# Have we seen the last of Scott Walker and/or Marco Rubio? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 16, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187 "2016-03-16T18:32:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187/61 "2016-03-27T03:21:23Z")
It was a hail mary attempt, but it wasn’t JUST a hail mary attempt. McCain liked that she was a reformer like he was. A maverick. Also, it seemed like a fairly safe pick given that she was the most popular governor in the nation. The McCain team thought they’d uncovered the most underrated political talent in the country, but it turned out that her act didn’t work outside of Alaska. It’s also quite possible that the real brains in the Palin administration was Todd. Which was much easier to deal with at the state level. In a Presidential campaign your spouse can’t think for you. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187/62 "2016-03-27T15:42:16Z")
How much of Palin’s popularity in Alaska in 2008 was due to sky high oil prices which would have helped Alaska? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187/63 "2016-03-28T03:47:38Z")
That and the fact that she wasn’t corrupt. In states with high levels of corruption, honest politicians get a big boost in popularity just by being honest. She took on the GOP establishment and won, which appealed to McCain. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187/64 "2016-03-29T04:55:11Z")
Quite true. Check out _Game Change_, an excellent behind-the-scenes account of the 2008 campaign. McCain’s pollsters told him he was already behind in the polls and likely to become even more so, given Obama’s strong campaign, if he didn’t shake up the race with a bold VP pick. On paper and by reputation Palin looked pretty good. But McCain’s inner circle was under a lot of time pressure and didn’t do their due diligence. By the time Palin was revealed in the media glare to be so unprepared and ill-informed, it was too late. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187/65 "2016-03-29T07:20:38Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Quite true. Check out _Game Change_, an excellent behind-the-scenes account of the 2008 campaign. McCain’s pollsters told him he was already behind in the polls and likely to become even more so, given Obama’s strong campaign, if he didn’t shake up the race with a bold VP pick. On paper and by reputation Palin looked pretty good. But McCain’s inner circle was under a lot of time pressure and didn’t do their due diligence. By the time Palin was revealed in the media glare to be so unprepared and ill-informed, it was too late. Smilin’ Bill Kristol gushed over Palin. Kristol heads up the leading conservative intellectual magazine, if you want to call it that. While McCain took a reputational hit by giving Palin her platform, none of her early vouchers did to my knowledge. No conservatives questioned their judgment AFAIK. Am I wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187/66 "2016-03-30T02:21:02Z")
I don’t have the book right at hand, but IIRC within a few weeks of Palin’s selection there were murmurings - all off the record - among the conservative commentariat that picking her had been a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187/67 "2016-03-30T02:59:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Yeah, I can’t see anyone with even half a brain accepting that post [Trump’s running mate], but then somebody has to do it. Someone whose ambition far overpowers his decision-making ability, probably. So, it’s Palin again, right? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187/68 "2016-03-30T12:15:14Z")
Rubio is taking [steps](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/rubio-makes-unprecedented-bid-keep-delegates-contested-convention-n547646) to keep his delegates. > [@](#): > > Rubio aide Alex Burgos told MSNBC that while the Florida senator is “no longer a candidate,” he “wants to give voters a chance to stop Trump.” > > … > > He is personally asking state parties in 21 states and territories to refrain from releasing any of the 172 delegates he won while campaigning this year, MSNBC has learned. Apparently he would like the opportunity to be a kingmaker at the convention. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187/69 "2016-03-30T12:57:34Z")
Smart strategy. He has no real options at this point other than to try to finagle the VP slot, which he can probably buy for 173 delegates. Kasich/Rubio looks more and more like a possibility every day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-seen-the-last-of-scott-walker-and-or-marco-rubio/749187.md?page=3)