Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Money & Business

Capital Commerce

Source: Huckabee Tops McCain's Veep List

May 12, 2008 11:38 AM ET | James Pethokoukis | Permanent Link | Print

Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas and defeated contender for the GOP presidential nomination, is currently at the top of John McCain's short list for a running mate. At least that's the word from a top McCain fundraiser and longtime Republican moneyman who has spoken to McCain's inner circle. The fundraiser is less than thrilled with the idea of Huckabee as the vice presidential nominee, and many economic conservatives—turned off by the populist tone of Huckabee's campaign and his tax record as governor—are likely to share that marked lack of enthusiasm. But here is the logic of picking Huckabee:

1) He is a great campaigner and communicator who could both shore up support in the South among social conservatives (Huckabee is a former Baptist minister) and appeal to working-class voters in the critical "Big 10" states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

2) As any pollster knows, voters search for candidates who "care about people like me," and Huckabee would probably score a lot higher on that quality than millionaire investor Mitt Romney. Plus, given all the turmoil on Wall Street, 2008 would seem to be a bad year to pick a former investment banker for veep.

3) Economic conservatives and supply-siders may balk, but the threat of four years of Obamanomics and higher investment, income, and corporate taxes might be enough to keep them on board.

Let me add that a top Republican political strategist told me about a month ago that he also believed Huckabee to be the leading veep contender.

Tags: presidential election 2008 | running mates | Vice President | Mitt Romney | Mike Huckabee | John McCain

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Reader Comments

Huck

Sorry McCain. I just won't vote if Huck is on the ticket. You lose the votes and the maximum campaign donations from both my wife and I.

No Huck!

Yep, he'll lose my vote as well. I'm an independent who has usually voted Democrat in recent presidential elections but have always admired McCain and was excited about voting for him for president. But if Huck ends up on the ticket I will not be pulling the lever for him. I won't have Huck one heartbeat away from the presidency. Please, Senator McCain, don't do it!

I'm a longtime democrat and I support Obama.

But...

If Huckabee was the VP, I'd vote McCain.

DAMN YOU STEPHEN COLBERT FOR INFLUENCING ME SO!!

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About the Capital Commerce Blog

Send an E-mail to capcom@usnews.com.

James Pethokoukis is the money and politics blogger for U.S. News & World Report , where he writes the monthly Capital Commerce magazine column. Pethokoukis is also the assistant managing editor of the magazine's Money & Business section. He has written for many publications including the New York Times, the American, USA Today, Investor's Business Daily, and TCS Daily. Pethokoukis is also an official CNBC contributor and appears frequently on that network's Kudlow & Company, Power Lunch, and The Call shows. In addition, he has appeared numerous times on MSNBC, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, CNN, and Nightly Business Report on PBS. A 1989 graduate of Northwestern University where he double majored in Soviet politics and American history and a 1991 graduate of the Medill School of Journalism, Pethokoukis is a 2002 Jeopardy! champion.

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