McCain picked Palin from 26 possible VPs in 'high risk, high reward' move

Last summer, about-to-be Republican presidential nominee John McCain had a long list of 26 possible vice presidential running mates. None of them knew he or she was being considered.

Ronald Reagan's former counsel A.B. Culvahouse was in charge of the candidate partner vetting process and helped the Arizona senator pare down the list. But McCain, Culvahouse revealed Friday, was intrigued by Sarah Palin, the 44-year-old Alaska governor and mother of five.

That was understandable, the former presidential aide said. Even the most cynical of his 30 Washington, D.C., attorney vetters were impressed by her presence. "She fills up a room," Culvahouse told a Washington meeting of the Republican National Lawyers Assn. (See video below.) Even difficult questions, he said, she knocked "out of the park" during the vice president interview process.

The lawyer said standard Washington procedure would have been to choose a running mate with the best political resume. But, he said, he had an arrangement with McCain: that he'd have direct communications with the senator and that McCain would not select any partner unvetted by Culvahouse.

His orders from McCain were to find "someone who had the capacity to be president," Culvahouse said. His team produced 50-page reports on each candidate, drawing from their own investigations and the potential candidate's detailed answers to 74 questions, including "Have you ever been unfaithful?"

Near decision time, Culvahouse said, McCain asked him for the "bottom line" on Palin.

"John," Culvahouse replied, "high risk, high reward."

To which McCain, the former Vietnam attack pilot who flew off and landed on aircraft carriers before spending more than six years as a POW, replied, "You shouldn't have told me that. I've been a risk-taker all my life."

Culvahouse said the McCain campaign knew everything about Palin going in, including the pregnancy of her unmarried teenage daughter, Bristol.

Culvahouse said Palin would have been "a great vice president," while admitting she wouldn't have been ready by Jan. 20. But, he added, hardly anyone would be ready, except perhaps the very experienced Dick Cheney.

The full Culvahouse remarks are on the video below, and our blogging colleague Mark Silva has more details over at the Swamp.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Joseph Kazcmarek / Associated Press  (McCain and Palin greet fans in Pennsylvania).

Comments

[Daniel Lion]

They chose Palin? Over who? Palin who caused and personifies the Rep meltdown? She knocked q's out of the park? This woman has no "education" to speak of, and she was going to be ready to be President? If this were not so serious it would be funny, but it is not, to this day it is not.

[Michael Green]

Palin wouldn't have been ready by January 20 but few are other than Cheney? How about Joe Biden? Al Gore? George Bush the elder? Walter Mondale? Nelson Rockefeller? Gerald Ford? Hubert Humphrey? Lyndon Johnson? No wonder McCain lost. He's a "risk-taker" with the country's well-being. One wonders why he and so many other Republicans hate their country so much.

(Well, let's see, Rockefeller and Ford were Republicans, but they're dead. Bush I is disqualified and even older than McCain. And the Republican nominee would seem unlikely to choose Democrats Gore or Biden for the GOP ticket.)

[Dave]

Risk taker huh? I'm so glad that man did not become the next POTUS.

[Pom Pom Girl]

Palin in 2012!

Oh the sense of pride and security I would have had right now with McCain Palin in the White House. Less than 4 years and counting.

[puciret]

Too bad. I'm sure Tina Fey would have been a better choice. Granny Clampett had more savvy than ditz Palin.
Larry the Cable Guy would have made a better running mate... at least he was readily recognizable as an idiot. McCain's worst choice was running on a ticket that had Republican support and yet he continued to vilify the Republican party and Bush whom he supported 90% of the time. This man is a contradiction in terms of loyalties and ethos. Typical Conservative who supports right to life and pushes for war whenever he's provoked. First class Jerk.

[tomdurk]

o the Repub hierarchy was fine w/ a huge gamble? Were they so desperate after the long string of bush fiascoes that they figured doubling down on on two more nuts was the best bet?

[Rocco Cuteri]

I believe you are too smart to believe what you are saying. Are you knowingly participating in the revision of reality here? Palin was not just 'one of 26'. She was put forward by William Kristol, neo-con leader and PNAC founding member , after he and other neo-cons met Palin for tea on a cruise to Alaska sponsored by the Weekly Standard (neo-con magazine) in 2007. She didn't just come out of nowhere. She was vetted, prepped and pushed by the neo-conspiracy.

[kat in your hat]

Palin was a good choice--yes, she drove the obots insane, and yes the media attacked her, but she truly brought in tons of votes for McCain. It's pretty shocking that McCain-Palin did so well as republicans after the Bush years.

[Paul Stewart]

I think Dick Cheney is still not ready to be VP. Indeed, he has proven he is not VP material. He will go down in history as the guy who almost destroy democracy in America. And, along with Bush will be remembered as one of the worst eras in American history. They will be studied as the antithesis of what the Presidency and Vice Presidency should be. And Palin will be forgotten. Indeed she has already. If she ever filled up a room, it was with hot air.

[Yolando]

Thank you McCain. I believe that Governor Palin would have made a fine VP. Palin is the type of politician I like. Being from Illinois and watching this President in action was all I needed to switch political parties. I support Hillary and Palin.

[TOOLS]

lol Palin was the biggest joke, she did not bring votes, she lost votes. Every poll and study shows.. People who support palin believe stupidity is a good thing

[Pom Pom Girl]

BEFORE YOU JUDGE HER ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT JOE BIDEN - THE MEDIA WAS TOO BUSY BASHING PALIN TO EVEN DO THEIR JOB ON BIDEN.
Why, during his 1987 presidential run, did he lie about his grades in law school, recalling inaccurately that he graduated in the in the "top half" of his class when he actually graduated 76th from a class of 85?
Why, in the past has Joe Biden also falsely stated, that he had received a full scholarship, and had earned three degrees when he in fact received two majors and a single BA degree and got a half scholarship based on financial need not academic achievement?
When he was a law student at Syracuse Law School, he had plagiarized a law review article passing it off as part of his course work? How exactly did he convince the then-dean of the law school, as well as Biden's former professor, to not kick him out of school? His excuse was that his act of plagiarism was unintentional due to his not knowing the proper rules of citation, but of course how could that be after 4 years of college prior to going to law school.
Why has Israel's Army radio reported that Senator Joe Biden told Israeli officials that they need to accept the idea Iran will acquire nuclear weapons?
Why does Joe Biden, a past supporter of Israel, now support direct negotiations with Iran despite UN violations as to their nuclear program?
These are very valid questions and they go to the heart of Joe Biden's intelligence, integrity, character as well as his intentions. By the way, here's hoping he makes sure none of the Stimulus gets into the hands of his registered political lobbyist son, Hunter Biden.

[John Skookum]

A couple of fluffed answers in TV interviews do not change the fact that Gov. Palin is a bright, inquisitive, accomplished individual who will make a great President. According to one of her high school teachers, she reads newspapers cover to cover every day and has since 10 or 11 years old. There is no doubt she'll be paying even closer attention to world and national issues from now on. I think the public will be surprised by how much better she will seem after 4 years of Obama.