CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
May 22, 2008 – 12:55 p.m.
CQ Politics VP Madness: And the Winner is.....
By Greg Giroux, CQ Staff
The polls have closed, the votes have been tallied, and it’s a landslide: CQ Politics readers think Arizona Sen. John McCain should pick former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as his vice-presidential running mate.
Huckabee was the winner of CQ Politics’ inaugural “VP Madness,” a college basketball-style tournament that whittled a field of 32 potential McCain running mates that were selected by CQ Politics editors and reporters. Visitors to CQ Politics could vote once in each of five single-elimination rounds spread out over three weeks. The voting ended Wednesday at noon.
Huckabee, who was a McCain rival for the presidency before endorsing him in early March, crushed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in the final round, 72 percent to 27 percent. Some blogs even promoted the selection of Huckabee and Palin.
Huckabee has signaled his willingness to share a ballot with McCain: “There’s no one I would rather be on a ticket with than John McCain ,” Huckabee said on NBC’s Meet the Press program last Sunday.
Huckabee’s backers have touted his executive experience — he served more than a decade (1996-2007) as governor of Arkansas. He’s articulate and likeable, and he campaigned respectfully against McCain and eschewed scorched-earth tactics. McCain has made it clear that he’s looking for a much younger ticket-mate, and Huckabee will turn 53 a few days before McCain turns 72. Huckabee’s social-issue conservatism could help McCain assuage some activists on the political right hold about the independent-minded Arizonan.
Huckabee’s social-issue conservatism could be a minus, though, if McCain and his advisers think that selecting Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, could turn off political independents. The Club for Growth, a group that emphasizes tax cuts, restraint in spending and free trade, has described Huckabee’s fiscal record as “mixed, at best.” And the quick-quipping Huckabee had to apologize for making a joke at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting about someone trying to shoot Obama.
Other Republicans who performed well in the VP Madness were Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty , who lost to Huckabee in one semifinal, and Rob Portman, a former Ohio congressman (1993-2005) and former Bush administration trade and budget official who lost to Palin in the other semifinal.
Meanwhile, the real vice-presidential vetting process has begun. At least two of the final eight choices in VP Madness — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist — plan to meet with McCain this weekend at his Arizona home, according to press reports. So will former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney , a former McCain rival for the presidency who lost in the second round.
McCain’s campaign is describing the meetings more as social visits and less as auditions for potential running mates. McCain will select a candidate before the Republican convention in St. Paul the first week of September.
Stay tuned for the Democratic version of “VP Madness” in the coming days or weeks — or whenever the Democrats settle on a nominee. Feel free to use the comments section to opine on who you think that McCain and the Democratic nominee should — or will — select as their running mates.
Comments
I voted for Huckabee. I think he could help McCain in the South against what looks to be a very large turnout for Obama at the moment. A Republican nominee must win the South so the choices are few. Huckabee could also help with Reagan Democrats, SOCONS, young voters, and evangelicals. Would this be enough, I don't know. I think Romney would help McCain out West but let's face it, there are not enough Electoral votes out there to really compensate for losing the South, which is what Romney would help do. Florida is the only southern state that would entertain Romney as VP. I think Crist would be good in helping with Florida but I don't think the Republican's need help there at the moment. So in the end, I think Crist hurts more than he helps because of his Moderate views. Jindal will be a great President in 12 years but he is just too young. He would make the experience argument null and void against Obama. Pawlenty barely won his own state. Don't really think he would provide much help anywhere else either. Portman would make the ties to Bush more prominent and not a good thing in the end. Sanford from South Carolina would be a good choice but is not well known to the majority of the country. Gingrich would probably be one of the best if he would do it but I am guessing there is not a chance in hell. At the end of the day, I am guessing it will be someone like Duncan Hunter or Sam Brownback as both are very Conservative and while they might not be popular, they would be acceptable to nearly everyone.
That is the most idiotic idea imaginable. There are dozens - literally DOZENS - of potential V.P.s that would benefit McCain's campaign...Huckabee is a very opinionated and vain individual, and will damage any hopes the Republican Party had of maintaining the executive branch. Best of luck...you kids, in your infinite wisdom, are going to need it.
Huckabee adds the executive experience McCain lacks. Huckabee also appeals to the youth voters, moderate - conservative black voters, homeschoolers, pro-life voters, pro-traditional family voters, lower-middle income "blue collar" voters, and can help McCain in the south. Huckabee would be a real asset to McCain especially since he represents "we the people" better than any other candidate that ran this year. For the record: Huckabee was invited for the weekend at McCain's but had a previous engagement. It has been reported that Huckabee and his wife are going on a cruise to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
It's great to see there are so many great options. While I prefer Huckabee I will happily stick with McCain on most any of the above choices - but will certainly stay home if he picks Mitt.
I'd be interested in seeing the numbers of voters per round as well as the percentage. It would also be interesting to see where the traffic came from. Perhaps you can do another post and share some of the cool data :-) MyMcCainBlog.com
Hmmmm, very interesting. Rather goes against pundit and talk radio wisdom, doesn't it?
3 independent surveysUSA election samples show McCain/Huckabee fared better than with Romney, Pawlenty, or Lieberman when running against Obama with Edwards, and 3 other picks! The swing state samples were from CA PA and NM. The people love Mike and to choose anyone else would break the hears and the spirits of the very base of the party. I've heard it said the vp doesn't matter....I beg to differ. In this election year it does matter...it matters very much to a broadbase of people. WE LIKE MIKE!!!
If Huck is on the McCain ticket, they've lost this Republican's vote. Means I won't vote 'cause I sure won't vote for O or H either. Anybody but the Huckster !!
Good! It's about time for some sanity in this election!
If they are going to try and shove Romney down our throats some more maybe i'll just switch party lines and vote for obama...more likely third party...but I hope to see Huckabee on the ticket...he deserves it
I don't think McCain will pick any of these. I think he will pick Senator Larry Craig, who will make a triumphant return to Minnesota for the convention. The campaign slogan could be TAKE A WIDE STAND FOR McCAIN & CRAIG, or PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD FOR McCAIN & CRAIG.
With McCain & Huck as candidates it'll be difficult to choose between Democrat and Republican liberals. Either way, Dem or Rep president will be driven by Liberal Dem congress which McCain & Huck will be eager to "reach out" to. The Republican party has moved to the Dark Side. For me, it's time to look for another party.
The problem is that Gov. Huckabee is truly the worst possible candidate for us to choose as a VP. He is not a Republican...he merely is a social conservative that would be chosen to pander to the extreme right. We as the Republican Party need to get back to our roots of fiscal conservatism and small government. Unfortunately, Gov. Huckabee's track record has been of fringe social conservatism, increased taxation and the ballooning of government. Choosing Gov. Huckabee would be the final nail in the coffin for the Republican Party's chance at retaining the White House this year.
I hope McCain is Smart enough to pick Huckabee too! It's the only way he can win this November!
If your readers picked Huckabee as their first choice for VP, I know I won't ever bother reading THIS site again.
I'll be staying home on election day as I'll never support any candidate for anything who has embraced the man-made global warming hoax.
If the GOP selects someone who wants to recraft the constitution to reflect "God's word", who could argue with that?
There is no one better qualified to lead all of America than Mike Huckabee, and as I understand it, that is the prime criteria for selecting a running mate. If John McCain expects to beat Obama and the left leaning press this fall he should pick the governor.
This is great news! It proves once again (as if his showing in the primary season wasn't enough) that Gov. Huckabee is the people's choice. Regardless of the self-enlightenment of the unelected elite of political and media culture, he's quite well liked by most of us American peons out here in the real world. The reasons we like Mike are varied and numerous. With the help of listen-to-the-average-American's-opinion polls such as this, I believe the good Governor stands a fighting chance to gain the favor of Sen. McCain. It's evident he's already gained our's. Thanks for letting our voices be heard, CQ.
Yet again, ignorance reigns supreme among the blogosphere. Do your homework all ye alleged fiscal conservatives. So long as the federal government continues passing unfunded mandates, the States will be forced to meet the requirements set forth by Washington without the financial support to do it. Huckabee's record on taxation was award-winning until a Supreme Court decision declared that the State of Arkansas dramatically improve its educational system in ways that were very costly to the state taxpayers. Almost every tax increase following that 1993 decision was either a direct or indirect result of the drastic increases in educational funding that followed. Huckabee would most certainly be a fiscal conservative at the federal level--unlike our current Republican representation--while retaining a populist streak that would benefit the ticket. GO HUCK!!
Sarah Palin is a huge joke in Alaska. But then...that would be a good reason for me to support her as VP - to get her the hell out of AK so that we can find a real leader with a brain.
Why would a person call Huckabee "vain huckster"? Because they have refused to investigate the facts. When you call names it is because the facts are not on your side. Huckabee was and is the best man weather irrational people choose to believe it or not.
It is sad that many make comments and have never even read about the truth about the vp choices and whart they have accomplished. we need an honest man who does not come with baggage like the democrats come with. Obama has tons of garbage in his history and present dealings with unethical and less than patriotic friends-including his wife. So read about the vp choices before you tout off. Huckabee has a great record for turning around the state of arkansas and voted into an office by both dems and reps who like him equally. We need someone who can work with both independants , dems and reps. So some of you need to be wise in what you say and not just repeat what some uneducated friend tells you.
After hearing today that Obama has flat-out told Hillary "no", that leaves me with this still-massive field of names I've heard: Janet Napolitano, Arizona Wesley Clark, Arkansas Jane Harman, California Nancy Pelosi, California Christopher Dodd, Connecticut Joseph Cirincione, DC Joe Biden, Delaware Bill Nelson, Florida Sam Nunn, Georgia Evan Bayh, Indiana Richard Lugar, Indiana Tim Roemer, Indiana Tom Vilsack, Iowa Kathleen Sabelius, Kansas Drew Gilpin Faust, Massachusetts Dick Gephardt, Missouri Claire McCaskill, Missouri Max Baucus, Montana Brian Schweitzer, Montana Chuck Hagel, Nebraska William J. Fallon, New Jersey Bill Richardson, New Mexico Michael Bloomberg, New York Colin Powell, New York John Edwards, North Carolina Dennis Kucinich, Ohio Ted Strickland, Ohio David Boren, Oklahoma Bob Casey, Pennsylvania Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania Tom Daschle, South Dakota Al Gore, Tennessee Tim Kaine, Virginia Jim Webb, Virginia Mark Warner, Virginia Anthony Zinni, Virginia Russ Feingold, Wisconsin Pick 32 out of there and have fun.
Huckabee is the logical choice. He carried primaries in states that traditionally vote Republican--McCain's candidacy came about because of his big wins in states that will go Democrat in November. Huckabee has the strongest executive experience of any of the candidates--McCain needs that. If Huckabee is on the ticket, McCain has my vote.
1. "72-27" I presume this figure is derived from ROUNDING to whole numbers, no? 2. I find it stunning that Governor Palin - given that she is a one-time "Miss AK contestant", several-months-pregnant with her (unborn) fifth child, and, like McCain and Obama, has roots outside of the Mainland Forty-eight - would end up advancing so far in this pure-delight-for-junkies tourney! 3. You (at CQPolitics) should wait NOT MORE THAN TWO DAYS after MT and SD have had their say, as far as commencing the D version of the "VP Madness" tourney goes. And, yes, if you are so timid in potentially offending the die-hard Rodhamistas, just go ahead and do BOTH concurrently.
Has anyone noticed Huckabee still gets 10-12% of the vote in every state even though he dropped out 2 months ago and endorsed McCain? There are many social conservative, and NOT JUST in the south, who would love to have Huck on the ticket. These social conservatives (Reagen Democrates) might have been tempted to vote for a realtively economic moderate like Hillary, but since it looks like its going to be Obama, McCain should definatly add Huck and pick this group up. This extra 10-12% of social conseratives/economic moderates will help him win swing states like OHIO, FLORIDA IOWA, WISCONSIN and MINNESOTA. He'll also lock down the SOUTH and make it impossible for Obama to steal any states there. Equally important, he will engergize the Chrsitian conservatives all over the county and encourage them not only to vote, but to campaign hard for McCain/Huckabee. Indpendants will still go for McCain, they will not vote for the second slot. Christian conserative will vote for the second slot. With Huck on the ticket, McCain/Huck get over 300 electoral votes. Any other combo does not have all these advantages, and without social conserative and economic moderates, any other ticket stands a higher chance of losing.
Huckabee is my choice!!! He is the ONLY one who will be able to debate Obama effectively. He is an excellent speaker and not to mention HILARIOUS!!! He has the executive experience (10 years as gov.) and many independents and minorities like myself will vote for him. GO HUCK!!
The only way that I will vote for McCain is if Huckabee IS on the ticket. No Huckabee, no vote for McCain. Huckabee is the only true conservative available for McCain to pick.Huckabee's honest character is much needed in the white house and hopefully Huckabee could influence McCain not to swing to far to the left..
Huckabee is an excellent choice for a VP as he has the executive experience needed to lead the country. There seem to be a lot of folks who would be very inclined to vote for McCain if Huckabee were on the ticket, and a lots of vote who feel the opposite. How can we determine the size of those groups of people? I am a huckabee supporter, and I hope Huckabee is selected for VP.
McCain + Huckabee = democratic administration with a slight religious twist. But hey, if McCain wants large numbers of conservatives to sit this election out, go ahead and pick the Huckster. We'll all be waiting for Gov. Bobby Jindal in 2012.
McCain will have us in more wars, and Huckabee will set women's rights back 50 years.
McSame and Huck . . . great, then propose Liberman for Sec State, Vitter for Sec Commerace, Carley for Fed BanK Head and complete the race to third world status . . .
Gov. Huckabee doesn't need his wife to write his speaches or tell him what to say in interviews, like Barack Obama does. In a debate, Huckabee would win hands down! The people in this country need to "wise up" and think beyond the colorful speeches they hear from Obama and focus on who has the most experience, intellectual "common sense", and a personality that will get the attention of our enemies abroad, AND WE DO HAVE THEM! Our country has a lot of "fence mending" to do around the world which is required if America is to once become the powerful Nation it once was. Our earth, air and living creatures are in jeopardy and all nations must pull together if we are to survive at all! Logically, Mike Huckabee is the ONLY VP contender that stands a chance to do make this progress.
While I will be voting for McCain anyway come November, I think Huckabee IS the best choice for VP. Huckabee can rally Christian Conservatives, and lock down the south. He also puts states like Iowa(which he won in the primaries), Minnesota, Wisconsin, the midwest, and possibly western states. Huckabee is one of the only Republican VP choices that could help McCain come November!!!!
I am biased because I am a Huckabee supporter, but as a Floridian I can assure you that McCain does not need to select Charlie Crist. The media keeps referring to him as a "popular governor". Not so. Florida's economy is in the tank due to ever increasing taxes and fees (another way to say "taxes". State workers have had not a penny in raises in last two years, and only 1 1/2 per cent the year before that. Considering they were nearly at bottom when compared with the other 49 states, that is sad. It is almost impossible to buy property insurance here and the prices are sky high. The cost of workers' compensation insurance is closing many small businesses. It's bad in Florida. Say no to Charlie Crist.
Mississippi, Louisiana and Illinois have already rejected conservative Republicans in special congressional races this year. The Dems won them all, and Dems will sweep in November. SO, I hope McCain selects the real conservative Huckabee to seal the deal!
Ths poll was hijacked by an organized Huckabee campaign. The true winner is Sarah Palin. Also, Jindal (and Crist) are good Governors, but it's a no-brainer that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is the best Veep pick for McCain.
Ted, I agree with you, Sarah Palin is my pick for VP. She has and is coming through for the peopl of Alaska. She has a phenomenonal 86% very positive approval rating. She is wholesome, conservative, family-oriented, and ethical. She shines beautifully from inside out. I lived in Alaska for a few years. Am back in my home State of Kansas now. Wish we had her here to clean up ethical issues and big spending. We definitely need her in Washington, D.C.--Marie
Who cares who McDemocrat picks, he might as well pick Lieberman. I refuse to vote for him, he's just as bad as any of these idiots like Obama or Hillary. Unless he picks a real conservative like Tancredo and then dies before the election I refuse to vote for him.
McCain/Huckabee is a sure-win ticket. McCain has broad appeal, and Huckabee would put him over the top in key swing states as well as solidifying the entire South.
Huckabee is a liberal. He is only a social conservative. But on the economic side he is such a liberal. He is just another Jimmy Carter. Conservatives will not vote for that ticket. This poll was clearly flooded by the blogs.
Palin is a tax and spend liberal. Frequently referred to as "Sarah Chavez" in Alaska, she proposed and pushed through the largest socialistic tax increase in the history of the world. She supports the idea that the State can seize the property of private industry (aka oil producers) in Alaska if they don't do what she wants. She has attacked almost the entire Republican majority in the house and senate. She recently tried to oust the Republican Party chair at the annual convention. She stood by and giggled when a radio shock jock called the Republican President of the Senate a "bitch" and "a cancer". She threatened to support Democrats running against Republicans if they did not support her tax and spend policies. Sarah Palin would be a disaster as VP.
[Post by Jarrod May 22, 2008 2:39 PM "Hmmmm, very interesting. Rather goes against pundit and talk radio wisdom, doesn't it?"] Yeah, the Pundits also said McCain's campaign was done in August, that Huckabee was just a joke who would never get over 10% and that either Rudy or Fred Thompson would be our nominee. They sure are accurate, aren't they!
Here's an important piece of advice: If it looks like it's going to be McCain/Palin anyway (and that should be a "no brainer" for Team McCain), McCain should announce NOW or VERY SOON, rather than later towards the convention. There's currently a growing chorus for Obama/Hillary (as VP) ticket (in fact the Dems are likely aware of the Palin phenomenon). If the GOP waits while movement for Hillary as VP grows -- even worse until after it is solidified that Hillary will/could be VP pick -- selecting Palin will be portrayed by Dems/liberal media more as a reaction by GOP selecting its own female (overshawdoing Palin's own remarkable assets), rather than McCain taking the lead on this. Selecting Palin now or early (contrary to the punditocracy) will mean McCain will be seen as driving the course of this campaign overwhelmingly, and the DEMS will be seen as merely reacting. And, there's absoultely no down-side to this because even if Hillary is a no-go as VP for Obama, the GOP gains by acting early. McCain the maverick. Palin the maverick. Do it now! There's no reason, and actually substantial negative, in McCain waiting to see what the Dems do first insofar as his picking Palin as VP, because, no matter who Obama picks, Palin is by far (and I mean far) the best pick for McCain and the GOP, especially in this time of GOP woes. The GOP can be seen as the party of real 'change' (albeit I hate that mantra, change, change, bla bla), while not really having to change from GOP core conservative values, which Palin more than represents. In light of the current oil/energy situation, as well as the disaffected female Hillary voters situation, and growing focus on McCain's age and health, Palin is more than perfect -- now. (Perhaps Team McCain is already on to this.)
Do not assume that Jindal is a good govenor. He was our great hope for reform, and has turned out to be disappointing so far. He has let former govenor Mike Foster have his way in too many issues that do not seek the interests of the general public.
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