Lieberman or Mittens

[undeterred]

It will be one of these two and it will be announced tomorrow. All the rest have said no. It is good news for us either way. They are both losers. Our Good Joe can beat our Idiot Joe and two rich men are not going to win in this economy.

[dubeskin]

1. After tonight, I think McCain

would have to bribe people to run as his Vice President. I would NEVER want to try to compete with Obama/Biden.

[jakem]

2. um...

[New Dawn]

3. Even Pawlenty said no?

I've been too busy to follow this closely today so I'm curious.

[undeterred]

9. I guess he is still a possibility

although I am not hearing as much about him lately

[liberalhistorian]

4. Oh, please let it be LieberBush!

That will really piss off the republicans at the convention, as many have made it clear they do not want him at all and may even hold nominations for VP from the floor. Plus, a lot of people can't stand him to begin with.

[AlCzervik]

5. Ridge.

[liberalhistorian]

6. The problem with Ridge is that, while he's

popular with the more moderate wing of the repubs and he would be especially helpful with bringing PA into play, he's pro-choice. That would be very likely to really piss off the main base of the repubs, the evangelical base especially, the very base McCain desperately needs not just on his side but to come out in full force. So, I don't think it'll be him.

[AlCzervik]

10. i think his love of the patriot act will cancel out his pro choice stance, course i'm probably

wrong but that's my guess.

[kennetha]

12. Pissing off his base could be an advantage

It cements his image as a different kind of Republican. A bipartisan maverick who isn't afraid to stare down even the core constituencies of his own party. It would completely upend the case Obama made against him tonight.

Of course, it would be a HUGE risk. But if he were willing to take such a huge risk, he could present it as a true profile in courage.

I'd be astounded if he did it. But if he did, I think we have to recalculate this whole thing.

[kennetha]

13. delete(dupe)

[kennetha]

7. If it's Lieberman, I'll puke. Can't stand that turncoat!

But it will give McCain an incredible positioning point. The claim that he is "just Bush" III will be pretty significantly undermined. The claim that he McCain is the real bipartisan figure who is wiling to reach across party lines will be strengthened If he chooses Leiberman, he has rejected Karl Rove's advice and he has deliberately picked a fight with the evangelicals of his own party.

Even if Leiberman doesn't bring him a single vote with some targeted constituency, it will be a bold potentially narrative changing move by McCain.

Of course, the upside benefit will carry lots of downside risks for him. He might lose more Evangelicals than he gains in independent support.

[undeterred]

11. But a lot of Republicans already see McCain as liberal

and even though we can't stand Lieberman, Republicans would see him as a Democrat. I think a McCain-Lieberman ticket would make them stay home and not vote at all.

[kennetha]

14. Hope you're right about that.

They say McCain really WANTS to choose Leiberman. And apparently Rove did everything he could to dissuade both Leiberman and McCain. But I wouldn't be surprised if a 70 plus year old guy like McCain just decides to do what he wants and not what some consultant (who was responsible for beating McCain in 2000 with dirty tactics) tells him he should do.

You have to admit that if he did choose Leiberman it would be a gutsy move on his part.

But I hope you are right that it would just be a foolish move in the end that would avail him nothing.

But I still don't believe he has that many balls. Look how he's kow-towed to the right wing in the last few years after voting against Bush's tax cuts and all.

[PolNewf]

8. Mitts

Source: Romney will be in Dayton tomorrow

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/