# Handicap the GOP nomination race **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 21, 2007, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463 "2007-10-21T12:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/401 "2008-01-30T15:53:07Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] If McCain wants to get the conservative vote back, he’d need to pick a ‘movement conservative’ kinda guy. Jack Kemp, Newt Gingrich, maybe even Fred Thompson. Romney might be a good choice - his Mormonism would be far less of an issue as VP, and for some strange reason, conservatives seem to like him. [/QUOTE] Why do conservatives like him? It cannot be his record as Governor. He was seemingly Pro-Choice until he decided to run for President. So why do conservatives like him? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/402 "2008-01-30T15:56:52Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] If McCain wants to get the conservative vote back, he’d need to pick a ‘movement conservative’ kinda guy. Jack Kemp, Newt Gingrich, maybe even Fred Thompson. [/QUOTE] From your lips to Mac’s ears. The sight of two old silverbacks recounting their glory days 30 years ago will play real well against the Obama ticket, especially if he selects a young VP candidate. The only change the GOP will inspire will be their Depends. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/403 "2008-01-30T17:38:01Z")
Kemp has already had his shot. Thompson sucked at campaigning. Gingrich is very unpopular. All those guys are blasts form the past to boot. That would hurt in a year when people are screaming for change. McCain seems to kind of hate Romney, so forget that. Tim Pawlenty really looks hard to beat. He’s young and McCain will need youth on the ticket. He’s a big-time Christian. He’s with McCain on global warming and is a gung-ho supporter of the war in Iraq. He’s anti-immigrant which will balance out McCain’s “weakness” in that area. The two of them are personally close. I think he’s ruining the things that make Minnesota special, but he is the perfect choice for McCain. He’s not well known around the country, but I think that will change soon. And the convention will be held in his home capital. If only he hadn’t promised that he would not seek national office and pledged to finish his term as governor. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/404 "2008-01-30T18:24:51Z")
I agree that all those guys have problems. I wouldn’t actually pick any one of them. I just threw them out as examples of the kind of ‘movement conservative’ that McCain needs. But preferably someone younger. In fact, if McCain runs against Obama, then picking someone about Obama’s age as VP will not only defuse the age issue somewhat, but it might actually turn it into a strength by having everyone draw comparisons between Obama and the VP candidate, while McCain plays the elder statesman and campaigns on experience. That could diminish Obama somewhat. As to why Republicans like Romney… I’m not sure. National Review endorsed him, but their reasoning seems strange to me. They hate McCain with a passion because of his ‘flip-flopping’ on various conservative issues, but give Romney a pass for the very same thing. It makes little sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/405 "2008-01-30T19:08:52Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] I agree that all those guys have problems. I wouldn’t actually pick any one of them. I just threw them out as examples of the kind of ‘movement conservative’ that McCain needs. But preferably someone younger. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but who? Looking over the list of [Senators](http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=party&Sort=ASC) and [Governors](http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.42b929b1a5b9e4eac3363d10501010a0/?vgnextoid=d54c8aaa2ebbff00VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=curgov), I’m struck by the apparent absence of anyone you’d want to go national for you, and the presence of quite a few you _wouldn’t_. After that, you’re down to House members and mayors and the like. And unless you’ve got someone at that level with the impact of a Jack Kemp, you’re stuck with the William Millers and Geraldine Ferraros of the world. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/406 "2008-01-30T23:05:41Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] They hate McCain with a passion because of his ‘flip-flopping’ on various conservative issues, but give Romney a pass for the very same thing. It makes little sense to me. [/QUOTE] As near as I can tell Romney has proven to someone that he’ll stay bought this time, and McCain continues to tell them to screw off. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/407 "2008-01-30T23:19:39Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Yeah, but who? Looking over the list of [Senators](http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=party&Sort=ASC) and [Governors](http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.42b929b1a5b9e4eac3363d10501010a0/?vgnextoid=d54c8aaa2ebbff00VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=curgov), I’m struck by the apparent absence of anyone you’d want to go national for you, and the presence of quite a few you _wouldn’t_. After that, you’re down to House members and mayors and the like. And unless you’ve got someone at that level with the impact of a Jack Kemp, you’re stuck with the William Millers and Geraldine Ferraros of the world. [/QUOTE] That’s why I didn’t mention anyone else. (-: They’ll probably do what they always do - ‘balance’ the ticket by finding a critical state or region that they’re weak in, and pick a governor or other political or business figure from that region to try and carry it. If the Bush name weren’t so damaged these days, I’d think Jeb Bush would be near the top of the list for anyone. It’ll be someone like that. But I can’t think of anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/408 "2008-01-31T00:57:15Z")
I recognize a paltry handful of those governors. How about Haley Barbour? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/409 "2008-01-31T01:07:06Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] I recognize a paltry handful of those governors. How about Haley Barbour? [/QUOTE] Probably the wrong year for a guy who’s best-known as a big-bucks lobbyist and consummate Washington insider. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/410 "2008-01-31T01:09:35Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Probably the wrong year for a guy who’s best-known as a big-bucks lobbyist and consummate Washington insider. [/QUOTE] Dunno. It’s the “experience” ticket. Lookit our experience! Lookit! I’d think he’d be pretty appealing to conservatives of many (I won’t say all) stripes. Southern. Religious. Virulently anti-abortion. Just spitballing. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/411 "2008-01-31T01:16:48Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] That’s why I didn’t mention anyone else. (-: They’ll probably do what they always do - ‘balance’ the ticket by finding a critical state or region that they’re weak in, and pick a governor or other political or business figure from that region to try and carry it. [/QUOTE] Republicans don’t really do that, though. They have a habit of picking VP candidates which don’t fit the traditional mold. What did Cheney bring to Bush? They were both from Texas at the time. Republicans certainly didn’t need help carrying Wyoming Not quite sure what Jack Kemp was going to bring to Dole. Republicans weren’t going to carry New York. I guess maybe Kemp being younger and athletic compared to Dole with the bad arm and rambling about the Brooklyn Dodgers. Dan Quayle is probably the oddest VP choice of the 20th century. Bob Dole was a Midwestern from the congress running with Gerald Ford the Midwestern from congress. Nixon supposedly picked Spiro Agnew because he couldn’t find any VP choice that would help the ticket, so he picked someone obscure who wasn’t likely to hurt it. Agnew provided geographic balance, but that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/412 "2008-01-31T01:20:13Z")
I think the Republicans would really benefit from picking a minority as the VP candidate to take some of the thunder away from whomever the Democrats run. How about a Hispanic? Is there anyone? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/413 "2008-01-31T01:21:53Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] That’s why I didn’t mention anyone else. (-: They’ll probably do what they always do - ‘balance’ the ticket by finding a critical state or region that they’re weak in, and pick a governor or other political or business figure from that region to try and carry it. If the Bush name weren’t so damaged these days, I’d think Jeb Bush would be near the top of the list for anyone. It’ll be someone like that. But I can’t think of anyone else. [/QUOTE] How 'bout Florida’s current gov – Charlie Crist! Then they could poach the gay vote! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/414 "2008-01-31T01:24:05Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] I think the Republicans would really benefit from picking a minority as the VP candidate to take some of the thunder away from whomever the Democrats run. How about a Hispanic? Is there anyone? [/QUOTE] How about Alberto Gonzalez? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/415 "2008-01-31T01:24:25Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] I think the Republicans would really benefit from picking a minority as the VP candidate to take some of the thunder away from whomever the Democrats run. How about a Hispanic? Is there anyone? [/QUOTE] There’s [Senator Mel Martinez](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Martinez) – also from Florida, former RNC chair – but, no; he was born in Cuba so he’s constitutionally ineligible for the presidency, therefore pointless in the vice-presidency. Who else? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/416 "2008-01-31T01:27:45Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] Dan Quayle is probably the oddest VP choice of the 20th century. [/QUOTE] I assume he was chosen to appeal to the social-religious conservative base. Well, it worked while it worked. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/417 "2008-01-31T01:29:22Z")
[QUOTE=Qwertyasdfg] How about Alberto Gonzalez? 🙂 [/QUOTE] You hush you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/418 "2008-01-31T01:29:42Z")
[QUOTE=Qwertyasdfg] How about Alberto Gonzalez? 🙂 [/QUOTE] Too bad Rudy’s out - a Giuliani-Gonzales ticket would give people nightmares from coast to coast! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/419 "2008-01-31T04:08:38Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] [QUOTE=dalej42] Dan Quayle is probably the oddest VP choice of the 20th century. [/QUOTE] I assume he was chosen to appeal to the social-religious conservative base. Well, it worked while it worked. [/QUOTE] That is how I remember it and it cost Bush my vote, but obviously he won anyway. I actually voted Bush the Senior in the Primary. Quayle disgusted me enough to vote Carl Sagan in the election. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463/420 "2008-01-31T16:08:05Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] There’s [Senator Mel Martinez](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Martinez) – also from Florida, former RNC chair – but, no; he was born in Cuba so he’s constitutionally ineligible for the presidency, therefore pointless in the vice-presidency. Who else? [/QUOTE] I don’t know much about Martinez, but he sounds like he would have been a good choice for VP–conservative, Hispanic, from Florida. I bet the Republicans regret that whole “must be born in the US” thing when they look at someone like him or even Arnold (though I think Arnold is considered a pretty liberal Republican. I’ve never paid much attention to him). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-gop-nomination-race/423463.md?page=22)