John McCain considers Jewish running mate

[Aptrgangr]

John McCain considers Jewish running mate

A young Jewish congressman from the battleground state of Virginia has joined the shortlist to be John McCain's vice-presidential running mate.

By Toby Harnden in Washington
Last Updated: 8:35PM BST 03 Aug 2008


With strong backing from hard-line conservatives, Eric Cantor [right] would shore up many of John McCain's weaknesses Photo: AP

Eric Cantor, 45, would be a dramatic choice for Mr McCain, who is running almost level with Barack Obama in national polls but whose aides believe he needs to shake-up the White House race if he is to prevail in November's general election.

Aides to Mr McCain revealed that Mr Cantor, the only Jewish Republican in the House of Representatives, had been asked to submit documents as part of a rigorous vetting process to hunt out any closet skeletons.
He joins a shortlist believed to include Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor and Mr McCain's bitter rival during the Republican primaries, Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota governor, and Rob Portman, a former Ohio congressman and budget director in the Bush administration.
Of the four, Mr Cantor would be by far the most exiting - though potentially risky - choice. A prodigious fundraiser with a young, photogenic family, support from evangelical Christians and strong backing from hard-line conservatives, he would shore up many of Mr McCain's weaknesses.
Mr Cantor would be the first Jewish vice-president, an historic milestone that Senator Joe Lieberman just missed in 2000 when Al Gore lost to George W Bush by 567 votes.

It was probably Mr Lieberman's presence on the ticket that enabled Mr Gore to get so close in Florida, where Jewish voters are an important factor. Mr Lieberman has since left the Democratic party and joined forces with Mr McCain. Campaigning by both Mr Lieberman for a McCain-Cantor ticket in Florida could give the Republican a powerful advantage in the swing state.
Virginia has been a traditionally Republican state but is very much in play in 2008 after a steady trend towards Democrats. Mr Obama is strongly considering choosing Tim Kaine, governor of Virginia, as his running mate.
But selecting Mr Cantor, who is two years younger than Mr Obama, could undercut Mr McCain's strategy of painting his Democratic rival as too young and inexperienced to be president. It could also highlight Mr McCain's advanced age - he turns 72 this month, meaning he would be the oldest man ever to be first elected president.

The leaking of the name of Mr Cantor, who joined Mr McCain for lunch in the Hamptons on Long Island last weekend, could be an attempt to test the waters as to how the pick would be received.
Both Republican and Democratic strategists have indicated that it is unlikely they will name a running mate during the Olympics, which begin on Friday and end on August 24th, the day before the Democratic convention begins.

This has fuelled anticipation that Mr McCain or Mr Obama could both announce their running mates this week. Mr Obama has an event scheduled in Elkhart, Indiana on Wednesday, triggering speculation that he could be about to choose Evan Bayh, an Indiana senator, to join him on the Democratic ticket

John McCain considers Jewish running mate - Telegraph

[Kernunnos]

Originally Posted by Marulus

Joseph Liebermann II?

The biggest problem of Mc Cain, beside being in the same party as George Bush, is his age.

At 72 he is raising worries among voters of being unfit.

He has no charm, either, which is important with the female public.

So choosing a young and energetic middle age man would be an almost inevitable move.

The fact that he would be choosing the first Jewish VP in US history would grant him a "racial primate" to oppose to Obama's potential primate as first US president.

A Jewish VP would likely get also some favorable coverage by the press, that so far has supported Obama in an indecent manner.

He could end up picking up essential Jewish votes, as most among the best political commentators see the race as still largely undecided and to be likely ended by just a handful of votes difference.

[Savorgnan]

Originally Posted by Kernunnos

The fact that he would be choosing the first Jewish VP in US history would grant him a "racial primate" to oppose to Obama's potential primate as first US president.

Tragic error for him. He should have choose a woman, or a "Latino". Not a Jew. This move would be like shooting himself in the foot.

[orieleye]

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

With strong backing from hard-line conservatives, Eric Cantor [right] would shore up many of John McCain's weaknesses...

A prodigious fundraiser with a young, photogenic family, support from evangelical Christians and strong backing from hard-line conservatives, he would shore up many of Mr McCain's weaknesses.

What exactly is a 'hard-line conservative', say in relation to mass immigration or globalism? I think McCain is very much in favour of both even though they undermine societies rather than conserve them. He's really looking for Jewish money with this move. Their money makes up a huge proportion of political donations in his country.

[Marcus Marulus]

From what I read about it, American Jews have always overwhelmingly voted Democrat, the last elections included (Kerry over Bush), and it isn't likely to change.

[Kernunnos]

Originally Posted by orieleye

What exactly is a 'hard-line conservative', say in relation to mass immigration or globalism? I think McCain is very much in favour of both even though they undermine societies rather than conserve them. He's really looking for Jewish money with this move. Their money makes up a huge proportion of political donations in his country.

We should talk more broadly of Jewsh support. Secretly strategists are surely trying also at winning back a substantial part of the press. Non liberal press that so far has endorse Obama in the fashion we have seen could find a new darling, if Jewish elites' pressure would swing towards Mc Cain. A swing state like Florida with its large percentage of Jewish elders could make a huge difference in a tight race. A Jewish vice president could also become eventually a president, so this Mc Cain's VP choice sounds particularly attractive both for Jewish voters and their financial/industrial/political elites.

[Routasydän]

Originally Posted by orieleye

What exactly is a 'hard-line conservative', say in relation to mass immigration or globalism? I think McCain is very much in favour of both even though they undermine societies rather than conserve them. He's really looking for Jewish money with this move. Their money makes up a huge proportion of political donations in his country.

Agreed. The Jewish vote is almost neglible, except for in some key states. Its all about MONEY!

[Kernunnos]

Originally Posted by wilpuri

Agreed. The Jewish vote is almost neglible, except for in some key states. Its all about MONEY!

It isn't in Florida and the Jewish preponderance in media, especially among the media owners and political commentators, is much more than heavy, it is huge. You all forget the group spirit that is one of the main characteristics of their ethnos, the perspective of a Jewish VP will make them cross party lines in droves. Last but not least, the candidate is young and beautiful, with an equally photogenic family, which will make an excellent counterbalance to Obama's age and appeal on women. So there will be a young "minority" candidate with sex appeal to women and a possible underdog background pretty similar to Obamas. If race is still a real topic in US elections, as it seems still to be under the veil of official hypocrisy, undecided white voters will find a more acceptable young and "minority" background candidate to vote for. This candidate has a reassuring mediterranean look, slightly reminding of an improved Sylvester Stallone, and the important backing of philosemitic realities like the evangelical block. Far more tranquilizing for the average white voter than the half moslem, communist educated mulatto Obama.

[orieleye]

Originally Posted by Kernunnos

We should talk more broadly of Jewsh support. Secretly strategists are surely trying also at winning back a substantial part of the press. Non liberal press that so far has endorse Obama in the fashion we have seen could find a new darling, if Jewish elites' pressure would swing towards Mc Cain. A swing state like Florida with its large percentage of Jewish elders could make a huge difference in a tight race. A Jewish vice president could also become eventually a president, so this Mc Cain's VP choice sounds particularly attractive both for Jewish voters and their financial/industrial/political elites.

The Jewish vote is almost neglible, except for in some key states.

It is true there are a lot of Jews in Florida, as well as New York, but we shouldn't exaggerate their voting significance nationally. They are only 2% of the population after all. On the other hand, media control, political contributions, and the way Israel can skew the debate are huge factors. Jews are disproportionately wealthy and influential. With one of their own as the VP candidate behind this dinosaur, they will be very eager to part with their money. And their contributions are already considerable.

Lipset and Raab (1995) note that Jews contribute between one-quarter and one-third of all political contributions in the United States, including one-half of Democratic Party contributions and one-fourth of Republican contributions. (Culture of Critique, p304)

If McCain picks this congressman as his running mate, those Democratic contributors will have plenty to think about. It's a shrewd political move.