Crist and the veepstakes derby

The name of Gov. Charlie Crist surfaces regularly in the punditry over who John McCain will choose as a running mate, and it's noteworthy who the pundits think Crist's main competitors are.

In a Washington Whispers column in U.S. News & World Report, Newt Gingrich says McCain will choose Crist or Mike Huckabee. "My hunch is that he will probably choose Charlie Crist," Gingrich said.

The Los Angeles Times lists Crist Saturday in a group of eight possible choices, calling him "popular in a crucial swing state (and) a rookie on the national scene." Some others on that list: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Mitt Romney.

Alfred Regnery of the American Spectator, writing an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, said McCain's selection of Crist "would send many conservatives over the edge."

On MSNBC, David Keating from the Club for Growth dissed Crist as "a really bad idea. He's come up with an awful solution for the insurance problems down there and he has really demagogued a lot of issues. So a lot of people would not be too happy to see Charlie Crist as a pick."

Comments

Anyway we could change the resign to run law after he is picked, but before he could give his answer, but after he couldn't back out?

Governor Kottkamp

'Alfred Regnery of the American Spectator, writing an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, said McCain's selection of Crist "would send many conservatives over the edge." '

o pleeze, o pleeze, o pleeze!!

do it, johnnie walnutz!!

Lets see; a ticket with a guy who graduated fifth from the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy and a guy who otook 3 times to pass the Florida Bar Exam. Guess the problems facing our country do not require much thinking. A Vice President who has never owned a home, ever had a mortgage, never had children, never really worked in the private sector or made a payroll and was married for fifteen minutes combined with someone who has been in the government his entire life.

[Mike]

They are two similiar and I think McCain will go for someone like Huck that can pull in the conservative side. It is exciting to see all this talk around or governer.

Regardless of the choice, Crist has put Florida in a great position. If McCain wins and he picks someone else, Crist will certainly have his ear when Florida issues need to be addressed at the National level. If McCain picks Charlie and they win...the VP will be looking out for Florida issues. As for strategy...the only thing that really matters is winning...if picking Charlie helps win the key swing state of Florida then he has to be very strongly considered.

Sounds like that Keating guy knows a thing or two...

[Carbon Taxes are coming if these two get it.]

Carbon taxes, pro-choice on life but not education, more regulations, more nannystatism, more restrictions on political free speech. We will be just like Europe but without the Muslims.

This is so exciting! Where are all the losers who said that Crist would NEVER be VP? Looks to me like he really does have a chance! So, go sit in a corner crybabys and eat your sour grapes.

Charlie Crist will never be VP. McCain needs the conservative vote and if he appoints Crist, he brings absolutely nothing to the ticket with regard to conservative creds, not to mention that the gay issue will likely come up. It's not a risk McCain will be willing to take.

[Eric Stratton]

You are only incorrect 10:27. McCain needs to WIN. The Presidential race is a state-by-state electoral vote race. We already know where 45 states will vote..so the race is down to 5 key swing states...and Florida is the biggest of those states. For that reason alone...Charlie Crist will be in the running (not to mention the the endorsement by Crist set things in motion for McCain to win the nomination). People do not vote for the running-mate (Conservatives included)...unless the running mate happens to be from their home state. The idea of "balancing the ticket" from an ideology standpoint is just plain stupid.

[cynical idealist]

9:06 said, "Governor Kottkamp" leaving off any hint of grammatical purpose...

Try this on for size:
Governor Kottkamp?

[Johnny Cash]

I know of 27 reasons why you choose Charlie Crist.

Think of it this way - there are 538 total delegates. You need 270 to win the Presidency.

Florida brings 27. Pick Charlie Crist and you are 10% of the way to the promised land.

There is an oft expressed sentiment in presidential politics - that a democrat can theoretically win the White House without Florida, but a Republican really can't.

So ask yourself this - would the selection of Mark Sanford or Tim Pawlenty really jazz up the conservatives? Heck, even if you went with Congressman Pence himself, would 95% of the self-identified conservatives in America even know who the guy is?

Pat Toomey's other favorites: Steve Forbes? Right.... Guys never been elected to office. Phil Gramm? Love him, but he's been gone and in the private sector for a long, long time. Jim Demint? Hardly a household name even among the frenzied right.

He ain't picking Huckabee or Romney.

McCain moves to the right throught August, spends six months in Ohio, picks Charlie to lock down Florida and pretty much squares away a state by state electoral victory.

The Governor's PR guy Chairman Greer must have gotten the story written. Greer maybe turning the Republican Party in Florida into a group of moderates but the Conservatives nationwide would will not vote for McCain. Sorry Charlie

McCain Powell you heard it here first

Tom Lee for VP

[Dee]

McAmnesty & Crist is not going to happen. Charlie just sealed that deal when he backed out on pushing the Marriage Amendment.

The conservative base of the Republican Party represents the work that gets done for the party. Without them Bob Dole will look like he ran a winning race compared to what will happen to McAmnesty & Crist.

McCain will pick either Gov Huckabee, Gov Sanford, Senator DeMint perhaps Rep Hunter or otherwise he will not be the next President.

Moving to the right to win the General Election is idiotic....McCain will stay right in the center where the crucial Independent votes reside...and he will beat Hillary.

Incorrect Dee. None of the Senator can deliver a key swing state like Florida...this is not the 2004 election cycle....much of the country is very unhappy with the Republican party...if we keep playing out of the old playbook we most certainly will lose. And by the way...all of you folks who keep saying McCain has to pick a conservative ignore the fact that McCain is a conservative...look at the record and stop letting Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter think for you.

Why does McCain need conservatives? He's won so far without them. So they stay home on elex day---all the independents and a lot of Dems will still vote for McCain over either of the two Dems. Charlie would deliver Florida for sure---but I think the state would be better off if he stayed where he is. It's time for some of those ultra-right wingers to realize they really don't matter any more.

[Mike Mayo]

Whether justifiable or not, McCain has an uneasy relationship with the "right-wing" of his Party. Yet, while he is perceived as a moderate and a maverick, he has just about conquered all in the race for the GOP nomination. Nonetheless, the "right" can not be ignored. He needs a running mate that will help him secure the south and win-over evangelicals and others on the party's "right". That person is Gov. Huckabee. Huckabee is also likable, good on the stump and has an economic plan that appeals to small business owners (another important part of the GOP base). And remember, the Vice President is a breadth away from the most powerful office on earth. Crist, while an attractive alternative, is just not ready to perform at that level. While Crist is on McCain's short-list and will play a prominent role in helping deliver Florida to McCain, the running-mate will - in all likelihood - be Huckabee.

Doesnt matter, next presiddent is Hillary or Obama.

[Mike Mayo]

One final thought... There remains one Presidential candidate who can still motivate or energize the "conservative" base of the GOP. Her name is Clinton! Perhaps the best thing that can happen for the Republican Party to unify and rally around their nominee is for the Democrats to nominate Hillary...

15 million Dems voted in the primary to 9 million Repubs. CC may be on the ticket, but he won't be VP. The handwriting is on the wall.

10:27 - there is no gay issue. If there was, it would have already come out, as Gallagher overturned every stone, desperately seeking something...anything. Therefore, if you can honestly proclaim that Crist is gay, then it must be because you have had sex with him. Is that what you are saying???

[Omega83]

Chamber of Commerce wins the battle (repeal of joint and several liability)

Trial Lawyers win the war
(Governor Kottkamp)

I'm glad I left Florida

[john]

I really don't understand what people see in c.c. he hasn't done anything. IF he somehow became a vp selection. i'm glad it's an open election i won't be voting for a mccain.crist ticket.

not in a million years

McCain/Thompson

McCain/JEB

Clinton/Strickland
Obama / Nelson

Huckabee/Rubio

I like the idea of the first African American in the White House ... CONDI RICE for Vice President !!!

All of the Democrats who want a woman or an African American ... get them both!!! GO CONDI RICE !!!

[Ben Watchin]

Who's going to take Crist after they vette him and find out he disappears for couple days every 6 weeks or so and even the FDLE can't find him.I doubt it's with the most eligible single mom....
None of the candidates except Kucinich
can handle that ...the Gov is afterall
a D underneath it all.

Honey attracts more bees than vinegar. CC sucks up to everybody. He is the biggest suck up ever. He's all fluff and no substance; and the voters love it. The moral of the story is, if you're going to be substantive, you'd better be nice. People don't like mean people, no matter how smart and capable you are.

Ben Watchin....you are 100% stupid.

Omega...as someone who has been active in the Chamber for many years I can tell you that Kottkamp is well liked by the business community.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice -- credibility and respect lost.

Governor Kottkamp?

Who is Kottkamp?

Not literally who is he, but how many Floridians know who he is?

Huckabee is the real deal.

If Kottkamp becomes governor, it won't be in Florida.

[Dumas]

McCain's advance team should be hanging Friday nights at Ceviche's.
That will probably end this conversation.

6:09...so confident...so uninformed.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...can't

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...stop

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...laughing!

...laughing! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

You shouldn't tickle yourself in public. Its embarrassing.

JEB!/Romney