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McCain Still Reaching Out on Pro-Choice VP

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August 19, 2008 4:33 PM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports: Top aides to Sen. John McCain are continuing to gauge reaction from key supporters about the possibility of choosing a running mate who supports abortion rights, according to two Republican operatives with direct knowledge of the conversations.

Veepbeat_generic_blog National Review reported Monday that McCain aides have been reaching out to key GOP activists to determine whether the Republican rank-and-file would revolt over such a pick. 

The Republican operatives tell ABC that those conversations have continued into Tuesday. Top donors and convention delegates have been getting calls from high-ranking McCain associates, including Campaign Manager Rick Davis, and senior advisers Charlie Black and Carly Fiorina.

Though no names are being directly discussed, McCain is said to be considering two main candidates who describe themselves as “pro-choice”: former governor Tom Ridge, R-Pa., and Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.

The calls have drawn a decidedly mixed reaction.

“They’re getting a lot of pushback,” one veteran Republican said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “You’ve got to keep the coalition together. The Republican base is just coming home.”

Rush Limbaugh used his radio program Tuesday to blast the idea of McCain, R-Ariz., selecting someone who isn’t a solid abortion opponent.

"If he picks a pro-choice running mate, it's not going to be pretty," Limbaugh said.

August 19, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Romney, Mitt, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (308)

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Hey Jan ! Do you put white capes on your kids before you send them to school ?

Posted by: Ron | Aug 19, 2008 5:39:15 PM

How can anyone vote for McCain? His father had a nazi helmet from WWII on his dresser when McCain was growing up which means that McCain is also a nazi. He went to a Christian school as a child where they preached that armageddon would be the end of the world and that only those who believed in Jesus would be saved and those that didn't were not human and were spawns of satan that should be destroyed at any cost. Is that the kind of man we want as our President? He's clearly brainwashing Americans into thinking he's one of us.

Idiots....

Posted by: cj | Aug 19, 2008 5:40:35 PM

I think he should pick another old white guy if he wants to truly represent his party.

Posted by: obamamama | Aug 19, 2008 5:41:05 PM

Oh...I almost forgot

My neighbor thinks McCain is gay....so I do too.

Posted by: cj | Aug 19, 2008 5:42:59 PM

"My neighbor believes he is the anti-christ." Yeah, and McCain is Santa Claus. Please continue to believe every rumor you hear and read. We are counting on you, Jan.

Posted by: obamamama | Aug 19, 2008 5:43:24 PM

The Cynics are s#@##@#$ their pants knowing that McCain doesn't have a porkchop's chance in a piranha tank of becoming POTUS.

The best bet would be for all of your to gather together, hold hands and sing KUM BA YA.

That's about all the solice you'll get in this election.

POTUS OBAMA - MCCAIN DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE. (And everyone knows it)

LANDSLIDE

Posted by: Nat Turner | Aug 19, 2008 5:46:24 PM

JR

Lieberman isn't deceitful?

Except fot that part about him promising the Democrats of Connecticut that he would work to get a Democrat elected to the White House.

Posted by: jock59801 | Aug 19, 2008 5:49:10 PM

If anyone's the anti-christ, it's that Cindy McCain chick...she is one scary, scary lady.

Posted by: cj | Aug 19, 2008 5:49:23 PM

tire - I don't plan to vote for Obama. I just don't understand how Christians can vote for McCain. We have been hoodwinked. Picking the Lessor of two evils is not how I want my President chosen.

Posted by: steve | Aug 19, 2008 5:49:33 PM

this is total crap. this is all the mccain campaign trying to perpetuate the image that mccain is a "maverick" and can "reach across the aisle". which is pretty obviously empty campaign rhetoric, as mccain has proven throughout his career that the only opinion that matters to john mccain is john mccain's. the man has already said that, if elected, he will take steps to overturn roe v. wade (although back in 1999, mccain is quoted as saying that the overturning of roe v. wade would ultimately be a BAD thing, because it would "force x number of women to undergo dangerous and illegal operations". he now claims his comments were "taken out of context"). the man is 100% ANTI-choice. he's also opposed to health insurance companies covering birth control and he supports abstinence-only sex education, so apparently he's also PRO-unintended pregnancy. and in general, i would say mccain is anti-woman, a raging misogynist in my book. he doesn't think women deserve equal pay in the workplace, he tells rape jokes (that he later claims to "not remember" telling), and he calls his wife a c-nt in public.

great choice for a president!

Posted by: ejohn38 | Aug 19, 2008 5:51:36 PM

Gosh, Steve, isn't that always the sad choice for us, the lesser of two evils? Don't tell me you're still happy with Bush!

Posted by: obamamama | Aug 19, 2008 5:52:06 PM

McCain thinks a pro-choice VP will win him swing voters?

Most pro-choice are anti-war.

Not sure how he thinks that will win him votes. I can guarantee a pro-choice selection will cost him millions of votes.

Posted by: Dan | Aug 19, 2008 5:52:21 PM

on another blog someone wrote, "Lincoln also said to win votes, impress the ignorant" .... and we thought that Obama's supporters were educated.

Posted by: gottogo | Aug 19, 2008 5:52:54 PM

America cannot afford another 4 years of a president who has a very low IQ. We will definitly and forever lose our credibility in the world as a nation of 300 million people.

Posted by: BKMC | Aug 19, 2008 5:55:25 PM

McCain has already been widely criticized for not being conservative enough. And picking a pro-life candidate makes things seem so much worse for an already worried Republican Party. I say he should go with Tim Pawlenty or Mitt Romney.

Posted by: Jacob | Aug 19, 2008 5:55:34 PM

McCain picking someone Pro-choice would be tantamount to political suicide.

Posted by: Fetus and Me | Aug 19, 2008 5:56:57 PM

"I just don't understand how Christians can vote for McCain"

I totally agree...just think of how many less fortunate people could be helped by all of the money that McCain wants to give back to the richest 10% of Americans. True Christianity is about helping those less fortunate than you, right?

Posted by: cj | Aug 19, 2008 5:56:58 PM

Steve, I'm happy that you weren't writing in support of Obama, and I can agree that we never want to take the lesser of two evils, but that is the only choice we have. I'm not about to take a chance on Obama.

Posted by: tire | Aug 19, 2008 5:57:38 PM

McCain want's to set the rules of law back to the day's he grew up in, the 1930's. That's when men were men and women did what they were told and voted for who their husbands told them to vote for. Boy those were the good ol' days.

Posted by: James | Aug 19, 2008 5:59:56 PM

oh James, back in the '30's everyone voted for FDR.

Posted by: gottogo | Aug 19, 2008 6:03:07 PM

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