In veep search, McCain asks Cantor for records ( AP )

[jaysunb]

Cantor has been a visible McCain surrogate for weeks, appearing frequently on cable news outlets chiefly to promote McCain's positions on domestic and economic issues. He has been a forceful critic of Democrat Barack Obama's resistance to lifting the federal ban on oil and gas drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

Cantor has strong support among the party's conservatives, perhaps comforting a segment of the GOP base that has been reluctant to embrace McCain, who has often been at odds with members of his own party on several issues, including a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, federal funds for embryonic stem cell research and campaign finance reform.

Since his four terms in the Virginia House of Delegates starting in the early 1990s, Cantor has been part of the anti-tax wing of Virginia's Republican Party. His longtime advocacy for business and corporate interests in the General Assembly earned Cantor the derisive nickname "Overdog" from Democrats in Richmond.

Cantor is Jewish and is among Israel's most avid congressional supporters. His addition to the ticket could help the GOP win over Jewish votes this year. If McCain wins, Cantor would become the first Jewish vice president.

Cantor also would provide youth to the ticket as McCain turns 72 later this month.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080803/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_cantor

[FrenchieCat]

1. Why are they shouting it from a loudspeaker?

Trial balloon or Decoy?

[dansolo]

3. I'd say trial balloon

I think they'll find out that the evangelical support for Israel doesn't translate to support of Jews. McCain has the support of the neo-cons. They know he is on board with them. But the base of the party will not vote for a Jewish VP, especially since the odds of that person becoming president if McCain were to die in office is not that far fetched, considering his age and health.

[still_one]

2. I am a Jew and he won't win me over. Barry Goldwater didn't win many Jews over

citizen Cohen didn't win Jews over and neither will McCain

[jaysunb]

4. Joe Lieberman didn't help enough either...

:shrug:

[PM7nj]

5. Goldwater wasn't really Jewish though...

"Half-Jewish"

[still_one]

9. and Obama isn't really African American

[PM7nj]

6. Who?

[PlanetBev]

7. I fear this most of all

Half of my so-called liberal Jewish family is voting for McCain. This might pull in a lot of Jews. The best way to counter this threat is to make sure that every Jew knows this prick is anti-choice and anti stem-cell research.

[ccharles000]

8. I think he will pick mittens.