McCain praises Pawlenty, Jindal as VP talk sizzles
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – And the speculation continues.
Republican John McCain praised two potential vice presidential picks on Wednesday but gave no clues about who he would add to his ticket or when he would decide.
The Arizona senator’s campaign has not quashed speculation this week that a choice was imminent, but McCain said in a television interview that he has yet to decide who would be his number two.
Earlier at a stop at a grocery store, where the presumptive Republican presidential nominee got a look at the high price of milk and other staples, he spoke highly of two people said to be on his short list: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
“We can’t mention any names, we have the process going on,” McCain started by saying.
Can’t you say anything positive about Pawlenty, a reporter prodded.
“Oh, Tim … He’s a great, fine person,” McCain said.
“I think he is, he, Bobby Jindal and a number of governors, I think are the future of the Republican Party.”
But Jindal told Fox News on Wednesday he wasn’t interested in being vice president.
“Let me be clear: I have said in every private and public conversation, I’ve got the job that I want,” Jindal told Fox News. “And I’ll say again on air: I’m not going to be the vice presidential nominee.”
However, Fox cited Jindal insiders as saying that the governor would take the job if asked.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are also said to be on McCain’s list.
Bets anyone?
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder. McCain smiles as he is introduced at a campaign picnic outside the Maine Military Museum in South Portland, Maine, July 21, 2008.
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Since John McCain is not going to need a VP, what’s all the fuss about.
Accept for Mit Rommey, who wants to pad up his resume, after what McCain said about the VP jobs, anybody to be his underling would be a useless appendage.
It’s too bad that things aren’t more competitive between he democrat and republican candidates, Mr. & Mrs. Reader. However, it is that very lack of competitive edge in the republican camp that says it makes little difference who the republican candidate chooses as his running mate. On the other hand, if the democrat candidate chooses a lightweight unknown as his running mate, the republican candidate might just get what they are calling these days, “a bump” in the polls.
I’ve been consistent in my opinion that the democrat candidate needs a heavyweight who also has a military background. That would be the junior democrat senator from Virginia. All this talk about a republican running mate for the democrat candidate doesn’t really make any sense when one stops and applies logic and common sense to such a pairing. We don’t need political generals, incidentally…just a guy who served honorably in the active duty uniform of our great nation in wartime in a war zone. This could be a former sergeant or a former lieutenant.
OK Jack
McBush is just making noise at the back of the nursing home.