The GOP is split right now. Oddly enough, Huckabee’s stubborn reluctance to withdraw seems irrelevant. The real problem is McCain.
The unethical way McCain sucker punched Romney in Florida. The unprincipled way McCain stood with those who came here illegally and against those who took a “principled stand for the rule of law”. The ungrateful way McCain sneers at those who in the private sector who, by the way, create the wealth that pays for our world's-best military.
One way forward is to put Romney on the ticket. Here’s why:
- Romney earned more delegates and votes than any other potential VPs. Had he stayed in, Mitt ’s lead over Huckabee would have increased.
- Romney can help McCain in swing states like MI, MN, MA, ME, NV and Colorado. Huckabee only helps him in states solidly GOP anyway.
- Romney’s tough on illegal immigration - important for conservatives concerned GOP sold them out for pro-illegal immigration business interests.
- Romney can energize the base (and raise money) while McCain campaigns hard for independents - it’s a winning combination.
- Romney fills some gaps in McCain’s resume. Mitt’s brilliant on the economy and champions, rather than scorns, profit-seeking capitalists.
- Romney as V.P. will reduce anti-McCain vote that Huck’s getting
- Romney has raised more money and has more money than anyone.
- McCain looks like he might kick soon – nice to have Romney next in line.
Are there others? Maybe. Dr. Condi Rice is a favorite of mine - nobody has more foreign policy experience and she would effectively counter a woman or a black on the other side. Huckabee ate popcorn-fried squirrel in college - so, by law, he’s out. I really like Giuliani but he ended up with zero states after mounting a 50 state campaign. Thompson voted no when asked to impeach Bill Clinton - that’s a non-starter for me and most GOP. Bobbie Jindall of Louisiana is a possibility but, like Tim Pawlenty of MN and Charlie Crist of FL, can only offer one state with the promise of more.
Mitt offers the reality of more - he has millions of real votes and hundreds of real delegates. Mitt beat McCain in 5 key swing states - three that Kerry almost lost in 2004 (MN, MI, ME-31 electors) and two states Bush almost lost (NV, CO-14 electors). In addition, Mitt would help McCain tremendously in MA (12 electors), where Mitt was Governor, and neighboring NH (4 electors) where Kerry beat Bush by only 1% point. In contrast, almost every state Huckabee beat McCain (GA, AR, TN, KS) was solidly for Bush anyway in 2004.
Net, net - Romney on the ticket may add 47 to 61 electors. Bush beat Kerry by only 34 electors.
Another appeal of Romney as V.P. is that you have tens of millions of supporters, including more than a few hugely influential talk radio hosts, who feel Romney is due - that McCain hijacked the party and that Romney should have been our standard bearer. Putting Romney on the ticket gives those supporters permission to get behind McCain.
Back to reality - McCain hasn’t appointed Romney V.P. or apologized for Florida or signed a no-Amnesty pledge so why should we support him? If he had won, “fair and square”, we’d support him - but he didn’t.
Honesty matters. Integrity matters. I’m not supporting McCain until he sets things right.
I don’t care how many persuasive GOP establishment folks write articles about how much McCain is a “true conservative”. This is up to McCain. So, I’ll ask his “surrogates” to...stop wasting my time!
Set things right, Senator McCain, then ask for my support.