Breaking: Is John McCain's VP pick suddenly imminent?

These are the kinds of kerfuffles that make covering presidential campaigns exciting for the traveling media.

Rumors spread today that Sen. John McCain, the maverick, might go against conventional wisdom and announce his vice presidential pick this week, possibly as early as Tuesday.

The Times' Maeve Reston was on the McCain campaign plane minutes ago as it took off from Buffalo, N.Y. Just before the plane taxied, a group of reporters rushed the first-class cabin, where the candidate and senior staff usually sit.

There, right in front of that stupid, useless curtain, was the candidate himself. According to Reston, a reporter asked him point-blank whether he was announcing a running mate tomorrow. McCain simply grinned and walked away.

Mark Salter, one of McCain's closest confidants, said he couldn't comment, Reston reported. And press secretary Brooke Buchanan said, "We have no announcements today."

So, in the presidential press world, no denials means it could happen.

Conventional wisdom has been that McCain would save his....

...VP announcement until just before the Republican National Convention, which starts in St. Paul on Sept. 1.

The Friday before, Aug. 29, would be a good time to grab the main headlines away from Barack Obama, who will accept his party's nomination in a football stadium speech the previous night.

But wait a minute. Obama's getting a big media focus this week with his grand tour of the Middle East and Europe. Maybe McCain's strategists have decided this week would be a good time to step on Obama's publicity bandwagon and shift the spotlight back home.

Another advantage to that would be there'd be McCain and his running mate running around the nation the rest of the summer campaigning, a political two-for-one deal that gives the underdog GOP team an extra six weeks of partnered politicking.

The McCain plane is in the air now en route to -- guess where? McCain's favorite primary state of New Hampshire.

Of course, any vice presidential nominee could fly into New Hampshire. But what's already there close by? Hmm, Massachusetts is right next door. And, omg, so is its former Gov. Mitt Romney, who cleared the past primary financial decks last week by making his personal loans actual contributions.

Romney's been campaigning relentlessly for weeks already for McCain and steering his national network of donors to donate generously, as The Ticket noted here the other day.

Also, McCain is in New Orleans Thursday, the same day as the other guy is speaking at das Victoryplatz or whatever it's called in Berlin. And New Orleans is close to Baton Rouge where the young Gov. Bobby Jindal resides.

Then again, the whole thing with the nonanswers could be a perfectly timed feint -- no one in McCain's camp has said anything they'd have to take back -- that would still serve for a day or two to draw some attention back from the freshman Illinois senator on his foreign political field trip. Witness, this item.

Stay on your toes.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Mary Altaffer / Associated Press

Comments

[nate w]

I hope it is Romney. He's our only hope.

[EthanQ]

If McCain announces his VP pick within the next few days, all it will show is that he's afraid of ol' big, bad, Barack. And in spite of his war record, shows him to be a bit of a coward as well.

What a nsaty, dishonorable thing to do!

[Miss Silver]

I hope Romney is the choice for VP. I don't like McCain much but I admire and respect Mitt. And I'm not a Mormon. Mitt would get a lot of Republicans more excited about voting.

[AW]

If McCain must intimate a VP selection now it simply proves that he has nothing else to say. What paucity.

[Mark]

McCain/Mickey Mouse 2008

[Stevenage in LA]

Dear McCain: Alex Rodriguez called, he wants his attention grabbing headline strategy back. Unfortunately, anything short of a McCain/Clinton ticket announcement will do little to defer focus from Barack's World Tour.

-Stevenage

[Kyle]

McCain should pick Hillary. Now THAT would be an interesting election.

[AW]

McCain reminds me of Hank Hill's dad, and Homer's dad, too.

[All bad, Romney Worst]

Sad group of names, except maybe Rudy. I have to say, though, I do agree with this guy on Romney:

http://www.greenfaucet.com/hanlons-pub/mitt-romney-nooooooooooo/01949

[Puciret]

He should pick the village idiot who now occupies the White House. The 2 have a lot in common and this acolyte will always be close to his mentor.

[MR]

Why not wait until after O makes a choice and see what the total package will be -- the VP selection is most critical to McCain; choosing now seems unwise.

[Get Er Done]

Time to get Romney up and running. He has the personal appeal and speaking ability to go toe-to-toe with Obama, without the negatives of adolescent inexperience and vacuous promises of "change" and "hope"--whatever those terms mean in practical terms. McCain's not the favorite of us conservatives, though he has been around the block enough times to be a realist about what a president can accomplish. And he's tough as nails. Sadly, too many Americans tend to view those trips around the block as a old age rather than wisdom, preferring a pretty face and good teeth for a leader. Romney offers both, plus enough life and leadership experience to make a reassuring VP choice.

[Grapevine]

McCain was supposed to announce Mitt Romney as his running mate yesterday! however, unforseen logistical irregularities hampered the much anticipated announcement.

Reliable sources in his camp confirm that this Friday will be the new date, not only to give the public something to talk about over the weekend, but also to rain on Obama's flambouyant home-coming parade.

Read the full report: http://www.capitolpoliticking.com/VP-ROMNEY

[gerrrg]

I think McCain is apropos representation of a party increasingly anachronistic. Why should anyone expect otherwise for his selection of VP? The Democrats have gone the way of the Year of Diversity, but Republicans have been celebrating a Dead Man's Party.

[RgrF]

I would like to see Mr. Romney explaining his belief in magic underpants to the general electorate in September.

Then he can spend October explaining why he changed his beliefs in order to become Gov. of Mass only to change them back to become either President or Vice President.

Mr. Romney would make for an interesting choice.

[Zeke]

Make it Cheney. Why mess with the VP--nothing else is going to change.

[Prometevsberg]

Well, if McCain picks Romney, I think it is quite possible the GOP will carry Utah in November, not making it a state in play like Montana, North Dakota, Virginia etc. etc.

[norman.rockefeller]

Did you guys see this piece on Romney today on greenfaucet? Check it out. Chip Hanlon wrote it!

http://www.greenfaucet.com/hanlons-pub/mitt-romney-nooooooooooo/01949

[kcraig]

Smart move by McCain. It temporarily mutes and confounds the pack of news hounds who have been howling unabashedly in support of Saint Obama, who is in the Old World this week campaigning to be worshipped as secular messiah for the new millennium. It also steals the initiative from Obama whose own choice for VP will now be seen to be a reaction to McCain's choice. I hope it's Romney, a free market economics guru. Obama's economic sense comes straight from Marx's spectacularly failed playbook. No one can point that out more starkly than Romney.

[jms]

Get Er Done writes:
"Time to get Romney up and running. He has the personal appeal and speaking ability to go toe-to-toe with Obama, without the negatives of adolescent inexperience and vacuous promises of "change" and "hope"--whatever those terms mean in practical terms".

If he's so great, then why isn't he the presumptive presidential nominee instead of McCain? And,since when do VP candidates go toe-to-toe with presidential candidates? Sorry, but the republicans are really grasping at straws this time around.

[Carlos Echevarria]

Mitt Romney is the worst candidate imaginable for the GOP....the Mormon vote?

Give me a break...America needs the GOP Wonder Woman, Sarah Palin, or at a minimum Huckabee, Crist or Jindal.

BUT NEVER SLICK MITT ROMNEY

[philosopherkingtomas]

McCain-Bush 3 --- the loser will choose either the dennis kucinich of the republicans --- jiggle berry jindal (un experienced) or the donny osmond of the republicans -- Mitt ! either way it wont matter to the real world.

[JMFulton, jr.]

Yes, an announcement will come as soon as Mitt `The KNife' gets his hair done.
Captain America desperately needs Mitt `The Knife' to stab at Obama since his own blunt blows are too easilly being deflected. McCain has other areas of potential improvement.
McCain's campaign is amateur hour so Karl Rovians are coming to the rescue with his own proteges taking over.
McCain's funndraising is anemic at best, so the RNC is moving in to finance his campaign.
The campaign traveling press corp is biased in favor of something interesting to say, so reporters are fighting to get re-assigned from the Sominex Express.
Now, Captain America needs a campaigner like Mitt `The Knife' who can attack Obama since all Captain America is doing is coming across as an old dog barkin' ruff, ruff in a fairly rusty way.
Mitt `The Knife' has three esentials McCain lacks. He can attack Obama with impunity since he has the perfect political soul....none.
Mitt can raise money and provide grassroots troops through his quiet Mormon army.
Aand Mitt can draw press coverage by drawing blood from Obama.
One other qualification Mitt `The Knife' has....he can work weekends, so Captain America can rest up for his next photo op and town meeting.

[jesse]

Please help understanding this McExpress Talk!

In an interview with CBS anchor Katie Couric on Tuesday, July 21, 2008 McCain said: "We've succeeded. And we will come home in victory. And it'll be based on conditions. But al-Qaida is not defeated. They're on the run, but they're not defeated. So we have to be prepared to continue to do what's necessary to succeed. ... But we have succeeded in the strategy. There's no doubt about it.

[Nicholas]

I think its totally a lost cause whomever McCain picks.. this is a new time, a new energy, and a time for change.. and the momentum and the excitement is with Barack Obama. Most Americans know it and the world knows this (and is hoping for Barack) Rest assured.. a vote for McCain IS a vote for George Bush.

[Mrs. P]

Mike Huckabee was Governor of Arkansas for over 10 years. He is undoubtedly John McCain's best VP pick!

Survey USA took a series of polls to determine the VP candidate (out of Huckabee, Lieberman, Pawlenty, and Romney) who would help John McCain the most.

They took polls in PA, NM, VA, CA, OH, IA, KS, WI, NE, OR, NY, MA, MN, AL, KY, and MO. Of these, PA, NM, VA, OH, IA, OR, MN, and MO are generally considered to be possible battleground states in November.

In almost every case, Governor Mike Huckabee did best. He even had a slight lead in Massachusetts where Romney was once Governor!

Rasmussen took a similar poll within the last few days. They compared Crist, Huckabee, Jindal, Lieberman, Palin, and Romney.

Huckabee had the highest favorability and net favorability rating. The net was +8% compared to -6% for Romney.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/huckabee_lieberman_have_highest_favorables_among_possible_mccain_veep_choices

Also, there have been five bellwether states - OH, MO, LA, KY, and AR - that have correctly predicted the winner of the General Election for each of the past eight elections (dating back to 1976). Of those, in the GOP Primaries, Huckabee won the popular vote in two of them (AR and LA), coming in second to McCain in the other three. McCain won the popular vote in three of them (OH, MO and KY), coming in second to Huckabee in the other two. The margin between the two in the state of MO was extremely narrow. And in the state of KY, Huckabee even managed to come in second to John McCain three and a half months after he suspended his campaign and endorsed McCain.

Governor Huckabee would be a great Vice President. Even Mitt Romney thinks so! At a town hall meeting back in December (before Iowa) he was asked what he thought of Huckabee as VP. Romney replied: "Sure, he’s a wonderful person... He’d make a great vice president."

[kathy]

i sure hope it is true that mitt romney is the vp of choice.... he brings class, intelligence, morals and above all the ability to save this economy....

[San Jose Live]

McCain should pick Huckabee because he's sharp and he has executive experience. McCain is a Hero in the immigrant community who backed the USA and love FREEDOM. It's the Dem. who are not honest with themselves when speaking about their candidate.
7 out of 10 most recent elected president are Republican. The Republican machine are too much for the Dem. Unless they resurrect Bill Clinton; they 're finshed.
Bill Clinton was a good president and the dem. turned on the Clinton family.

Liberal Republican 08

[Joseph VIlla]

haha.. looking at the picture it brings to mind a slogan for their campaign.. "Grumpy Old Men part 3".

I"ll say this.. I voted republican last election and generally "agree" with the platform (although, I've been finding a better home among libertarians). No matter who McCain picks, I'll sooner vote for Mickey Mouse than McCain. To be honest, I'll probably vote Obama before I vote for McCain that's how fed up that I am with the party.

I find it funny that many people "claim" that Huckaby is a conservative. He's not!! Tim Pawlenty isn't either.. He's a Liberal in sheeps clothing! Don't Trust Him!! I should know, I live in the state he governs! McCain will LOSE MN if Pawlenty becomes his VP. We only showed up at the polls to vote for him because we didn't like Roger Moe! (with 1 percent that he won by.. it definately proves my point)..

Mitt might be a good choice.. might... But gosh.. it's still hard for me to still vote for a president who not only works with the other side of the isle, but puts on their jersey and plays against the team he plays on! I mean wasn't this guy contemplating switching parties after GW got the nomination in 2000? Wasn't this guy a possible running mate for John Kerry? Most conservatives (true conservatives.. not republicans that vote without thinking about their vote) aren't happy and are debating whether to even show up. I mean before Shawn Hanniedy had his head shoved up McCain's butt, wasn't the McCain Liberman bill meant to give amnesty to illegals? Weren't we screaming about how bad this guy was for our ideals?

I would like to point out to everyone out there that is voting for McCain just because he's "Not Obama", that there comes a point to when you're voting out of fear than voting for the ideas that you believe is right. It's no secret that the republican party has been moving left for quite some time and the fact that the GOP made McCain their pick is a representation of this. As crazy as it sound, I say let the dems have it this year and let the republicans figure out whether they stand with Ronald Reagan or Chairman Mao.

[Carmelo]

If McCain picks another white male as VP, he is losing in November. And if he picks a MORMON he will lose Christian evangelical and catholic votes!! His winning picks are Colin Powell, Condi Rice, Sarah Palin, Kay bayley Huchuntson.

[Frank Herrmann]

McCain should pick Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. She may be the only pick that brings all he needs to win.

I have been on the fence leaning towards using the write in vote option come November. However, if McCain picks Palin for VP, I will vote the McCain-Palin Ticket.

I watched several interviews with Palin on YouTube. She is an amazing person who gives straight answers and makes solid eye contact. Speaking of eyes, she has the spark of enthusiasm in hers.

Sarah Palin knew at 9 weeks gestation that her 5th child had down syndrome. There was never a question for her or her husband. She carried and gave birth to her beautiful baby boy. That's real Pro-Life in action.

Palin is from common roots. Her parents are teachers, her husband a commercial fisherman, her son a U.S. Army foot soldier, and she is a lifelong member of the NRA. That appeals to the average, hard working American.

She stood up to the party elite and Sen. Stephens over his earmark for the "bridge to nowhere". She will bring that strength and integrity to the ticket as VP.

There are millions of disaffected Cinton followers, mostly women, who are looking for an option. Palin will draw millions of those voters. And she is really Catholic, as opposed to Biden's pro-choice catholic stand. She will draw Catholics looking for a viable option.

Palin represents the future of Republicans and conservatives. She wears that mantle well.

Sadly, McCain sounds a lot like Claude Raines in Casablanca "Round up the usual suspects".

Hopefully McCain will look beyond the usual suspects and make the smart choice - Sarah Palin.

Any of the "usual suspects" would be a disaster. Carly Fiorina got drummed out of HP as arrogant, a poor leader, and impossible to work with. Kay Baily Hutchinson is a Beltway insider and almost as old as McCain.Meg Whitman has no political experience. Lieberman would sink the Republican party for the next 25 years. Romney would sink the ticket, big time.

[Rob]

I think McCain's pick for a woman as VP won't make a difference. Remember the facts: blacks only vote for Obama because he is black. Women won't vote for Palin because they are women.