Just the ticket?
James Forsyth 6:31pm
A Bob Novak column has triggered off a huge amount of buzz about the possibility that John McCain will name Bobby Jindal as his running mate this week. The buzz has been further stoked by the news that McCain is seeing Jindal on Wednesday in Louisiana, a detour from a week dedicated to campaigning in swing states.
It still seems unlikely that McCain would announce his choice this early. Especially given that Mrs McCain is out of the country meaning that the McCains and the Jindals couldn’t do the usual couple photos.
The attractiveness of Jindal as a pick is that as the child of Indian immigrants and a young man, he offers a new face for the Republican Party; something that is much needed given how damaged the Republican brand is. But at the same time his strict social conservatism and the tax cuts he has enacted in Louisiana mean that he is also a darling of the conservative movement. There is mo other possible McCain VP pick who could both prompt the wider electorate to give the Republican ticket a second look and excite the base.
TGF UKIP
July 22nd, 2008 8:08pm Report this commentJindal as VP looks to me plain crackers. McCain, though, really does have his daft moments. Obama has the great weakness of nil achievements and risen from nowhere.
So you nullify this weakness by putting his equivalent on the Republican ticket. Come on James, get real - McCain is 72 so this guy is a putative Presidential candidate and he has been Governor of Louisiana for how many months?
And yes I know Bill Kristol also carries the VP flag for Jindal but our Bill can also be just as daft as McCain.
Graham Kirby
July 22nd, 2008 11:10pm Report this comment"There is mo other possible McCain VP pick who could both prompt the wider electorate to give the Republican ticket a second look and excite the base."
A woman?
Ian C
July 23rd, 2008 3:44pm Report this commentGraham, a woman from Alaska is said to be a good conteneder. Someone too/so young, however black his skin would be a mistake.
mark Bell
July 23rd, 2008 7:39pm Report this commentNo no no. Jindal would be a disaster for mccain. 1) McCain is 72 - voters will want a McCain VP to be able to step into the presidency at a moment's notice. Do they think a 37 year old will be able to do that?
2) He's insane and has participated in an exorcism.
3) He single handedly torpedos the main mccain argument against obama - that he's too inexperienced. You can't make that argument when a 37 yr old is the no. 2 on the ticket.
4) He is from LA - a solid republican state. Given that McCain is already playing defence, he needs someone who either i) makes a swing state favourable or ii) puts a leaning republican state into the 'firmly republican' column.
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