By most accounts, John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee for president, has started the vetting process for a running mate. The list of potential choices is a long one -- from Haley Barbour to Rudy Giuliani to Mike Huckabee.
You get to help shorten the list by playing msnbc.com's presidential veepstakes. Each week, the field of 32 candidates is cut in half until one remains, with your votes making the difference. (Not that McCain will actually abide by our result)
So make your picks on msnbc.com's "Veepstakes 2008" and discuss your choices here on Newsvine. We hope you find this application informative and fun.
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Nearly 50,000 votes into the veepstakes, I'm surprised to see Sarah Palin, the relatively new and unkown governor of Alaska, beating Rob Portman, a well-known former lawmaker from Ohio, a swing state. What's going on there? It's also interesting to note that Haley Barbour and Chris Cox are tied. Either could beat many of the other candidates in the veepstakes -- too bad for them they had to meet in the first round. What's your take?
Im from Ohio and can't even tell you who Rob Portman is. He's not a major player here in Ohio and i highly doubt anyone else from outside his district knows him either. Im not surprised at all that he's losing to Sarah Palin. Sarah is the conservative that Mccain is not.
I personally liked Hillary, but since she is not going to get the nomination, I am seriously considering McCain based on his years of experience in office as well as the military. I view him as somewhat liberal on the Republican side. I have heard all the noise about his never ending war plans, and if you are gullible enough to believe that, go ahead and vote for Obama. However I think that Colin Powel would make an excellent running mate for McCain. Two military minds should be able to put their heads together and bring us some resolution to this conflict, and I think Colin Powel has a lot of dignity and respect for others. If we are going to get out of Iraq, we need to do it with thought. whether we come out of this totally annihilating the insurgents and truly free Iraq, or whether we withdraw quickly and let Iraq stand on it's own, the biggest concern should be getting our troops out safely and hopefully without having to do this all over again, which would mean that a lot of soldiers were injured and killed in a mere war game. This contry needs to remember that to stand by and watch someone like Saddam execute people like he was, and terrorize neighboring countries is neo-nazi in nature, and if for no other reason THAT was reason enough to go into Iraq. (shame on the rest of the world who didn't follow our lead) Colin Powel is a great mind. He should be the first black man named President. But it is sad to say that he has said several times that he won't run for any public office.
I dont understand how you say you were for Hillary and now you are seriously considering McCain. They don't agree on ANY issues, the whole experience argument didn't work because most people realize that there is no experience that prepares you to be the President of the United States. Just come on back home! Hillary will be advising Obama anyway she is a Democrat.
Sure she will...No thanks, No Senator CLinton for President...then we vote for the next best candidate, McCain who is a decent man and one we at least know something about and we won't have to scared of what he will do or what his motives are...we can wait...so you go with BHO if you want...we will go with a trusted man like McCain and he and Senator Clinton do have a lot in common, they care about America and the working class people...and they care about protecting the US...and not being wreckless in saying as Obama promised to "bring troops home in his first month in office" Do you think the terorist heard that statement...?
As a 100% Service-Connected Disabled Veteran I would vote for the town drunk before I would ever vote for that low life McCain.
Yes he had honorable service in Vietnam. He also got a medal for every hour he was in combat and he received the perfered treatment the rich receive.
Since leaving the service McCain has been nothing but an Anti-Veteran Politican. He has been AGAINST Veterans on every vote he had the time to spare to vote on. He was AGAINST the new VA Educational Bill and didn't even bother to show up to vote on it because out raising money for himself was more important to McCain then America's Veterans.
My fellow Veterans need to look real close at this TRAITOR to America's Veterans, and those who return from wars disabled.
I am not for another person. But I am fully AGAINST Traitor McCain, the beer money millionare politican that hates Veterans. And even the town drunk would be a better President.
And just what have you done...for veterans? You are so hateful...were you totured or did you even leave this country, or were you even in the military?...you know there are some veterans who expect handouts but, never had one second of active duty, I know some like that..they've never even left the country, never seen any combat or overseas duty, is that you? ...So, why the hateful rhetoric...you seriously need to go to the va and get some mental help, with so much hate ...most military don't hate there fellow veterans no matter how that veteran feels after they leave the military...everyone is entitled to a difference of opinion...but yours is way overboard and Senator McCain is not a traitor..and how do you have the nerve to call someone who served his country and was captured and imprisoned for over five years and tortured...and only because he differs in the way you feel he should else vote, he's a traitor...sorry but, your hatred is sad...I don't think anyone cares who you vote for...with your attitude.
My personal feeling is that whomever John McCain chooses as VP is dead politically because this is about a Bush 3rd term and whether we want to continue waging an incompetent and unpopular war. If fear wins out and McCain is elected, his emphasis on military might amid dwindling resources will likely plummet his popularity thereby saving George Bush from being the most unpopular president ever.
Mike Huckabee is a good choice; his tasteless and remorseless joke to the NRA gathering has already destroyed his national political future and shown that he's willing to be the bad cop. That way McCain can continue his hypocrisy about being the good guy remaining above the fray. But like a pants seam, it ain't the first fray that's the problem, it's the frays behind the fray.
That hampers picking someone young; they have ambitions. Picking, say, a 6o-something makes him/her a risk of being the young whippersnapper, juxtaposing old and older. Another alternative is someone who's never been on the national stage and is just thrilled to have a go even if it ends badly. To paraphrase: Better to have campaigned with cheering crowds and lost than not feel the love at all.
I've never been a John McCain fan, even during his so-called "maverick" phase. The Keating scandal and his subsequent denial of oh-gee-I-didn't-know-and-did-nothing-wrong followed a few years later by his virtual love affair with the Bush team - smacked of deal making - after their horrendous trashing of his reputation in an earlier prmary. To me, those episodes made him seem a liar, an incompetent and/or a hypocrite. I've seen nothing since to change my mind.
So you have actually bought into the complete lie Obama and the media have been spouting about McCain being just like Bush? Wow what a mindless sheep........
Try asking those 30% who still support Bush about what they think about McCain.
Try actually looking at the facts of McCains voting record
Try actually opening your eyes.
Wow so you have brought into McBush, the flip flopping and lies that he has told. What a mindless sheep you are.
Well America you did not listen to me the last time about the great sucking sound do you hear it now JUst vote McCain and get on with it Hillary looked so stupid trying to run for President Obama needs to get more experiance Remember every one was for Iraq untill it got tuff now it is popular to Bash Bush I think the insurgents dont want a goverment they want chaos
I am sure McCain has his own ideas but out of respect for the office of President he does not want to do what everyone else is doing bashing it he is just waiting his turn
I was sad that Mike Huckabee was pitted vs. J.C. Watts in round 1. They were my number 1 and 2 choices respectively. I would be interested to see how far each would get had they been seeded differently. This is a great use of interactive features to make news exciting and to gather public opinion! As a high school government teacher I only wish this had been made available earlier so I could have used this in the classroom. Great innovation, MSNBC!
I can see him picking a female to try and draw in angry Hillary votes.
Oh mt GOSH!!! You're Right!
Scary, too scary.
Tom Ridge is clearly the best choice. Carly Forina is not listed - why?
With Ridge you lose the evangelicals (good riddance - and take Limbaugh with you) but win Pennsylvania, NY, Ohio, Michigan, maybe California and a landslide victory. Joe Lieberman would be a good choice also.
If we lose the evangelicals, we lose the election.
The way I perceive evangelicals...
We want them.. but they don't want us. So its practically moot.
I am no big fan of McCain, been to Arizona, done that. Then I look at the Dem side of the ticket and think how much damage had been done during Carter and Clinton.
On this subject, read Dr. Marvin Olasky's Fighting for Liberty and Virtue.
Nearly 50,000 votes into the veepstakes, I'm surprised to see Sarah Palin, the relatively new and unkown governor of Alaska, beating Rob Portman, a well-known former lawmaker from Ohio, a swing state. What's going on there?
Palin is well liked in the conservative community and many of the Huckabee supporters who I know have Palin as their 2nd or 3rd choice so I think she is picking up a lot of support there. The results in the poll beat this out.
I think we are going to see a conservtive VP that can appeal to working class voters. I think that means that Jindal, Huckabee, or Palinare all top choices (instead of a Giuliani, Crist, or Romney) and they are all outside of Washington.
MS. RICE AGAINST MS. CLINTON...now that a race I could WATCH.
all ready happpened celeberty death match Rice by a leg
I think CLINTON would be a great PRESIDENT.Vice president?I f she was a man she would of been written in stone.OBAMA AND CLINTON VS MCCAIN AND RICE....bring it on.
Ms Rice has got a lot of air time in the week.Makes me think...OBama NEEDS Clinton,Mr Macain NEEEDS MS.RICE.
kbrahmer In all due respect....BUSH was REAGAN'S worst nightmare....HE WON.Clinton will deliver.....OBAMA NEEDS HER,AS IN my true vote....ROMNEY.
ROMNEY! ROMNEY!! ROMNEY!!! WE WANT ROMNEY.
just to look at him reminds me of Ward Cleaver!
You say that like its a bad thing. Who do you want leading you, a Ward Cleaver, or a guy who snorted coke in Hawaii, or a woman who has been investigated for everything from securities fraud to murder.
I vote for Ward, ( I mean Mitt)
Romney is McCain's best choice. He would be able to get the evangelical vote which is very critical to any candidate , because it affects the entire south and some big conservative states. Romney can sway their vote his way because he is the best candidate that stands for what many Christians, conservatives and evangelicals want. No abortion, and definitely no gay marriage. Who cares about his religion...He's a decent and trustworthy man with some principles, and not afraid to say it and fight for it. You will never find any candidate to please the masses, but pick the wrong one, and you can divide the masses. My choice is Romney all the way. I believe it's a win win for McCain and the party.
Rev. P Jackson (Baptist)
ROMNEY! ROMNEY!! ROMNEY!!! WE WANT ROMNEY.
I can't figure out how Charlie Crist is losing to Colin Powell. Crist seems like a much more likely candidate to me, and "Todd's Take" under Powell says it all: "McCain simply hopes Powell endorses him instead of Obama."
There will be nothing more beatable than 2 gray haired guys running together...it won't look good and Mccain needs to pick someone younger looking to compete with Obama. He won't pick Crist... if he does, he's toast.
As someone most likely to vote democratic this November, I think Colin Powell is one of the only people who would make me think twice about a republican ticket.
McCain was an excellent candidate until he started parroting Bush's rhetoric/"talking points".
And Obama is just saying the same old democratic line. Tax the rich tax the oil companies. Never once saying who is considering rich. Makes a difference depending on where each individual or family is. $100,000 sounds rich to me but not to two engineers or on engineer and one teacher etc.
I say Huckabee will win this poll because of the 1,000's supportors who see him as one of the most conservative, articulate, and boldest leaders of the future republican party. This current republican party can be proud of its defense of America but unfortunately this party, my party, has failed us on fiscal conservative, small government policies. I like to refer to Huckabee as a retro republican of the reagan years when being republican was a badge of honor and, Huckabee isn't anti-government, but like Reagan views government as being at its best when it governs the least. Huckabee also boldly champions the Fair Tax as best long term goal to get America back to its prominence economic affairs. Huckabee is also pro-family and pro-gun. Huckabee is pro-America at its core.
There lies the ticket....or a woman.
WOW! sombody has been drinking the coolaid. You do realize that even 2 months after Romney had dropped out of the race, he still had more votes than Huckabee. There may be 1.000s' that support the huckster but there are millions that support Romney. He should have been president, but I will take him as a VP. In todays economic turmoil, we need a business man backing McCain up. Not a Minister.
Your right HUCKABEE is the best man for the job!
I think Huckabee will not just help with evangelicals, but have good success with the southern electorate. It seems to me he has good influence with women, as well as, connects well with many of the working class, such as the needed midwest. They like his sincere communication, his roots. I would like to think that many understand that the vp has a supportive role, which he also seems sincere about. Now I am not saying that this is anyway a comprehensive cover for him. This is a list of many of his positive attributes. I am a southern evangelical for what thats worth, and know that many will come out for fear of Hillary, as well as Obama. They just do not have that much zeal about this process. A tremendous force would be the media coverage. They would stampede there way and swarm, and glue themselves to him. That is an understatement. Mccain and he could very well steal the show. It would be along the lines as, Obama, who?
Well.. It looks like the masses have chosen Romeny over Huckabee by 16% (58% vs 42%) and Romney has the highest % in the poll.
As a Louisianian, I can tell you that Gov. Jindal has no intention of becoming Mr. McCain's VP nominee. Gov. Jindal has run for governor twice, losing the first time, and then coming back to win by a landslide. He likes the job he has now, and I don't believe that he will turn his back on Louisiana, especially when our state needs him so badly.
First of all, being a VP is not political suicide. The first President Bush was a VP, and Al Gore made a good shot as a VP. The bad rap that has descended on the office of VP is because of the drive-by media. Dan Quail was crucified by the media looking for a political punching bag, and Dick Cheney has also been beaten up by a media desperate for a story.
The VP is the most important office next to the President. As far as a good choice for McCain, Mitt Romeny, Condoleezza Rice, or Bobby Jindal would be great choices. Any of them would add elements to McCain's ticket which he needs to appeal to a greater portion of the American Electorate. Romney is very conservative and was elected a Governor of a very Liberal state. Bobby Jindal would help draw deep south voters and is a minority. Obama and the DNC have done their best to make this election all about race. Condie would be a good choice to appeal to female voters and to black voters. I think intelligent voters who try not to be too emotional about their vote can look past her association to President Bush. However, I have noticed in the American electorate a increasing lack of logic in their decision making.
"Obama and the DNC have done their best to make this election all about race." WHAT!!! that doesn't make very much sense. However I have to agree with you on the last point.
To me Mitt Romney would be the best and most logical choice. As President of the Senate (VP) Romney would be in a very good position to help steer domestic policy and to reign in the democrats when they attempt to cut troop defense spending and raise the white flag of surrender.
Also given McCain's lack of knowledge and interest in the economy, Romney would be the best fit for handling economic issues. Let McCain handle the role of being Commander in Chief while Romney works to move forward a sound economic policy which McCain could then sign off on. Read the things Romney suggested on the economy while he was running for President and also what he had to say about education reform and energy independence.
As we know Cheney had a lot of influence on Bush's foriegn policy and if McCain allowed Romney to have at least some input regarding that and followed counsel from Romney when the counsel was requested, the combination of the two men could prove to be very beneficial to our nation. It would also help set the stage for Romney in 2012.
Ok so I am biased toward's Romney and felt he should be the GOP nominee, but since I can't have him in the top spot YET, I will settle for VP.
JP IN GA, I agree that Huckabee's going to win the poll. As far how likely a pick he is, though--well, I figure there's a reason he's a third-seed. (Surprising, I thought, to Romney's #1 seed--I just can't see McCain picking him, with all the bad blood they had in the primary, when it isn't exactly political suicide for McCain if he doesn't go with Romney).
I also don't see McCain going with Condi--it would just reinforce the "Bush's Third Term" notion--or Lieberman--it might scare the conservative base too much. No, I think McCain's going to have to go somewhere in between these two extremes.
I think most of the people are simply going to vote for the prettier canidate. in the end we will have some really pretty person like thune or romniy
Mike Huckabee must be the VP choice in order for John McCain to be elected. He has the social values to appeal to 50 million Christian voters, and a sufficient breadth of appeal to the independents in the middle of the spectrum. If McCain caves in to the pressure to name an economic conservative, not only will he not be elected President, he will not deserve to be.
That's the talk I hear all around town.
There is no way Huckabee will be the VP choice, and 50 million Christians will not be voting Republican this fall.
Its not about 50 million Christians, its about 100+ million conservatives. Anyone who thinks huckabee is a shoe-in because he is Christian does not understand politics. We all get that Huckabee is very popular in a small section of the country but belieave me, he would kill McCains chances for president faster than you can say baptism.
You have to remember, about half those Christians you are counting on are going to vote for Obama, and the other 25 million; well, that just isn't enough. And even if it was, Huckabee never drew anywhere near that number of votes in the primaries. What makes you think he will pull them now?
People know who he is NOW and what he stands for!
That is why he will pull them in now!
Personal fav is Condi. I just like the idea. Now the also rans...
Rudi... is he reduced to capturing the dog catcher vote now?
Leiberman... An honest Dem, but couldn't stomach his social liberalism, right on for Sec Def but that's WAY too soon to discuss.
Petraeus... Has better things to do, as in win us this war. 5 stars maybe? Big reward for a guy who turned around a mess in 2 countries.
Ridge is not tainted by DHS?
Thune... my sentiments exactly, more a future prospect like Jindal
Huckabee... nice thought but lets not offend EVERYONE who is not of his Denomination. And he will manage to do that.
Another Bush? Wont fly, but maybe could get Rather to forge a new story. Too soon, by the time current Bushs legacy vindicates him, we will be looking at Bush grandchildren.
Mitt.... gets me only luke warm, need boxing gloves.
Hutchinson... lose as more votes than may get.
The rest... relatively political unknowns who would only deliver states the party MAY/Aught already win.
mccain must pick romney for a number of reasons romney has a great mind for economics which mccain lacks, romney is very poular here in michigan which would probably put michigan in his column plus romney is strong in the mormon states of the west he is a great moneyraiser remember jfk did not like johnson but he put him on the ticket kennedy would havr probably lost to nixon if lbj did not deliver texas for kennedy, romney has all the right tools for vice president and if he had to assume the presidentcy i would be comfortable with him
Sarah Palin is it. Call this a slam dunk for McCain should he choose her. Not geographically beneficial, but the women will flock from Obama to McCain.
Mike Huckabee is the best choice for McCain for VP. His followers are not all Evangelicals...he is also supported by Catholics and a lot of Democrats. There have been a lot of messages from Democrats that they like Mike Huckabee. If Hillary is not selected as the Democrat nominee, Mike Huckabee has the best chance of picking up her voters. He defended her right to stay in the race because he knows that until the person has the number of delegates, the race isn't over and anything could happen (bad gaffes by Obama, etc). Mike Huckabee has won almost every VP poll. Yes, he has a lot of supporters and that's another reason why McCain needs Mike Huckabee as VP. Huckabee has the most executive experience, almost 11 years, which would help McCain too. Huckabee is a Christian but did not impose his religion on the people of Arkansas when he was Governor. He has stated that as President or VP, he would govern with these same principles.
Huckabee was not seeded 1st because MSNBC along with Fox News are in the tank for Romney. They don't care that he is a liberal and just in the last two years (convenient) decided he was pro-life and pro-family. Before that he was pro-choice and pro-gays. There is a lot of information out there about his record in Mass. He might know a lot about economics, but he wasn't successful in that in Mass. according to people who live there, so why would we want him handling our economy decisions?
As far as Sarah Palin, remember women are very funny about supporting beautiful women (like Palin) who get on the ticket because they are a woman and not have not much experience as a Governor yet. There might be more who would resent Palin than support her....I'm speaking about the Hillary voters not happy with Obama. She needs several more years as Governor before she is ready to be selected.
I agree Jindal has a lot of experience, but because he's so young, he needs to stay the Governor of Louisiana and help that state that needs him so badly. Then in 4-8 years, he will have that success and would be a shoe-in for President.
Ann: Though I like Huckabee personally, he probably killed any chance of VP with his dumb joke about Obama before the NRA. Even though he apologized for it, it was a stupid thing to say, even dumber than Hilary referring to the assasination of RFK.
You might be right about Palin, but I would hope that women would be more open-minded than that. I didn't know a lot about her until recently, but what I learned, I liked. Very well respected in her home state (upwards of 80% approval). With the exception of the weird names she and her husband gave her children (Willow? Trig? Piper? Bristol? Track?) and her relative lack of experience on the national level, I see no big downside. Why would voters attack her for her limited experience as Governor, when Obama has next to nothing? Really, 3 years in the Senate, and half of that time campaigning for President. Please.
As for the percentages, it is like one's grade point average. You can get an "A" as a freshman and really help your GPA. Get one as a senior, very little effect. You won't see much of a change in the percentages unless there is a major swing one way or the other. That can't happen with random voting. Once you hit 55%, it's done. Too bad though. Chris Cox deserves better.
I think Ann made some great observations and articulated them well. That's too bad what Huckabee said....I was not up on news when it happened...I need to check it out.
Just a couple comments:
1. Huckabee has no executive experience. He has Gubenotorial experience, but not executive. You must have been thinking of Romney who has both Gubenotorial AND executive experience.
2. Romney did not just adopt family values 2 years ago. You don't carry a 38 successful marriage and raise 5 successful boys in just 2 years. That kind of accomplishment takes... lets see.... 38 years.
3. As to gay marriage. It was rogue judges in Mass. that made that legal for about a day and it was Romney who took them to task made it stop.
4. As to abortion. Every law that romney passed while in office was pro-life. And if your talking about the $150.00 of state money that could go to help pay for abortion, that was enacted just as Romney was leaving office and not be him. Once again, the liberal judges of Mass. trying to take matters into their own hands.
I wish people would stop spreading all these lies about an incredibaly good man. Read the facts people.
I don't think anybody is saying ROMNEY is not a good man. He is just not the man that can get us the win!
MIKE HUCKABEE for VP "THE BEST MAN FOR THE JOB"
HUCKABEE WILL GET US THE WIN!
Why haven't the percentages of each of these candidates hasn't changed since last Tuesday when this poll started? There has been an increase of approximately 20,000 votes...shouldn't this change the percentages?