Romney Family Gets Security Sweep
Roll Call is reporting:
If security sweeps are the giveaway, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney may be on the brink of being selected as Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) vice presidential running mate.
According to sources with strong Michigan ties, the Secret Service has conducted a security sweep of the home of Romney's sister. Romney was raised in Michigan, where his father served as governor.
However, one campaign operative familiar with the working of a presidential-level campaign cautioned that a sweep of such a location could have been conducted in advance of Romney appearing as a surrogate -- not the vice presidential nominee -- at an upcoming McCain campaign stop in Michigan.
Which means this isn't quite the same thing as when we learned Biden was getting Secret Service protection. Take it for what it's worth now. There are also reports that Tim Pawlenty has cancelled many of his afternoon and tomorrow engagements.
Roll Call is reporting:
If security sweeps are the giveaway, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney may be on the brink of being selected as Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) vice presidential running mate.
According to sources with strong Michigan ties, the Secret Service has conducted a security sweep of the home of Romney's sister. Romney was raised in Michigan, where his father served as governor.
However, one campaign operative familiar with the working of a presidential-level campaign cautioned that a sweep of such a location could have been conducted in advance of Romney appearing as a surrogate -- not the vice presidential nominee -- at an upcoming McCain campaign stop in Michigan.
Which means this isn't quite the same thing as when we learned Biden was getting Secret Service protection. Take it for what it's worth now. There are also reports that Tim Pawlenty has cancelled many of his afternoon and tomorrow engagements.
Just Goes to Show...
...that I might not have a clue. Jonathan Martin is hearing Pawlenty:
The buzz seems to be in Pawlenty's direction, and a top McCain source told me this morning that if he had to bet it would be the Minnesota governor.
Maybe Romney comes with too many negatives; maybe McCain and he haven't resolved their primary differences. We'll know shortly
...that I might not have a clue. Jonathan Martin is hearing Pawlenty:
The buzz seems to be in Pawlenty's direction, and a top McCain source told me this morning that if he had to bet it would be the Minnesota governor.
Maybe Romney comes with too many negatives; maybe McCain and he haven't resolved their primary differences. We'll know shortly
Poll: Romney Favorite in Fla.
A new Mason-Dixon poll in Florida surveys voter views on McCain's VP:
VP Selection: More Likely/Less Likely/No Effect
Mitt Romney: 32%/ 16%/ 52%
Charlie Crist: 17%/ 13%/ 70%
Joe Lieberman: 14%/ 27%/ 59%
Tim Pawlenty: 4%/ 6%/ 90%
Sarah Palin: 4%/ 6%/ 90%
I guess what we can take away from this is that Lieberman doesn't do much for McCain in Florida. In fact, he could be a problem for him. That's also a big difference between Romney and Pawlenty, but could have more to do with candidate recognition, as Pawlenty isn't well known there.
A new Mason-Dixon poll in Florida surveys voter views on McCain's VP:
VP Selection: More Likely/Less Likely/No Effect
Mitt Romney: 32%/ 16%/ 52%
Charlie Crist: 17%/ 13%/ 70%
Joe Lieberman: 14%/ 27%/ 59%
Tim Pawlenty: 4%/ 6%/ 90%
Sarah Palin: 4%/ 6%/ 90%
I guess what we can take away from this is that Lieberman doesn't do much for McCain in Florida. In fact, he could be a problem for him. That's also a big difference between Romney and Pawlenty, but could have more to do with candidate recognition, as Pawlenty isn't well known there.
Looking at McCain's Options
As with Obama's VP guessing game, the best we can do with McCain is just to look at what we already know. Of either candidate, McCain has more of a reason to pick an unconventional running mate, the idea being that McCain needs to do more to win over moderates who are upset at the Bush administration. That reasoning has led to some wild options. Not to take away from any of these, it is unlikely McCain will pick a political neophyte, especially now that he or she will have to face Joe Biden in debate, such as the CEO picks of Carly Fiorina or Meg Whitman.
At the same time, it's hard to discount the obvious benefits of more conventional choices like Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty. These two are safe bets for the campaign and if McCain chooses either one, it will signal that the campaign is feeling very good about where they stand. Romney of course would somewhat diminish the effectiveness of the GOP's attacks on Biden, who made several critical comments about Obama's experience during the primary. Pawlenty, on the other hand, will help McCain win Minnesota, but can he guarantee it? That's a tough question, and I think a McCain-Pawlenty ticket will help in Minnesota as much as an Obama-Kaine ticket would have helped in Virginia -- in other words, some, but perhaps not enough to risk it. In the end, Michigan is more important and polls show that Romney can do a lot for McCain there -- as well as out West perhaps. Given Pawlenty and Romney, the ledger tips toward Romney.
So there you have it. If McCain doesn't go conventional, he'll surprise us. Unfortunately, there's no good evidence of whom that surprise will be.
As with Obama's VP guessing game, the best we can do with McCain is just to look at what we already know. Of either candidate, McCain has more of a reason to pick an unconventional running mate, the idea being that McCain needs to do more to win over moderates who are upset at the Bush administration. That reasoning has led to some wild options. Not to take away from any of these, it is unlikely McCain will pick a political neophyte, especially now that he or she will have to face Joe Biden in debate, such as the CEO picks of Carly Fiorina or Meg Whitman.
At the same time, it's hard to discount the obvious benefits of more conventional choices like Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty. These two are safe bets for the campaign and if McCain chooses either one, it will signal that the campaign is feeling very good about where they stand. Romney of course would somewhat diminish the effectiveness of the GOP's attacks on Biden, who made several critical comments about Obama's experience during the primary. Pawlenty, on the other hand, will help McCain win Minnesota, but can he guarantee it? That's a tough question, and I think a McCain-Pawlenty ticket will help in Minnesota as much as an Obama-Kaine ticket would have helped in Virginia -- in other words, some, but perhaps not enough to risk it. In the end, Michigan is more important and polls show that Romney can do a lot for McCain there -- as well as out West perhaps. Given Pawlenty and Romney, the ledger tips toward Romney.
So there you have it. If McCain doesn't go conventional, he'll surprise us. Unfortunately, there's no good evidence of whom that surprise will be.
McCain has been laying in the weeds lulling Bambi to sleep...now he pops out and dominates the news cycle at every turn.
Masterful job...like candy from babies. :missingte
He even has the libs here at the Rx stealing Bambi's thunder with all the speculation.
Now we just need the timed leak right before the speech...
Masterful...:aktion033
Masterful job...like candy from babies. :missingte
He even has the libs here at the Rx stealing Bambi's thunder with all the speculation.
Now we just need the timed leak right before the speech...
Masterful...:aktion033
