McCain's Ohio Rally Stokes V.P. Speculation

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McCain's Ohio Rally Stokes V.P. Speculation

August 18, 2008 10:32 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is planning a major rally in Dayton, Ohio, for Friday, Aug. 29, stoking speculation on the part of the local Republican Party chairman that the Arizona senator might use that occasion to announce his running mate.

"I was told by the McCain folks that we should start building the troops," Alex M. Triantafilou, the chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, told ABC News.

Triantafilou was asked to build the Dayton rally by a member of McCain's Ohio staff. The McCain staffer, whom Triantafilou described as "not a super high ranking person," did not know if the Aug. 29 event would be McCain's vice presidential announcement.

But Triantafilou said that the timing of the event (scheduled for the day after the Democratic National Convention ends) and the location of the event (in the state that decided the 2004 election) led him and his fellow Republican Party officials to speculate whether this might be the occasion on which McCain decides to announce his running mate.

"It makes sense to do it here," said Triantafilou. "The timing seems to be the ordinary timing" for a vice presidential announcement.

The Republican National Convention is scheduled to get underway in the Twin Cities on Monday, Sept. 1, just three days after the Dayton, Ohio rally.

Some GOP strategists not working for the McCain campaign believe that announcing a running mate the day after Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., gives his acceptance speech in Denver, Colo., could help dampen any momentum that Democrats have coming out of their convention.

Asked if McCain was planning to announce his running mate in Ohio on Aug. 29, McCain spokesman Brian Rogers declined to comment.

If McCain is indeed planning to announce his running mate in Ohio, Triantafilou does not see it as a "tip off as to who it is going to be."

"Ohio is a key battleground state," said Triantafilou. "The corridor that runs from Cincinnati up to Toledo -- the I-75 corridor -- is very key territory for Republicans to win the state of Ohio."

Asked about prospective running mates, Triantafilou said that a "significant part of his party" would be "skeptical" if McCain were to tap former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who supports abortion rights, despite Ridge's comment to Fox News Sunday that it is the responsibility of the vice president to "echo" the views of the president.

"It's a difficult question when it comes to Gov. Ridge," said Triantafilou. "There is a significant part of my party that would be skeptical of a pro-choice running mate."

"The Republican Party is going to support whomever [McCain] selects," Triantafilou added. "But I certainly know that I will get significant feedback from an important part of our party if Sen. McCain selects a pro-choice running mate."

Triantafilou said that he is rooting for a local V.P. prospect: former Rep. Rob Portman. The former director of the Office of Management and Budget and former U.S. Trade Representative used to represent a Cincinnati-based district not far from Dayton when he served in Congress.

"Portman is a gentleman and a statesman and is a brilliant person who has worked very well across the aisle," said Triantafilou. "Most Democrats would agree that he has worked every effectively across the aisle."

Triantafilou also had words of praise for Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty whom he called a "fantastic" governor of a "key state."

The party chair described Mitt Romney as "very popular" in the local business community.

Word about McCain's Aug. 29 event first spread on Sunday when Triantatilou wrote on his blog that "Sen. McCain is expected to host a rally on August 29 in Dayton and is looking for a BIG venue and for a BIG crowd. He'll get it. This is not yet public. I guess I just made it so."

On Monday, Justin Miller of PolitickerOH cited the Triantatilou blog entry and had an unnamed GOP source saying that McCain's rally will draw 10,000 to the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio.

UPDATE:

After the PolitickerOH and ABC News stories appeared Monday morning, The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder reported that Triantatilou's reference to the event has disappeared from his blog entry.

ABC News has reached out to Triantatilou and will update this story when it hears back from the Hamilton County GOP chair.

UPDATE # 2:

ABC News' Jan Crawford Greenburg reports: Sources close to McCain say it's likely that the Arizona senator will announce his running mate on Aug. 29, his 72nd birthday.

But they caution that this date is not set in stone, and that McCain himself could always decide to announce at another time.

The date and place of the announcement hinge on the choice of a V.P. -- a decision, sources say, that McCain has not yet finalized.

August 18, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Romney, Mitt, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (199)

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"I was told by the McCain folks that we should start building the troops," Alex M. Triantafilou, the chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, told ABC News.....Oh course McCain needs to start building the troops, he wants to lead the country into WWIII.

Posted by: mummblemouth | Aug 18, 2008 10:54:48 AM

I doubt McCain can get 10,000 people to show up...LOL!

Posted by: Shelley | Aug 18, 2008 11:03:44 AM

McCain.... 10,000 people? HAHAHAHA! I am sure he will POW pander the whole time.

Posted by: CR | Aug 18, 2008 11:29:22 AM

Obama/Biden in 08? Why would you want the man thrown out of the primaries first to join the ticket. You have HOPE, CHANGE and Pelosi to carry you. Obama should choose Pelosi and show his real stripes.

Posted by: james andrews | Aug 18, 2008 11:39:19 AM

Reality: Saddleback & Swiftboatings Will Not Change Peoples Minds, when their Minds are Made up and don't Forget the Demographics Below.....

1. Obama Still Leads in the Polls

2. John McCain has NEVER LEAD in the Polls.

3. Polls don't Matter

4. Polls are Deceptive

5. Early Voting in Some States Favors Obama

6. Most People have made up their MINDS...Sorry

7. Freedom of Religion, Agnostics, Atheist and People Indifferent Towards Religions, will not be MOVED by Saddleback...Sorry

Note: Newly Sworn In Americans from 10 Years back to the Most Present, will Overwhelmingly Vote for Obama. Afro Americans, Hispanic & Asian Americans will Overwhelmingly Vote for Obama.

Bi-Racial Americans ages 18 & Upwards will Vote for Obama.

Young White America 18-45, Male and Female will Vote for Obama in Large Numbers. The Highly Educated and Poor America, that Spans all Races.

Independent Voters will Overwhelmingly Vote for Obama. All Single Mothers in America, Regardless of Race.

Parents of Bi-Racial Children will Vote for Obama and Large Military and Americans Abroad will Vote for Obama.

Young Independent & Moderate Republicans will Vote for Obama and the Gay American Vote as well.

American Females Make Up the Majority Of America and Most will Vote for Obama. The Pro-Choice Female Vote , Roe Vs. Wade, Pro-Choice an "A Woman's Right to Choose" Plays a Big Factor, Obama will get that Vote, EASILY.

American Females & Parents Against the War, will Easily Vote for Obama.

Most of these People have made up their Minds, Already and No saddleback Church will change that. Keep this in Mind, also Obama Garnered (18 Milion Votes Too) and Most of Clinton's Voters are going to Vote Democratic Anyway, they have already cast her Aside, as they Refuse to help her get Rid of her Campaign ( SHE STILL OWES MILLIONS)

Note Obama made 51 Million Dollars last Month, who do you think is Divying Up The Cash...Hmmmm

John McCain and Racist White America have Not Factored all these Demographics, at all and they will come back to Haunt him in November.

Underestimating Obama is and will Prove this coming Novemeber, was a Big McCain Blunder.

Posted by: o. | Aug 18, 2008 11:44:53 AM

It seems McCain might have plagiarized the Gulag Archipelago with his "cross in the dirt" story.

The same thing happened in that book.

This itself isn't proof it didn't happen to McCain. But McCain seems to have been quite a Solzhenitsyn fan. When he co-authored a book about twelve tough historical decisions, one of the twelve was Solzhenitsyn's decision to write the Gulag Archipelago.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 18, 2008 11:46:01 AM

Those bashing McCain show the political sense of a two year old. Let's be honest...a McCain rally WOULD be effective, and selecting a running mate would dampen Obama's speech. All Obama has done is talk, so it's not like he will say anything new. It will just be polished and recycled talking points. So McCain would be very wise in this decision. And the person who commented about WWIII needs to rethink their blind following of an inept political newbie in Obama, who has no military leadership, no understanding of the Muslim world (contrary to claims he is a muslim haha), He has no understanding of the key elements involved in today's world. He's a rookie, who happens to say what people want to hear. THAT is no qualification. Heaven help us and the world if he is elected. He may be a nice guy, but he's not a good candidate.

Posted by: Common Sense | Aug 18, 2008 11:46:07 AM

Common Sense - let's talk McCain.

In his mind, are we in a state of war with Russia now?

He said we are Georgians. Russian tanks are still occupying Georgia. Is our territory being occupied?

The conventional wisdom that McCain is above reproach was shattered weeks ago. Now we're confronted with the very real possibility this guy isn't who we thought he was.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 18, 2008 11:50:28 AM

Looks like the race between pow john mcain and community drug user n organizer barack obama is like that of the turtle and the rabbit.

Brack is so ambitious like the rabbit of winning the race, but the turtle paced mcain will win.

here is a brewing change of tide in favor of the vietnam prisoner of war; the promise of hope of barack is so shallow that his change that we can believe in are pieces of scam and full of baloney. Nothing new, but promises that of professional politicians.

Posted by: frank magno | Aug 18, 2008 11:52:15 AM

Wait a second, I thought McCain was claiming Obama was a demon for being popular?

So, by his own smears, can we say the same about McCain due to his 10K crowd?

Posted by: Ray M. | Aug 18, 2008 11:52:54 AM

"Brack is so ambitious like the rabbit of winning the race, but the turtle paced mcain will win."

And to think, I've been accusing Republicans of only knowing the world through Marvel comic books. Seems they are expanding their education to now include Aesop. Good for you guys.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 18, 2008 11:54:33 AM

JOHN MCCAIN RACIST AD. TITLED SEAL POSTED TO HIS OFFICIAL WEBSITE 6/27/08
DIVERSION BY RICK DAVIS -MCCAIN CAMP. MANAGER - TO COVER -UP ANDREW MCCAIN OWN KEATING 12 - IS ANDREW MCCAIN - JOHN'S SON A THEIF ? AND IF HE HIS HOW MANY MILLIONS ?
WSJ -HAS 3 FULL TIME REPORTERS ON THE CASE.
WHY DID IT TAKE MSM 30 DAYS TO CONNECT THE DOT. ANDREW RESIGNED @ MIDNIGHT - 72 HRS. CELEBRATITY AD. AFTER RACIST AD- TITLED SEAL - MCCAIN PUT OBAMA FACE ON $100 BILL TELLS AMERICANS NOT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA- MCCAIN IS A LIAR ! LIAR ! LIAR!

Posted by: health Angel | Aug 18, 2008 11:55:20 AM

Obama has lost the election! I guess that the American people and the Clinton's are the only ones that know this. I personally know folks who have never voted that will be voting this year, so they can vote against a Jr. senator with no leadership experience! Do not under estimate the intelligence of the American people! Go McCain, we are behind you 100%

Posted by: Lloyd | Aug 18, 2008 11:56:45 AM

Boy King: Maybe Obama should be more like his opponent.

McCain - all the knowledge and experience Wikipedia and Russian literature has to offer.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 18, 2008 11:59:00 AM

As an Ohio independent, I believe the far left fringe are just as despicable as the people they chastise. I'm sick of these deeply partisan politics, and I am voting for the real post-partisan candidate. John McCain! Look at the facts. Listen to his response from the other night when he was asked what decisions he made that threatened his standing in his own party. They are numerous. Obama's answers paled in comparison. What little experience he does have, none of it can truly be described as post partisan. As ironic as it may sound to some people, the truth is that John McCain bring the best kind of change that our country needs!

Posted by: Dan | Aug 18, 2008 11:59:10 AM

haha - i wonder if there will be as many people at this mccain rally as there were after obama became the defacto nominee?!? go for the jello green backdrop again, johnny!

Posted by: cousin chris | Aug 18, 2008 11:59:29 AM

Larry Clifton - Could you please back up your stats. Resorting to calling whites who don't vote democrat racist shows the scoundrel and human waste that you are.

Posted by: Jim Miller | Aug 18, 2008 11:59:49 AM

Thought I'd repost this one, in case y'all missed it ;)

It seems McCain might have plagiarized the Gulag Archipelago with his "cross in the dirt" story.

The same thing happened in that book.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 18, 2008 12:00:10 PM

Note Obama made 51 Million Dollars last Month, who do you think is Divying Up The Cash...Hmmmm

To the young 0bama supporter who posted the above sentence:

America is NOT for Sale ....

McCain 2008

Posted by: beebop | Aug 18, 2008 12:04:45 PM

Are we facing a new realization that the McCain brand is nothing more than stagecraft, a fraud, phony, faked?

He tries to sound authoritative about Georgia and gets caught pulling directly from the Wikipedia article.

He tries to bolster his credentials with the religious right, and now it appears his story of a guard drawing a cross in the dirt may have been nothing more than a retelling of something from a Solzhenitsyn book.

Hmmmm.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 18, 2008 12:05:18 PM

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