On Tuesday, when Mike Huckabee declared that it was now a two-man race between him and John McCain, most people thought it was just a bit of hyperbolic bravado since he had fewer delegates than Mitt Romney. Who would have guessed then that his unquenchable faith had given him the gift of prophecy - delivering divine revelation direct from God.
Today Huckabee's prophecy was fulfilled with a speed and accuracy which must have the Old Testament prophets jealously spinning in their graves. Top Republican challenger Mitt Romney has suspended his campaign, essentially leaving Huckabee as the main remaining longshot challenger to McCain's nomination. Whether many Romney voters will transfer to Huckabee or to Ron Paul, who doggedly remains in the race, is yet to be seen.
In his speech today Romney stressed the need for party unity and said some relatively positive things about John McCain and focused his harshest words on the Democrats. He hasn't officially withdrawn. He will stay on the ballot, but won't be actively campaigning or spending any more money, showing the sound business judgment which was one of his best selling points as a candidate and not throwing good money after bad. He is unlikely to generate more than token votes in future primaries and may well be passed by Huckabee within the next couple of weeks.
Beyond the stated reasons, it seems quite likely that Romney's suspension of his campaign is specifically designed to set him up as the leading candidate for Vice President, and he does meet the ideal criteria to balance a ticket headed by McCain, as a northerner with the business and executive experience which McCain lacks. It's also possible that the McCain and Romney campaigns had already discussed teaming up before Romney made his announcement today.
A McCain/Romney ticket could be quite formidable and put pressure on the Democrats to resolve their primary struggle quickly and with an emphasis on unity.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Glen Boyd
Your kidding right? I mean don't these two guys basically hate each other? I can understand the Mittster putting this little inconvenience aside in the interest of the pursuit of power -- actually this would totally be in line with his, ummm..."ability to adapt."
But McCain? Doubtful. The man is as stubborn as a mule, which is actually one of the reasons I admire him (even though I'm a dyed in the wool democrat).
Nope. If you ask me, the guy actually running for VP is the Huckster, not the Mittster. And Huck's ability to deliver the bible belt will prove far more valuable to McCain this fall.
-Glen
2 - Dr Dreadful
It's not totally far-fetched. Kennedy and Johnson hated each other's guts as well, but teamed up because it was politically expedient for both of them.
Still, in this instance I agree with Glen that the Incredible Huck would seem a more likely bedfellow.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
"I mean don't these two guys basically hate each other?"
Friends, close; enemies, well you get the idea.
And Glen, please address Romney by his official* nickname: Mittens.
* - officialness pending
4 - Dr Dreadful
I thought it was Mittzi.
5 - Glen Boyd
I think Mittens would be better suited to his wife. Kinda reminds me of "Muffy" or some preppie name like that.
But the "Mittster" suits Romney's whole smarmy used car salesman persona perfectly.
-Glen
6 - Jet in Columbus
I believe the expression is "Keep your friends close, and you enemies closer"
7 - Dave Nalle
I don't think Romney and McCain actually hate each other. I think Romney's supporters hate McCain, but that's an entirely different problem, and you should have heard some of them backpedaling and trying to think of nice things to say about McCain today.
As for the Huckster, he's a lost cause. He can't be VP because he's too southern and too left-leaning to run with McCain. Because McCain is falsely perceived as liberal he needs a more conservative appearing running mate than Huckabee. And just being a religious nut isn't enough to make you a real conservative.
Dave
8 - zingzing
Just wanna point out that bing's political fortune telling skillz are proven, yet again, lacking.
remember his "the republicans are going to take over the congress in '06" rant?
now his "mitt romney will be the next american president" guarantee just adds another point in bing's loss column.
9 - Phillip Winn
I think Mel Martinez is McCain's best bet, and I'm not sure what he gains -- other than access to Romney's deep pockets -- from Romney. The perception is that Romney's conservatism is as young as McCain's is shallow (I disagree on the latter part, at least, but that's the perception), so McCain needs an unquestionably authentic conservative as his running mate to assure the base while he reaches out to independent and swing voters from the top of the ticket.
He would do well with someone quite young, as well, but I still favor Martinez.
P.S. I think Huckabee has been aiming to be somebody's VP from the beginning; first Giuliani's and now McCain's. Still, I think he has too many liabilities to be a good choice for McCain's VP.
10 - knuklehedz
It's about time someone realized this is the plan. It was obvious to me minutes after the announcement.
Though not a righty-tighty, i think these two coculd give the left a serious run for the money in the fall.
11 - bliffle
Gee, now that Romneys 5 strapping sons are no longer needed on the home front in his relentless campaign against heathens they are free to enlist for duty in Iraq where the real action is.
I'm waiting an announcement with eager anticipation.
12 - Dr Dreadful
McCain needs an unquestionably authentic conservative as his running mate to assure the base while he reaches out to independent and swing voters from the top of the ticket.
Then perhaps his pal Joe Lieberman fits the bill..!
13 - Jet in Columbus
The problem as I see it is that everyone would see straight through that scenerio as just a ploy to capture the ultra far right, and write off that decision as just politics.
14 - handyguy
Romney's parting shot at the Democrats during his speech [accusing them of "surrender"] was simply disgusting. He is an awful man who deserved to lose.
McCain fed the CPAC loudmouths some ugly 'national security' rhetoric too. Disappointing.
Does the GOP really think this kind of bully-speak will win them any more elections? I hope - and believe - they are dead wrong.
15 - Michael J. West
No way.
Ceremonial duties and Cheney's power grab aside, we all know that the real purpose of the Veep is to understudy the President in case he's unable to fulfill the office. And that will be an issue in this campaign, considering that McCain would, if elected, inherit the title of "Oldest elected president." Even if it's not explicitly asked about - and it will be, of course, it will weigh on the voter's minds that they're putting a 72-year-old man into office for four years.
In other words, people who go to vote will have to seriously consider the prospect of the vice president's assuming office. And I'm not sure if the already-divisive McCain wants to put ANOTHER divisive Republican on his ticket.
16 - Michael J. West
Romney's parting shot at the Democrats during his speech [accusing them of "surrender"] was simply disgusting
Actually, Handy, that was my favorite part of the speech! I was fascinated to hear that THAT was Romney's only reason for quitting, and that his complete lack of support was apparently not a factor at all.
17 - Jet in Columbus
...a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest Mike. Most GOP candidates seem to have their own alternate reality.
18 - handyguy
The many, many people voting for Huckabee in those Southern primaries on Tuesday probably do see him as a conservative - "a good Christian man," they might say. Dave's view of him as a liberal is not shared by everyone. And now Limbaugh is saying he should be the veep nominee. Weird.
19 - bliffle
Gee, now that Romneys 5 strapping sons are no longer needed on the home front in his relentless campaign against heathens they are free to enlist for duty in Iraq where the real action is.
I'm waiting an announcement with eager anticipation.
20 - Leslie Bohn
Romney's fear-mongering was indeed disgusting, if predictable from this poor candidate. A vote for Hillary or Obama is a vote for the terrorists. Yawn.
21 - Lumpy
McCain won't be the oldest elected president. William Henry Harrison was 73.
22 - Lumpy
I say draft Bob Dole for VP and make McCain look young.
23 - Krutic
Having Romney as his running mate would help him with his weakness on the economy and economic matters.
I don't see it happening though.
24 - Baronius
Lumpy, in an odd way, Bob Dole comes off a lot younger than McCain. Personally, I can't think of a better choice for McCain than Bill Bennett. I'd guess that Fred Thompson is a possibility, if McCain really is worried about the South. I don't think McCain will have a problem with the southern states, though. Charlie Crist seems to want the VP slot really badly, but he doesn't bring much to the ticket.
Kennedy and Johnson were an effective ticket, mainly because Kennedy was a natural wholesale politician, and Johnson was a master of retail politics. You can't have the second place guy be more likable and outgoing. A Johnson/Kennedy ticket would have been a catastrophe.
Obama could have Clinton as the VP nominee without being overshadowed. Clinton would probably be better off with Edwards as a VP than rock star Obama.
McCain has to worry about being overshadowed, for the obvious reason that it makes him look like a weaker candidate. But also because of his personality. He's not a guy who likes the passenger seat. Neither is Romney. Huckabee could handle being a VP nominee.
25 - bliffle
McCain doesn't have a chance. Even avid warhawks are fedup with the Iraq Disaster. They may say different and act bold as ever when talking to friends or poll-takers, but in the privacy of the voting booth they will vote their disgust.