Palin's appeal and constituency is much more than a geographic base, Alaska. Her appeal, like McCain's, transcends geography. Women are the largest voting segment in the USA. Moreover, Palin is right on all the issues favored by the conservative base, as well as now favored by the bulk of all voters, domestic drilling for oil.
Maybe it's just me, but something tells me that selecting Palin would actually tick off those Clinton supporters McCain is looking for. A former pageant queen would probably offend their feminist sides.
I like her though. Not sure if she would be helpful, but she's one to watch in the GOP.
I saw Kay Bailey Hutchinson speak at the NRA meeting. All I can say is that she seems sweet but zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Terrible speaker. I don't know that she would stir up too many undecided voters.
Hutchinson's voting record would do more to assuage the base than inspire independents. She voted along party lines 99% of the time she's been in office.
I would suggest that the reader appraise this from another blogger:
“The following is addressed to John McCain urging him to select Sarah Palin for a VP.
“First and foremost, Sarah Palin shares your values. She killed the bridge to nowhere. Need we say more?
As for the politics, Sarah Palin transcends geography. Her constituency, like yours, goes beyond state lines.
She will get your ticket access to voters all over the country based on who she is and what she stands for. Because she’s young, a woman, a mother with young kids, she will grab media attention more than any other potential candidate.
Gov. Palin also has a son in the active duty military. You have very wisely taken your son’s service in Iraq off the table as a campaign talking point. That is and should be respected. But others can talk about it and reflect on what it means.
A McCain-Palin administration would be the first in memory, which has family members in uniform during wartime from both the President and Vice President. That would be a powerful statement as to the importance of national service, especially in uniform.
Most importantly, any Vice President should be ready to step up and serve in the event she is needed. Frankly, who is really ever ready? Gov. Palin is as ready as anybody, she is a quick learner, and in her public career has exhibited the courage and decisiveness needed for a great leader.
Godspeed to you in your campaign and in making this important decision.”
Is there any hard evidence (as much as political polling can be considered either reliable or evidence) that the bottom of the ticket can convince voters unlikely to support the top of the ticket to come on board (eg enraged Clinton supporters)? Or is it really more just a constitutional requirement?
I'm leaning towards the latter but that is just personal supposition.
None of these woman would be worth it to pick for in my opinion for McCain's Vice President. If McCain would pick one, the only one he should even want to consider is Condelezza Rice. Not only is she female, but black too. It would be a double whammy against Barack Obama and whom he chooses.
But McCain won't do that, for one he as other people like Mitt Romney who would be a little bit more help. That and Rice is too close to the Bush administration, which McCain is trying to move away from.
Centrist,
Not really. I would think that normally it only pulls in independents from the state the VP candidate hails from. Although in this case I could see where female independents who supported Clinton might opt to vote for McCain if he had a woman on the ticket. Although what that would mean in real numbers for McCain would be hard to predict.
Bradley, you are right. If Bush were leaving office with a good approval rating Rice would be an excellent choice.
One thing to also consider with his VP pick is the reality that he probably won't serve a second term. He might not even survive a first term. His VP pick matters more than usual and whoever he picks could be the next prez or will at least be a potential nominee in 2012. Youth is beneficial here.
I think Charlie Criss has to be a front-runner as well, though Florida seems to be leaning McCain's way this time.
All I know is that if he picks Romney I'm going to be fighting the urge to vote third party. That would demonstrate he really has sold out.
Commenting by HaloScan
