The Institute of VP leaks, tips, and speculation (GOP edition)

[Mr. Morden]

In the tradition of Lunar's thread for the Dems, here is a thread we can use to consolidate rumors and news stories about McCain's running mate selection....so that we don't have a new thread for every single story.

Here's the first one:

link

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[Mr. Morden]

OK....earlier, Rendell had suggested that he knew that McCain wasn't picking Ridge as his running mate, because Ridge was going to be introducing McCain at an event in Washington, PA where McCain would be announcing his running mate:

link

Now I'm thinking that Rendell wasn't really claiming to have any special insight.  He was just repeating analysis that he had heard/read elsewhere.  This blog post:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/blogs/fortyfourthestate/show_comments.php?entry_id=3077

was written on Friday, and indicates that Ridge will in fact be introducing McCain at the event in PA on Saturday.  And the author of the post speculates that this means that Ridge is out of the running.  But it doesn't really mean that at all (IMHO).  McCain will presumably be announcing and/or making his first joint appearance with his running mate in Dayton on Friday, so there's no conflict with Ridge then introducing McCain in PA on Saturday.  He can do that whether or not he's been named as McCain's running mate.

[DownWithTheLeft]

I am remain 95% sure its going to be Pawlenty or Romney, no one else really makes sense except possibly Cantor

[Lunar]

I mean, I'm pretty convinced it'll be Pawlenty.  I mean, imagine the reception he'll get since the convention is in his homestate!

I had some cool tips stocked up but VeepWatch on RealClearPolitics is a broken link right now and I forget the other ones.

[Bacon King]

It'd be funny if he picked a senator. Then, we'd have an election with four of 'em.

[DownWithTheLeft]

I had a friend honestly suggest to me today that John McCain should take Michael Phelps as his running mate

[Lunar]

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Quoth Mitt Romney.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0808/Romney_Confidence_in_McCains_instincts_on_veep.html#comments

[J. J.]

It might be him, or he'll be loyal in case McCain loses so he can run in 2012. 

He's not a bad choice, a plus, but there is one better. 

[J. J.]

One thing I have heard is that McCain will limit himself to one term.

[YRABNNRM]

One thing I have heard is that McCain will limit himself to one term.

I think he denied that the other day but come fall 2011, it may be a different story.

[Mr. Morden]

One thing I have heard is that McCain will limit himself to one term.

I can't imagine someone waking up every day with all the power of the presidency, and then voluntarily giving it up after just four years.  Only way McCain would make that pledge is if he was absolutely convinced that it would win him the election (which it wouldn't).

[Mr. Morden]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12868.html

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Note the bolded sentence.  This suggests that McCain won't simply announce his running mate in Dayton.  The running mate will also appear there with him.  (Because otherwise, how could they take the bus ride together to PA?)  Which means that there's an excellent chance that the identity of the person in question will leak out on Thursday night as travel plans are being made (a la the Joe Biden / Secret Service thing).

[12th Doctor]

One thing I have heard is that McCain will limit himself to one term.

I think he denied that the other day but come fall 2011, it may be a different story.

Of course he denies it now... and if he wins, he will likely continue to deny it until late 2011.  If he says he won't run, then he will go into office as a lame duck.

[12th Doctor]

I am starting to get the sinking feeling it will be Romney.

[Ronnie]

I had a friend honestly suggest to me today that John McCain should take Michael Phelps as his running mate

A Baltimore Republican?  Uhh...

Well, I shouldn't say that.  PiT is a San Francisco Republican, so I guess anything is possible.

[YRABNNRM]

One thing I have heard is that McCain will limit himself to one term.

I think he denied that the other day but come fall 2011, it may be a different story.

Of course he denies it now... and if he wins, he will likely continue to deny it until late 2011.  If he says he won't run, then he will go into office as a lame duck.

Note:

come fall 2011, it may be a different story.

[Meeker]

I had a friend honestly suggest to me today that John McCain should take Michael Phelps as his running mate

A Baltimore Republican?  Uhh...

Well, I shouldn't say that.  PiT is a San Francisco Republican, so I guess anything is possible.

Phelps would also do a significantly better job than several of the possibilities. Carly Fiorina and Joe Lieberman come to mind.

[12th Doctor]

One thing I have heard is that McCain will limit himself to one term.

I think he denied that the other day but come fall 2011, it may be a different story.

Of course he denies it now... and if he wins, he will likely continue to deny it until late 2011.  If he says he won't run, then he will go into office as a lame duck.

Note:

come fall 2011, it may be a different story.

I figured that's what you were going for, I just was making sure to state the "why".

[Rococo4]

Romney looked to me like he already knows its not him.

[Rococo4]

One thing I have heard is that McCain will limit himself to one term.

I think that is a politcal winner. 

[Mr. Morden]

Chatter over Hutchison as possible VP grows louder

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5967502.html

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[Mr. Morden]

McCain apparently has no public events on his calendar today or tomorrow:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/tracker/candidates/john-mccain/

So he has a lot of free time to make a few phone calls.....like, say, calling up the people on his short list to tell them whether he's chosen them as his running mate.

[ZamboniDriver]

"Politico reports that McCain’s pick is coming Friday, and the CW is back pointing in Romney's direction, who happens to be in Denver. He was pretty solid today on Morning Joe, talking up the need for McCain to carry Michigan. He sounded like a guy ready for the call."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com

[True Democrat]

One thing I have heard is that McCain will limit himself to one term.

I think he denied that the other day but come fall 2011, it may be a different story.

Of course he denies it now... and if he wins, he will likely continue to deny it until late 2011.  If he says he won't run, then he will go into office as a lame duck.

Note:

come fall 2011, it may be a different story.

I read that when McCain's campaign was down in the dumps in the fall of 2007, he almost made a one term pledge in an effort to look selfless, but ultimately decided against it (maybe when he started rising in the polls again).

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The Hutchinson chatter is increasing.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5967502.html