AmericanPapist Comments
Just what was the last time a Presidential candidate in a current race became a vice president nominee in the first place?
Just when was the last time the GOP presidential candidates were so uniformally mediocre? I think it'll take two recognizable names to have a fighting chance.
Jeff,
Wouldn't that be John Edwards? Wasn't he in the running for the Democratic nomination before becoming Kerry's running mate?
At the very least, I know George H. W. Bush was in the running in 80 against Reagan. I'd have to think about the times in between. Gore in 92? Kemp in 96? Lieberman in 2000? It's easier to think of the opposition party, simply because an incumbent has a near-given nomination, even the incumbent VP at the end of a second term for the previous President (if he wants it).
So if you were Giuliani would you pick a VP that might cause all the nations christians to pray for your untimely death? He might not beleive in God but would he bet his life on it?
Bush ('80) and Edwards ('04) are the only two presidential candidates to get picked for the Veep slot since the beginning of the primary season.
I'd add JFK's choice of LBJ in 1960 to the list of VP candidates chosen from the Presidential field. Although primaries were not quite as significant in 1960, running in them was a key part of the Kennedy strategy. Actually, it was probably the first Presidential race in which primaries became important.
"Just when was the last time the GOP presidential candidates were so uniformally mediocre? I think it'll take two recognizable names to have a fighting chance."
1996. It was Dole and who else? Not that anyone was going to beat Clinton that year, so Dole got to be the sacrificial lamb. As for recognizable names, Giuliani certainly is one. I saw a headline yesterday that he's in a dead heat with Hillary in the polls. I'm not certain anyone other McCain has enough national exposure to be elected. No one really knows a whole lot about Romney, and the rest of the field...well, I don't think any of them are contenders for the nomination, much less the White House. Of course, Jimmy Carter came from nowhere to win in 1976, and Bill Clinton was an unknown commodity in 1992. So maybe Huckabee has a prayer. But I doubt it. Social conservatives need to wise up and realize McCain is their best hope. Brownback has.
I like Huckabee - for President. As VP, I'd give that ticket a look - unless it's headed by Giuliani.
I would never vote for a ticket headed by Giuliani.
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