McCain's VP: Haley Barbour

[TSIAS]

I've thought for a while that Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour would be the VP candidate if McCain won the nomination. Barbour is one of the few politicians who came out of Katrina unscathed. Barbour is the ultimate Republican insider. He was the RNC chairman in the early 90's, and is regarded as a staunch conservative.

It'll be interesting to see which way McCain goes. I expect him to move to the far right. It's hard to see McCain getting the independents against Obama or Clinton. Either Clinton or Obama will galvanize their base, and appeal to Independents.

I doubt he'll go the moderate route, and choose someone like Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. McCain's only real chance will be to rally the GOP base, but will end up looking like a hypocrite.

[davidinalameda]

1. I still think it will be Hucklebee

he's not qualified for any real cabinet post so the only thing left for him is VP

he has clout with the hard-core right wingers that McCain needs to win

[TSIAS]

4. He's put himself into the mix

Also, Mark Sanford of South Carolina would be considered.

[TwilightGardener]

10. It won't be Huckabee--he's corrupt, and the evangelicals will always

vote for the Republican as long as he's pro-life, so he won't help much with that crowd. McCain also doesn't need Huckleberry to win the South, Huck's ethics and utter stupidity will be a drag on the ticket, and Huck won't help him keep Indies OR fiscal conservatives--lots of R's are nervous about McCain's lack of economic expertise.

[Maddy McCall]

2. NO! Except it'd be good to get him out of Mississippi.

God help us if Barbour ends up VP.

[AlCzervik]

3. my guess is Barbour as well, he's got the machine behind him and he knows

how to use it.

[Shakespeare]

5. Doubtful. There's WAY too much dirt on Barbour for McCain to risk it.

Way, way too much dirt. Barbour's as sleazy as they come.

[Maddy McCall]

7. He and his family profited off Katrina.

I loathe the man.

He is using HUD funding, designated for Katrina victims to rebuild, to rebuild the port of Gulfport and to do work on the new Toyota plant that's coming to Tupelo.

As for personal scandal, I don't know of any.

[Shakespeare]

18. Oh, I mean going WAY back.

His lobbying firm was a subtenant of the firm I worked for in DC about 12 years ago--oh, the things I saw (especially when I worked late). He's been dirty for a long, long time.

[Maddy McCall]

21. I'd love to hear some of those stories!

:rofl:

[Blue_In_AK]

6. Ewwww....

[TwilightGardener]

8. He won't try to rally the base. I predict he'll go with another moderate, because

the Dems are going to paint him as Bush's third term, AND refer to his threats of more war and 100 years of Iraq--once that becomes known (right now he does well because many Indies and some Dems are not yet aware that he's not really a "maverick"), the Indie vote will start to erode. Barbour is also a big-time lobbyist, and that won't help the ticket. And the Repubs are going to keep the South, anyway--they just don't need Barbour.

[mnhtnbb]

9. Jeb Bush. Mark my words.

[radfringe]

11. other names being blathered about

Huckabee to bring in the fundies
Gingrich to mollify the oxy-rush ditto heads

and even heard one idiot on local radio station this morning suggest

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[DefenseLawyer]

12. I think McCain can get plenty of independents

against Mrs. Clinton, especially white males. Her negatives haven't gone down. The average general election voter isn't as tuned in to the political nuance or even the policy positions or voting records of the candidates as you are. They will vote for who they like, and a lot of people don't like Mrs. Clinton.

[Faygo Kid]

13. Very possible. When it comes to selling snake oil, Barbour is the best.

I have heard him speak. He's slippery as an eel, but he's good at what he does. The big negative would be not one but two old white guys on the ticket. That may not work this year.

[ctaylors6]

14. I don't think it'll be Barbour, no way Jeb Bush. Maybe Pawlenty, Sanford, one article said Forbes

[housewolf]

15. I'm pretty even tempered... but Haley Barbour

makes me go ballistic!!!!!

:nuke: :puke: :smoke: :crazy: :puke: :freak: :nuke: :puke: :banghead: :puke: :smoke: :freak: :puke: :crazy: :nuke:

[Maddy McCall]

16. He said that "children of welfare mothers would be better sitting on a whorehouse piano bench..."

He's a disgusting piece of work.

[Mz Pip]

17. No

It wouldn't help McCain in any way. He'll take MS without Barbour.

He might have to pick Huckabee considering the support the Huckster seems to be getting.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Cosmocat]

19. Right ...

Barber doesn't do him any good ...

I would guess someone who would help him in a state that is a toss up, maybe even Tom Ridge to make a run at Pa ...

[Thrill]

20. I would love for this to happen. This guy

comes across as very annoying. And I don't think he would come across well around the country.

[AnnieBW]

22. Bring it on!

If it's someone as dirty as Barbour, we'll DESTROY him. Seriously. The man used to be a lobbyist, and was in deep with Jack Abramoff. Pawlenty or the guy from SC don't have as much name recognition, and might be cleaner. :D