Sanford, McCain appearance fuel VP question

Gov. Mark Sanford's visit with presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain last week encouraged more media speculation that Sanford is still being considered for vice president.

Sanford has denied consistently he is being vetted as a potential vice presidential candidate. But Sanford's appearance last week in Aspen, Colo. alongside other Republicans mentioned as vice presidential possibilities is being interpreted by some to mean Sanford is on a McCain short list.

The Aspen Daily News reported Sanford, R-S.C., Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, and South Dakota U.S. Sen. John Thune joined McCain for a series of fundraising meetings and policy summits.

Sanford spokesman Joel Saywer told The Los Angeles Times Sanford was invited "as part of what he described as a 'thank you' event for supporters."

Sawyer told the Times he did not know if Sanford met privately with McCain.

Sanford had been discounted as a candidate by some after an CNN appearance on McCain's behalf in July in which Sanford struggled to answer some routine questions posed to surrogates of the presidential candidates. Sanford also withheld his endorsement during the S.C. Republican Primary, a decision some say works against Sanford.

But those who think McCain needs a younger vice president who will play well to the Republican Party's conservative base argue Sanford fits the bill.

 

Comments

[realism]

Sanford ain't going anywhere. The Sanford VP hype machine might as well stop. This is as best as it gets for him.

I don't think he's getting any media airplay beyond SC's borders. I don't think anyone's HEARD OF the guy beyond SC's borders.

[C H Mueller]

Hopefully McCain has more sense than to select Sanford--I certainly will not vote for McCain with Sanford as VP, especially since chances are that McCain may not be capable to serve out his entire term, because of health issues or death....

[Gullah Guy]

Gov. Sanford has about much chance of being the VP nominee as David Beasely. What a fine crop of leaders we are producing. It is pathetic that we no longer have people the caliber of Sen. Hollings, Govs. McNair and Riley. Instead we have idoits who repeat the same cliches and ignore the real issues we face.

[wtf]

Even since Sanford bombed the softball question "How is John McCain not a Bush third term" on public tv and gave the opposition tons of video ammunition...his VP chances went down the road almost as fast as Andre drives.

[Timothy from SC]

Gov. Sanford does not have the widespread name recognition that McCain needs in a VP. Mike Huckabee would be a much better choice. He has over 10 yrs of executive experience. He came in second place in the primaries. Social conservatives trust him completely. Huckabee would lock up the South for McCain and help McCain with blue-collar workers.

McCain / Huckabee '08

[wtf]

Huckabee would be bad for McCain. He doesn't bring anything new. Huckabee only brings what states McCain would already win.

Plus, Hucksters uber-religous, pro-life tones would totally turn away the angry pro-Hillary woman vote that is still up or grabs.

McCain says he's pro-life, openly admits adultery and leaves his first wife with kids while cavorts with a young heiress then openly calls his new wife a "C" in public....now adds another "pro-lifer" to the ticket....woman voters flock to Obama in droves under the "not-McCain" voting block. Women stick together on issues like these despite what they may express in public.

Women may abhor abortion, but they value their personal rights and dignity above all.

[Jim]

McCain-Sanford would convince me to vote for Obama.

"America's Worst Governor" cannot be a heartbeat away from the White House.

[LT]

Voting for Obama because Sanford was the VP pick (hypothetically)makes no sense. It's saying that you would choose a certain bad thing over only a possible bad thing.... It's like saying you will shoot yourself so you don't have to worry about being in a car accident....

[Ed buddin]

If McCain selects Sanford as VP he ( McCain) will never be heard from again.

[Robert]

Two things needed to be considered for VP:

1. Must be able to connect two sentences.

2. Must have actually done something!

[Wylie H.]

The Wall Street Journal endorsed Sanford as McCain's VP last week. He is one of the few Republican leaders with impeccable integrity and a willingness to take on entrenched special interests.