VP talk swirling, Crist heads to Camp McCain

Gov. Charlie Crist is heading to John and Cindy McCain's cabin in Sedona, Ariz., this weekend but not, officials insist, so he can be interviewed as a running mate.

"It is purely a social visit," a McCain aide told the Buzz. "A V.P. vetting process is not on the agenda."

Even so, the cozy environment provides Crist with an opportunity to further bond with McCain. Crist has publicly eschewed the speculation but some of his moves, including trips to Washington, suggest he wants to be in the running.

The McCains have invited 10 couples, including Mitt Romney and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and their spouses. Crist will be accompanied by girlfriend Carole Rome.

The trip is a makeup for Crist. As the St. Petersburg Times reported earlier this year, Crist was forced to scrap a visit to Arizona because of a previously scheduled charity event in Miami.

Comments

Two empty suits?

bawhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Should give the dual wingnuts a chance to hobnob with the E.T.s - I hear they were big contributors to Bush's domestic policy. There is some rumor that the name "How to Serve the Middle Class" was changed at the last minute to "Compassionate ConSERVEative."

No way McCain is stupid enough to pick empty suit Charlie. It's going to be Romney.

Hmm, I wonder if Huckabee got an invite???

Why hasn't anyone figured out the Jindal isn't qualified to be the Vice President. The Constitution requires the President to be 40 years of age or older. The Vice President must meet the same qualifications. Jindal is 36. Am I wrong here?

It's 35 years old, not 40.

Read the Constitution first, then blog.
35 to be President.

Romney is a cultist. The religious right won't go for him. Mormons massacred Christians in the old days.

Besides, McFlip has flopped so far to the right lately, he may need to get a Crist just to bring in some moderates again.

35 years old

7:22 it is 35yrs. old to be the President here is the website:

http://www.presidentsusa.net/qualifications.html

Bobby Jindal will be a great VP next time around, he is committed to being the Gov of Louisiana.

McCain needs Mitt Romney for VP.

He has all the qualifications, the background in finance, the experience in turning mega companies around from Bain Capital. He is the only VP candidate that has national grassroots army assembled that will work passionately for them.
And Romney is raising lots of money for Senator McCain $$$$

7:38 McCain's pastor John Hagee already hates Catholics and says the Pope is the Anti-Christ. Now he's going to alienate the rest of the Christians in the nation by bringing in a Cultist? Make no mistake, Mormons and Christians believe very different things, and have come to blows before over religious dogma.

7:43 Gov. Romney would be a V.P., not the head of a Church or congregation. If John Haggee said those things he is wrong. The Catholic Church is Christian, and is the oldest being over 2000 years old.

Mitt Romney has already been the governor of Massachusetts. What you said sounded biggoted, and is irrelevant. Read how he governed. That's his record.

As a conservative and a Catholic I have no issue with his theology and running for high office. I look at Romney's integrity, his stellar accomplishments,& the way he lives his life. "By their friuts you shall know them."

8:07 Such rationalizing is typical of political Christians. They get all Biblical on issues they want to use scripture to support, but conviniently ignore the Bible when it contradicts them.

Matthew 7:1-5 I'm sure you can recall it (when it serves your purpose.)

I'm not anti-Mormon, or anti-Catholic, I'm anti-Hypocrite.

I'm also anti-Romney because he's a heartless neocon who justifies his ridculous wealth and avoidance of helping the poor by saying that corporate welfare and tax cuts for the wealthy are good for everyone.

See Jesus - teaching about the poor - which you religious right also feel free to ignore when it suits you.

Romney will not be VP and would guarantee a loss....

How low this nation has sunk that both parties have such sorry candidates.

[cynical idealist]

9:00....

I'm with you!

Is chuck bringing Mrs. Rome?

I prefer Romney. But if it's Huck or Crist, I will not vote for McCain.

I'll be happy with anyone except those two scumbags.

Everyone know it will be Romney. He eliminates Colorado & Nevada from play plus adds Michigan in play.

My prediction:

McCain/Romney
vs
Obama/Webb

rumor in tally is crist and rome will be quielty married in just a few weeks. in time to breeze through the vetting and be selected VP. this weekend in az is indeed a look-see and if you believe mccain's camp "just a social weekend".. well, you know the line about that bridge for sale.

Smoke filled room test. How crooked are you willing to be to keep Bush term # 3 going great for the uber wealthy?

Practicing their lies so it sounds like its tru.

How demented are you to vote for another Jimmy Carter who wrecked the nation so much so, we're feeling the ramifications today?

Say "no" to the new century Carter. So "no" to Obama.

He called them out there to tell them they are not going to be choosen... Romney is not even a consideration it will be the candidate from Ohio, Ron Portman. He is exceptionally experienced and could be President should anything happen to McCains health. He will get the nod, you heard it here first.

The trip is a makeup for Crist. As the St. Petersburg Times reported earlier this year, Crist was forced to scrap a visit to Arizona because of a previously scheduled charity event in Miami.

Uh, he only bowed out after it became public knowledge and people were screaming for his head. After all, its polls that the idiot is worried about.

Forget it Charlie. It will be a cold day in h3ll before you will be selected as VP running mate.

8: 14 and 8:18

i hope you're right.

[Crist will not be VP]

Crist will not be VP. McCain is simply stringing him along to keep him happy. It's going to be Romney, Jindal or Pawlenty.

"He was once pro-choice and is now pro-life, though he displays little enthusiasm for the issue. He’s also single, something that makes him unique among a crop of vice-presidential prospects who are all married with children. Crist could lock up Florida for McCain, but given some of Obama’s vulnerabilities there the state could be in the GOP column without its governor on the ticket." -Politico

Cristi: you better marry Mrs. Rome soon.

Empty chair Charlie leaving Tallahassee without a Governor? I'm shocked.

Oh well, other Bush farm team members will just keep robbing us blind while he's gone. Charlie's just the lipstick on the pig anyway.

crist may not get VP, but he could wind up on the Cabinet - AG, EPA, Interior, who knows

I'm someone who's had interaction with all three of these guys.

The latest polls showing McCain beating Obama in Florida show why he doesn't need Crist on the ticket.

Jindal is TOO young and was just elected governor a few months ago. He needs more time to season but he's extremely bright.

Romney does help McCain with some swing states -- Nevada and Colorado. Plus he brings a domestic policy balance to the ticket.

If it's truly between these three, Mitt gets the pick. I suspect there may be another candidate or two. The Minnesota governor can't ever guarantee he'd win his own state though.

Ron Poterman gets the nod. Ohio is needed and he has resume. Romney is way too religious based for the Americans of today. Religion is personal not a candidate issue. Americans are tired of hearing that far right base all decisions on Christ. Freedom of religion--remember??

[Romney supporter]

It's Rob, not Ron Portman. And as qualified and attractive as he may be, it is highly unlikely that McCain will choose a former Bush Administration official to be on the ticket. Sorry, Portman fans.

I truely think it comes down to Pawlenty and Romney. The country would be well served by either one of them.

McSame/McMorman '08!

Oh yeah... it's a winner alright!... HA!

Romney is the man, Rob Portman can not raise the funds nor the energy to rally the base. Romney would help carry many more states

If Romney gets VP will they let him be sworn in on the Golden Tablets? Oh yeah, I forgot, they were conveniently misplaced right after they were transcribed into the Mormon Bible.

Didn't Joeseph Smith use some kind of "Magical Spectacles" to do the translation from ancient Egyptian Heiroglyphics? I think they were misplaced also.

Charlie's starting to look like an ageing Larry Bud Mehlman. Can't he find some saggy pants that he doesn't have to pull clear up to his chest? CarolE RomE will drop fashion boy like a rock if he fails to get the VP nod.

1:51 is right

she'll run so fast he won't know what hit him. their worlds are very very different. she's of the manhattan & hamptons scene, a socialite accustomed to an extravagant life. he's from middle background st pete, and lives a frugal life. it wouldn't work if he were picked VP or even became Pres.

i don't like the guy, but i hope he's smart enough to know to see this. or, marrying her just to get the VP pick is a grand mistake. it'll be much harder to campaign with 2 divorces under his belt when he's running for Pres in 2012, which we all know he will.

[Omega83]

Good God, is this the best America has to offer in leadership.

I am going to sit out this entire election in disgust.

Mitt Romney is the best person for V.P.

He would eliminate Colorado & Nevada from play and likely get Michigan(Romney's birth state) for McCain.

Polling for Florida has McCain up near 8-10 points over Obama. Having Gov Crist on board of the Straight Talk Express should be good enough.
Pick up Ohio, Florida & Michigan and it's game over for Obama.

McCain is leading Ohio too. Lots of democrats do not like Obama in Ohio especially blue collar workers.

Doesn't MRS. Rome have to be officially divorced to re-marry?

Exactly 4:26 good grief!

What IS the status of this woman, Mrs. Rome?
Still married?
Legally separated?
Divorce filed, not granted?
Shacking up with the Governor while married to another man?
What?

Seems like it would look worse to get married under these circumstances, after a 6-month relationship, than to be single.