioned as a possible VP. He could do what Obama didn’t have the nerve to do which was pick Hillary as the VP choice. But then I read in length of her commitment to pro-choice organizations, Hutchison that is, and out the window my support for her went. She completely plays to the conservative party, except for abortion that is. So here’s to Romney.
CG, what do you think of Sarah Palin? And believe it or not, if it IS Sarah Palin, you can believe the choice was made pre-Biden. That’s not a reactive pick. That’s a Maverick pick. We’ll see in a couple of hours.
Is said Sarah of Alaska may be v.p. for McCain
Yes, Bill, it is said. And what a Maverick choice if it’s her. I love her, she’s the first woman anywhere in this race I could support. She’s an avid outdoor woman (has been known to get up at 2 in the morning to go moose hunting, there’s the NRA candidate), is a reformer, has 5 great kids, the youngest of whom has Downs Syndrome. She made the pro life choice not to kill her child. She’s 44, and of course, a woman. I’ve still got my fingers crossed, but it’s looking promising here.
Babas I totally agree. I looked her up on internet. She does sled marathon, commerical fishing with husband. Husband does Iron sled merathon, native alaskan, and separates water fron oil on North Slop. Eats moose bugers. does the shopping. She is great. Athletic.. She is like no other in DC. She has media experience. I don’t see anybody walking all over this lady. I like her.
Obama / Biden VS McCain / Palin
This race just keeps getting more and more interesting doesn’t it? Palin seems like an interesting woman, and a ballsy choice. It looks like Republicans may have to be careful with their “questioning he has enough experience to lead” line of attack, because Palin’s resume looks comparable.
If she were to ever ascend to presidency I’d be fairly shocked. Not a woman nominated in the republican primaries, all these vocal attacks about how Obama is an unqualified nominee and only got where he is as sort of a racial gimmick, and BAM meet Sarah Palin, hail to the chief!
I look forward to watching this play out. One way or another, American politics will never be the same.
Babs She beat the Governor in election . Has a 85-90 % approval rating. Hightest in America. She turned down the State Air plane. She sold the plane on ebay. ( Speaker of the House has flown her friends around in a VIP Air Fore cargo plane.) First day in office she vetoed largest financial bill. She slashed spending. She fought the very corrupt state government. Biden better be on his toes. She is a lot more than a oil and pro life V.P… In interviw she said she wants to be busy and thought V.P. was boring. Bet she will be active part of the WHITE HOUSE..Like you said Babs, the Republican ticket are mavericks. Both know how to get things done.
YES! Palin is awesome. Great pick John! Now I can send you some money! Go McCain/Palin! Obama is in trouble.
Stalin I soooo agree with you. As McCain is saying right now, she has grit
Sarah oldest son is in Army. Will soon go to Iraq
Stalin I can always count on you to give the conservative opinion on the site. I love, love, love Sarah!!! This is the first time I have said this on this site, McCain now has my vote! You heard it here first. GOOOOO Sarah, a conservative and a woman, what more could one ask for? I guess her as PRESIDENT!!!.
Now lets bring on the Debates and watch greasy Joe get steam rolled.
Conservative Girl. I agree. In four years she will be President. McCain will use her. Money saver. She sold State Jet Plane on ebay. Waste of money. God, WHAT A WOMAN. Dirty lesislators loss their jobs. WHAT A WOMAN. 85-90 % approval rating. WHAT A VICE PRESIDENT. Obama has much less experience than her. No wonder McCain picked this maverick.
I don’t see how Palin can be called a maverick? She’s the embodiment of what a Conservative Republican is, isn’t she? Picking Joe Lieberman would be maverick, wouldn’t it?
sHE TURNED DOWN cONGRESS POT Belly MONEY FOR BRIDGE TO NO where, Lowered State spending, Got rid of corrupt State officals, sold State plane on ebay, people give her 85-90 % approval, Fought big oil and opened gas line pipe to open bidding. Not business as usual. Actually looking out for the people….. Her high approval rating proves she is a maverick. No other government elected official can boast of that. Does that not make a maverick. One who goes against the norm
So someone with a high approval rating is a maverick and someone with a low approval rating is the norm?
In that case then she could well be a maverick.