May 22, 2008
Hotline After Dark -- A Boozeless BBQ?
Late yesterday afternoon, the New York Times reported that John McCain will meet with FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R) and LA Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) 5/23. Mitt Romney's name was also mentioned. This led to much speculation that McCain is shopping for a VP.
Karl Rove: "Some interesting names here and some strong talent. ... Bobby Jindal is a terrifically intelligent and reform-minded governor of Louisiana. It's sort of hard, though, to say I'm experienced and my opponent is inexperienced, but incidentally forget the fact I've chosen a very young man who's been governor for a year and a half as my running mate. Charlie Crist is in sort of the same situation. Again, if Senator McCain says Senator Obama's unqualified and inexperienced and he's young and has only been in the Senate for three years, and incidentally I'm picking a governor who's only been in office for two years, creates a little bit of discountenance."
More Rove: "Romney was governor for one term. ... He's got a broader record that people can associate with, head of the U.S. Olympics, successful business person. I'm not suggesting that he is the only person that McCain ought to consider, but I have been surprised how many conservatives have expressed a confidence and an enthusiasm in Romney" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 5/21).
MSNBC's O'Donnell, on Jindal and Crist: "It's unlikely that he would pick either of those governors, I think, as vice president. I think this is the beginning of a process by McCain to sort of get to know and talk to these governors. ... He's going to need these governors for state operations. He's going to need their fundraising lists to help raise money. So this is part of the process. He should be doing this at this point. I don't think we should read too much into it that these guys now are at the top of the list" ("Hardball," 5/21).
CNN's Borger: "We all got on the phone here with the McCain people. The McCain people said, he's grilling. He loves to grill, and we're not talking about grilling vice presidential candidates. But he does want to sort of socialize with these folks and this is all about ... building the relationships. ... I would say there probably wouldn't be a lot of alcohol served at this event" ("Election Center," 5/21).
After the jump, more McCain and Pelosi goes on PBS (KATHERINE LEHR).
Time's Carney: "I'm surprised Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is not on this list, maybe he had holiday plans, couldn't make it out to Arizona. ... The youth thing is important, but he doesn't want to go too young. That's why I think maybe Jindal's maybe a problem. ... I think he does have to get a governor, somebody who is not sort of part of the old Washington problem that a lot of people perceive" ("Race for the WH," MSNBC, 5/21).
GOP strategist Leslie Sanchez: "[Jindal's] an ethnic minority, young blood, super rising star in the Republican Party, critical state, great person to be associated with, and all the energy he brings to the party. And a state like Florida. I mean, how can you ignore that? You have such a diverse population. Obviously, you know, the Jewish vote, the Catholic vote, a critical conservative base there" ("Election Center," CNN, 5/21).
I'M KIND OF A BIG DEAL
Speaker Nancy Pelosi was on "NewsHour" last night to talk about the Dem race. Some highlights:
Pelosi, asked whether there will be a "rush" of superdelegates to Barack Obama in the coming days: "I have not had any conversations that would lead me to believe that there will be a rush."
Asked if she is worried about racial divisions within the party: "On the same evening in Oregon, white voters overwhelmingly voted for Senator Obama. Now, should he become the nominee of our party, with a message of change and what that change means for working families in America, I think those same people will see that their interests are served by a Democratic president. So I'm not worried. It needs to be attended to, but I don't think it's a worry."
Asked if she's seen sexism in the campaign: "I'm not that involved in the presidential campaign, but ... I mean, I'm the speaker of the House. I see a lot. And some of it is what you expect and some of it has some weight, I suppose. But Senator Clinton is bigger than all of that" (PBS, 5/21).
Posted at 09:23 AM
Comments
Carney needs to do his homework before punditing. One reporter contacted Pawlenty, who indicated that he had a wedding on Saturday, although it was unclear whether he was invited.
anon | 05.22.08 09:36 AM
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Pawlenty just went from being "Mr. Hardass" on the state Democrats to "Mr. Let's Make a Deal", so I don't think he's up for it just from that change of heart alone, which is a good thing for MN because our Lt. Governor is completely incompetent.
jed | 05.22.08 10:06 AM
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Isn't Jindal a rag head, like Obama? Who's gonna vote for him?
On The Mark | 05.22.08 11:54 AM
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