McCain to Begin Vice Presidential Search
Tuesday: John McCain speaks and takes questions from students at his alma mater, Episcopal High School, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo)
John McCain will announce the chairman of his vice presidential search committee next week as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee begins compiling a list of names for a potential running mate.
The Arizona senator said he hopes to make an announcement before the Republican convention in early September.
“We just started this process of getting together a list of names and having them looked at. … I’d like to get it done as early as possible. I’m aware of enhanced importance of this issue given my age,” the 71-year-old joked with syndicated radio talk show host Don Imus.
Speaking to reporters in Annapolis on Wednesday, McCain said it could takes weeks if not months for him to choose from a list of about 20 that includes “every name imaginable.”
He said he wants to move quickly to make sure that no problems emerge when he unveils his choice, hoping to avoid a repeat of 1988, when George H.W. Bush named then-Sen. Dan Quayle to be his running mate but did not make an announcement until the convention in order to maximize the element of surprise.
“Quayle had not been briefed and prepared for some of the questions” that he would have to field, McCain said, without assigning any blame to Quayle himself.
“If I had a personal preference I’d like to do it before the convention to avoid some of the mistakes that I’ve seen made in the past as you get into a time crunch and maybe sometimes don’t make the announcement right or maybe they have not examined every single candidate,” he told Imus.
McCain did not name names or offer any other details of his search, but several GOP luminaries are among several floated by pundits and the press since McCain clinched the Republican nomination a month ago. Named as potential candidates are South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former White House budget chief Rob Portman and former GOP White House rivals Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney.
McCain made his comments on his way to another alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy. It was the third in a string of speeches during a week-long tour designed to introduce him to a wider, general election audience. McCain frequently jokes about not having been the most disciplined student at the Navy training college.
He told students and others assembled that it’s their duty to make their country better, and Americans can do so by enlisting in the military or running for office.”If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you are disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them,” he said. “There are many public causes where your service can make our country a stronger, better one than we inherited. Wherever there is a hungry child, a great cause exists. … Wherever there is suffering, a great cause exists.”
Before his speech, McCain stopped at an eatery in downtown Annapolis where crab omelets are on the menu and local and state politicians have gathered for decades for breakfast and shop talk
An American flag hangs over the counter with its five stools, and for nearly two decades, all business has come to a halt for a few seconds as the Pledge of Allegiance is recited.
McCain then headed to Florida, where he was to attend a panel discussion at Pensacola Junior College. McCain went to Pensacola after college for aviator training.
FOX News’ Carl Cameron and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
If McCain uses his mind right and wants the public to vote for him as President against either Clinton or Obamus he needs to choose Colin Powell. With both men having the experience and knowledge of Military and Colin already been insight of the White House of the past he has the knowledge and the get go the get the ball a rolling the the people of the United States of America. Colin has knowledge of Education along with his wife as well. He will be McCain’s best choose right now.
Romney.
I think we’ve seen enough of what fundamentalists have brought the world. Hate, murder and turning their misguided interpretation of God’s will into law. Law that oppresses freedom.
Let the Bible guide your life - Let the constitution guide America.
I think the Media are pushing for Mitt Romney for John’s V.P. I hope John will consider his voting record in Mass. Any conservative who checked his background, knows he will say anything to win. He’s changed what he stands for completly since he’s trying to portray himself as a conservative. This is the first big test for John McCain. Yes I am for Huckabee, who can beat any democrate in a debate, and will get along with John. Ten years service in Ark. with a good record of accomplishments should stand for something.
Although I certainly agree Mr. Romney and Mr. Huckabee would be fine choices; I would advocate Debra, Amy and Dante’s suggestion. Ms. Rice is articulate and has done what no other woman or man would be able to do in her position as Sec of State. She’s obviously gained respect from many Nations who wouldn’t give women respect because of their cultural or religious constraints. I look forward to the upcoming dialogue between the Dem and GOP nominees regarding OIF and OEF, and solutions. We have to embrace solutions, not rhetoric. If Mr. McCain will tap into Clyde Prestowitz for economical advice and the path for American success in the current Global Economy, he’ll certainly become our next president of the United States. The Democratic economical rhetoric would dissolve. Of course, the current path of their nomination jousting just may end their efforts toward gaining the White House anyway.
I think the best vice president for McCain is Michael Bloomberg. Mayor Bloomberg is an expert that can fix the economy and will balance the ticket. In addition with Bloomberg on the ticket the Republicans have a very good chance of winning New York and California especially if the Democrats nominate Obama. There are alot of Democrats (older voters, and blue collar voters) who will have some difficulty voting for Obama. Bloomberg on the Republican ticket may make it much easier for many Democrats to vote for McCain if they have reservations about Obama’s experience or lack of experience in general, with the economy specifically, with his attendance and membership at his church in Chicago and his relationship with Rescko. One more bonus is Bloomberg’s ability to help McCain with funding the presidential campaign.
It doesn’t who George W. McCain is going to pick, for he will lose in general election. How can people elected someone who clearly said that he knows nothing on economy, and said to stay 100 years in Irak. In is head there is only one thing spinning up: War! War! War! War! Bomb Iran! Bomb Iran!
He also has a realy realy bad temper, he is to cranky to be a president.
Republicans, you are in a very big trouble.
As a conservative Christian, and not a great supporter of John McCain, I think the Republicans can still get it right if Mitt is VP. He has the experience with the economy that the others wish they had, and will far out weigh anything the Dems can muster. He will shore up New England and will provide a far more experienced ticket. By the time the election occurs we will be knee deep into a recession, which will only further emphasize an economic agenda… face it, the Dems don’t have one (except increased taxation) and McCain will get hammered due to his “the economy is not my greatest strength” confession. In the economic arena Mitt can be McCain’s “ace in the hole”. If McCain is forward thinking and can see where this economy is headed, he will conclude their is no other option than to go with Mitt. Conservatives won’t stay home if their wallets are being threatened, so there is no need to go with Huckabee to secure the right wing of the party. As for Condi, she is an amazing woman, but not Presidential material. And more importantly, she will be viewed as a carry over from Bush Whitehouse which will not be received well…just look how the Dems are already painting McCain as Bush 3. With McCain’s age sure to be a factor, this VP will be more important than usual and must be viewed as a future President. Mitt is the answer!