The Case for Cantor

The obvious choice for VP is Romney. He brings more than one swing state (MI, CO, NV and possibly more) but Cantor brings only VA where McCain will likely win anyway.

Romney has executive and real world business experience. Cantor has none, as far as I know.

Romney is just as articulate and good looking as Cantor, (not that looks matter to most voters) and has been out there successfully campaigning for McCain for months. Cantor has no where near the level of experience campaigning or debating as Romney does.

Romney ran a successful national campaign, and won in a blue state, Cantor has never run a broad campaign and has won only in a very republican area.

While the author believes Cantor's obscurity is a plus, it is a negative because voters cannot be expected to get excited about someone they hardly know. Romney is very well-known. He's McCain's most visible surrogate, and winning nearly every online poll for veep.

Substitute Romney for Cantor in the paragraph about religion:

Romney is Mormon. He is not just Mormon, but a Mormon who adheres to a strict religious code. Romney is a social conservative. That is a "two-fer." Romney will attract those social conservatives who are overwhelmingly Christian because they rightly see in Romney a real ally in our common war against the muck of modern culture. This is the particular part of the conservative base that McCain needs most to reassure. A religiously serious Mitt Romney does that.

It works, even though I believe religion should not be a consideration.

Cantor does not bring anything Romney doesn't already have. Romney brings much more to the table. He's vetted, he attacks Obama with precision, he has economic credibility and he already has the conservative base, including talk radio.

While Cantor is obviously a great conservative member of the House, Governor Romney is still the most likely man to be chosen as McCain's VP.

I am a bit surprsed that there is no mention of Congressman Cantor's readyness to step into the presidency now. Getting elected is all well and good but supporting someone only because of electability is what has gotten the Democrats into trouble in the past and may well prove the real issue in 2008. McCain's campaign relies on one question: Ready to lead America. Senator Obama's real weakness is that key voters worry he is not ready to lead while others worry that it is not America that he is interested in leading. McCain needs to pick a VP consistent with that single point. Has Congressman Cantor led or followed in the house? Has he proven effective in getting legislaton through? Can he demonstrate a grasp of key foreign and domestic issues? Those are the only questions that count.

Whether or not Cantor is chosen as the VP nominee (I'm from VA, and I think he would make a good one, but maybe we need him in Congress more right now), he bears watching, like Jindal. Cantor is going to bat for America. Men like Cantor and Jindal, as well as Mike Pence, John Boehner, and all the other Republicans who are sticking it out on the Hill while the Left wing of Congress is taking their month-long vacations, give me hope for America.

I will personally be contacting every Republican vet who is running for Congress this years (iraqvetsforcongress.com), and giving them some financial support. I am particularly passionate about defeating John Murtha in PA, who is being strongly challenged by another veteran, Lt. Col. William Russell. Russell is giving Murtha a run for his money, folks. I want the traitor out.

Another young man to keep your eye on is Josh Mandel from OH (state rep). He is a very impressive young man. His state senate service was interrupted when he went to Iraq, and now he's back. He wore out three pair of shoes campaigning. Look him up. There is hope, but we need to know who the good guys are, and we need to support them.

What Pamela said. I can't add anything to her post. I agree completely.

In answer to Pamela, I don't believe a lot of Christians will turn to McCain with Romney on the ticket. He worships a Jesus not of the Bible. Like it or not, Romney will not be good for the ticket. He also flip-flopped on abortion and did not do that great in MA. He didn't run again because he knew he would not win. Didn't he also put in place a healthcare system in MA. We do not need a national healthcare system.

Who is Cantor? The most significant question to ask at this late date. Mitt Romney has been vetted, has had the experience, he has had the successes, is a good conservative, a devoted man to his faith and family, is without a doubt good looking and is ready to step into the Presidency.He is steadfast in his support of McCain and remains focused and articulate under fire - he has proven himself in all venues - Cantor has not - he needs much more experience than what you have detailed. That is the main negative for Obama - lack of experience and it will
definitely NOT help McCain. The Democrats will jump all over it and make fun of any attempts made by Republicans to highlight his lack of experience. What we need is a strong campaign not afraid to discuss over and over again the leftist, socialist, communist influences Obama has had throughout his life and political career. He is DANGEROUS for America and John McCain is not getting that message out. There is a new site launching August 28th - America Deserves Better. It is led by the founders of Move America Forward and promises to reveal repeatedly the reasons why Obama should not and cannot be President. One of the founders is Howard Kaloogian who led the successful recall of Gray Davis in California. They need funding to get these messages out repeatedly over the next few months - We The People will be the ones to defeat Obama and we need to do it now - put our money where our mouths are and get it done. We must support this effort - the money machine for Obama is far and wide and out of this country - if you know what I mean. We need Mitt Romney at least as VP with the hope of President before or by 2012.Let us not be distracted by "potentially" good VP candidates - we know what we have in Romney and it is all good for America.

Who is Cantor? The most significant question to ask at this late date. Mitt Romney has been vetted, has had the experience, he has had the successes, is a good conservative, a devoted man to his faith and family, is without a doubt good looking and is ready to step into the Presidency.He is steadfast in his support of McCain and remains focused and articulate under fire - he has proven himself in all venues - Cantor has not - he needs much more experience than what you have detailed. That is the main negative for Obama - lack of experience and it will
definitely NOT help McCain. The Democrats will jump all over it and make fun of any attempts made by Republicans to highlight his lack of experience. What we need is a strong campaign not afraid to discuss over and over again the leftist, socialist, communist influences Obama has had throughout his life and political career. He is DANGEROUS for America and John McCain is not getting that message out. There is a new site launching August 28th - America Deserves Better. It is led by the founders of Move America Forward and promises to reveal repeatedly the reasons why Obama should not and cannot be President. One of the founders is Howard Kaloogian who led the successful recall of Gray Davis in California. They need funding to get these messages out repeatedly over the next few months - We The People will be the ones to defeat Obama and we need to do it now - put our money where our mouths are and get it done. We must support this effort - the money machine for Obama is far and wide and out of this country - if you know what I mean. We need Mitt Romney at least as VP with the hope of President before or by 2012.Let us not be distracted by "potentially" good VP candidates - we know what we have in Romney and it is all good for America.

Walker makes perfect sense to me. But I'm a conservative. Will Walker's reasoning make sense to non-conservatives?

Not to nitpick, but Joe Lieberman is no social conservative. He is strongly pro-abortion, which is completely contrary to orthodox Judaism, whose law says that abortion is strictly prohibited, unless the LIFE of the mother is at risk, in which case the abortion is REQUIRED.

With the single exception of Iraq and Middle East policy, Lieberman is a liberal's liberal. What is Lieberman's ACU rating?

Are there a lot of Jewish swing voters in PA, OH and MI?

If McCain chooses Romney he loses.

Romney is no more a convservative than McCain.

People that are pushing Romney WANT the Republicans to lose this election.

End of story.

Cantor would be a candidate who would rally the conservative base that is frequently at war with McCain.

Over the last few weeks he has demonstrated on radio and television that he can effectively take the fight to Obama. He has done so on Iraq, Israel, taxes, and oil drilling. He is young, principled, accomplished, and articulate. He is popular in the battleground State of Virginia and his popularity in the Jewish community will help McCain in Florida and Michigan.

The Leftists understand that his limited national exposure is a potential asset. That is why Daily Kos, Moveon, Huffington, and the Democratic Party have all taken aim at Cantor.

Cantor is also the only Republican candidate who has an independent, internet based movement promoting his campaign. This is fitting for one of the few Republicans in Congress who has a real presence on the web because he is an innovative user of the internet.

Check out and join the Cantor movement. You can make a difference in this important decision. Go to www.ericcantorforvp.com

If Mac wants wants to lose big, he will get Cantor.
People want a VP for America First.
We had enough neocons.

Sorry, Eric Cantor will not be McCain's VP.

VPs are almost never taken from the ranks of the House of Representatives - in fact, Presidential nominees are rarely taken from the Senate too ... we forget, this year's race between two Senators is nearly unprecedented.

A governor or former governor would be a logical choice for McCain who himself has never held an executive elected post.

Romney? Possibly, but McCain dislikes him and a majority of Republicans dislike Romney too ... Romney only weakens McCain with the conservative "base" which does not trust Romney .. and the center-right component of the Party dislikes Romney for pandering to the far right.

Best bets for McCain would be someone like Sarah Pallin (Alaska gov. and a strong conservative with strong energy policy creds - being a woman will help with HRC voters), or possibly Mississippi's Haley Barbour (also a gov., a Southerner, a former RNC chair, and an executive who performed magnificently during and after Hurricane Katrina, as contrasted with his sorry Dem counterpart in Louisiana).

There are other Pub guvs available, but Minnesota's Pawlenty seems too mousy for most people (he'd be the "Anti-Cheney", and he cannot be forgiven for saying nice things about Obama this week), Florida's Crist is too centrist for the right wing, and Perry, being from Texas, well, I think American voters want someone from anywhere but Texas at this point in time.

The safe bet would be Barbour. The exciting bet would be Pallin.

I like Cantor but I don't think the VP matters at all(unless it is a really bad choice.) Edwards didn't deliver NC. Cheney was probably not a deciding factor in either of Bush's elections. Nor did Gore matter much for Clinton's victories.

About this sentence "He is not just Jewish, but a Jew who keeps Kosher, like Joe Lieberman." This is a really wierd way to word the fact that Cantor is an observant Jew. Being Torah observant goes beyond keeping kosher. No offense, but I think you should know that to a Jewish person, this is a really strange way to communicate the concept, as if the writer doesn't understand what it means to keep kosher or observe the Torah.

Contrary to what Margaret said, Mormons do believe in the Jesus Christ of the Bible. I know because I am one, and I do. (I'm actually getting rather tired of folks telling me what I believe.) But, what does that matter? Is that now a requirement for political office? Is Cantor acceptable as a Jew, but a Mormon cannot be?

In my previous comment, I included the paragraph about Romney in the place of Cantor for a reason. Everything the author said there about Cantor applies equally to Romney, but some refuse to see it.

There is a small segment of evangelicals who will not accept Romney based upon his religion alone. Some have threatened McCain if he chooses Romney. Our party must be above this kind of destructive division. Romney in truth, is a friend to social conservatives. We don't need an internal religious war. We don't need bullies or hostage-takers, either.

The truth is that these "religious" leaders who threatened McCain do not represent the majority of evangelical voters. Almost as many evangelicals voted for Romney as for Huckabee. McCain will rebuff them, and he will win without their votes.

In defense of Romney over his abortion change, we know that Reagan did the very same thing. Only he actually signed abortion into law in CA. Romney did nothing of the sort, but was 100% pro-life at every opportunity. I believe evangelicals have nothing to fear with Romney as VP or president, but have a lot to gain. The great majority of social conservative leaders in Mass believe Romney was a great ally in their causes.

Appealing to independents and undecideds is the key. Electing a Jewish V.P. makes history and will have some attraction to voters in the middle. The move gives them consolation for heeding their mind, and denying their heart, on pushing the Presidency through the color barrier. The bonus is that Cantor's an articulate conservative from Virginia. Why muddle the issue with the author of RomneyCare and Prolife Waffles -- how many voters can he pull from the middle?

I beg to differ with Skeptic. The majority of republicans actually do like Romney. Recent polls show Romney is the favorite of the base for VP. Nearly every online poll is heavily favoring Romney. They may not scientific, but they do reflect voter sentiment. And remember, Romney won more actual republican votes before he dropped out than all of the other candidates. He won CPAC the past 2 years.

Sarah Palin is effectively out. She foolishly praised Obama's $1000 stimulus idea the other day, showing she's not politically astute enough. She is under investigation for abuse of power. She has a thin resume and is unprepared for a national campaign.

Want a bit of flash or spark? McCain definately needs a female VP on the ticket. And, McCain needs to take the initiative before Obama does. Otherwise, what would we have but just another pair of "conservative" white guys running. So ho-hum!

Pamela, I grew up as an evangelical fundamentalist -- Grace Brethren Church. My mother still lives in Winona Lake, IN, where the church headquarters is located, as well as their college and seminary.

My mother told me that she voted for Romney in the IN primaries and she is really hoping and praying that McCain chooses him as his VP.

My whole family, as well as myself, are solidly behind Mitt Romney and think he would make a wonderful VP or President.

America needs a man of Mitt Romney's caliber - and his wife, Anne, would make a wonderful first lady.

Sarah Palin would be the most brilliant move made by the big Mac in this race.
That would a check mate to Hussein Obama...

July 22, 2008 AOL Straw Poll - results of 114,310 Americans nationally:

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/07/22/hot-seat-who-will-mccain-pick/

You can click on each state to see how they voted, but here's an example:

Iowa(758 votes): 63% Mitt Romney
Kansas(610 votes): 63% Mitt Romney
Nebraska(350 votes): 64% Mitt Romney
Missouri(1,757 votes): 62% Mitt Romney
Indiana:(2,037 votes): 63% Mitt Romney
Ohio:(4,610 votes): 64% Mitt Romney
Miss:(789 votes): 63% Mitt Romney
MA:(2,754 votes): 70% Mitt Romney
N.C.:(3,307 votes): 63% Mitt Romney
W.VA:(630 votes): 61% Mitt Romney
CA:(11,867 votes): 65%

Swing States:

PA:(4,974 votes): 62% Mitt Romney
MI:(2,927 votes): 71% Mitt Romney
FL:(13,112): 66% Mitt Romney

Only Minnesota voted for another person over Romney: Pawlenty (43%) Romney (39%)

In Virginia, Cantor's own state, 6% voted for Cantor, 60% for Romney. In all other states that I checked, Cantor gets anywhere from 0% to 3%.

This is not a professional poll like Rasumussen or Gallup, but it is a non-partisan poll and you can only vote once.

Christine Todd Whitman?

If we choose a female VP so we can beat the Dems to it, I think we're just playing Identity Politics, just like the Dems - and look at the fine mess it's gotten them into this election year?! (as Oliver Hardy was wont to say)

I thank Bruce Walker for his vote of confidence for Congressman Cantor--a fine man and clearly a good potential choice from the point of view of a fellow conservative.

I feel the kind of reactions generated in the responses demonstrates a kind of hair-splitting that has helped to make Republicans unattractive among the general electorate. Dems look at a big pile of losers and socialists and somehow find merit with each of them--most of them thoroughly unqualified and poor choices for America--the wife of an impeached former President, Mike Gravel (are you kidding?)ambulance chaser John Edwards, Joe Biden (need I say more?)etc. From the point of view of the Dems--they are all exciting and fabulous. When it is our turn, we make a good candidate such as Romney into a punching bag, a fine young Governor like Sarah Palin as "finished" before she has even begun to get started, Bobby Jindal and too young and ethnic looking and now Eric Cantor as too "unknown"--this is not a good way to win an election.

When the nominee is chosen, other options will be foreclosed. If it is Romney, it can't be anyone else. If it is Sarah Palin, it won't be someone else. So what? They are all acceptable, each bring something unique and good to the ticket.

Conservatives are fine to keep principles intact. What we need to do now is to protect the country by winning FIRST--then we can fuss over the fine points. We have a very good shot at losing the Presidency to a bunch of mindless socialists. Please let's keep some perspective here.

Cantor is conservative that's for sure but if McCain wants a conservative he should pick Jeb Hensarling of Tx. He is what conservatives have been wanting for a long time.

After Dan Quayle, why would anyone vote for someone just because he is young and handsome? Who cares if he looks the part?
Republicans are not THAT shallow.
Only one pick could excite me: Joe Lieberman.
Now THAT would be taking a risk - for both men.

Cantor sounds great with this intro.

Who has vetted Cantor?

No sense in getting excited before the vetting clears all closets and storage units of possible problems.

But Cantor sounds great!

It was almost painful to count the number of times Mitt Romney was on both sides of an issue. To watch him on YouTube passionately defend abortion was such a disappointment. Mitt was goofy on guns as well.

This choice has extra meaning beyond the usual political equation, since Mr. McCain is not a spring chicken. The ability to lead will be very important. Although Mr. Cantor sounds like a fine man and Congressman, I would like to know more about his observable experiences of leadership.

My first choice was John Kasich, but since he is considering the Ohio governorship, I would have to choose Haley Barbour. He did such a good job of drawing distinctions between Republicans and Democrats when he was chairman of the RNC. His Katrina leadership strongly contrasted with the abysmal efforts of Blanco in LA.

Let's face it: this is politics, and Barbour is a very good politician. He doesn't take any crap, and Democrats are flush with it this time around. Barbour's no-nonsense approach rivals that of Fred Thompson. Sensible folks above the Mason-Dixon should appreciate this.

Mitt is a business genius and, from what I hear, a great fair boss. All the criteria I need. The USA is the biggest freedom enterprise on earth...ever. It needs a seasoned loyal American CEO on the bridge, not indoctrinated incompetent Marxist theorists. Marx psychologically killed God in the hearts of generations...then his vile Orcs killed millions mercilessly. It was spoken by the founders that our survival is contingent on a God fearing virtuous people and leaders. Period. I'll take Mitt's authentic humble Christianity any day, over Rev. Wright's perverted black militant church of hate.

Mark 4:55 am gets it exactly right.

Lots of fun to guess about ticket and ideological balance, but McCain needs to pick someone who resonates with a broad spectrum of the country as "ready to be President". Someone who, when you hear the name, elicits a "Yeah, that makes sense, I'm comfortable with 'him'" as a fair and rational leader, experienced, tempered, ethical, and trustworthy.

Who can best lead our country, and is ready, now?

Huntsman has a strong resume and favorable ratings across the spectrum. Any others with foreign and domestic/executive/business resume, and strong favorables?

current wagers on Republican VP

Cantor has contracts being bid at intrade for 7.2

The same contract on Romney is at about 30, with Pawlenty in second at 20.1.

http://www.intrade.com/jsp/intrade/contractSearch/

We need to stop adding names to the mix - it is getting late and we need to focus on rallying support for McCain and Mitt Romney. I must chuckle when I read comments like "so many do not like Mitt Romney" - I know then that they are spoilers - probably Democratic spies waiting to comment. What in the world is not to like - the man is great in so many ways - perfect? no one is perfect but he is the closest to perfect I have ever met - and I have met with him on 4 occasions and walked away each time more impressed and proud than the first time. He is what America needs - a serious business man who knows how to recognize and establish priorities that lead to success. He also knows how to work with others to get a job done. Those who criticize him do not know him and they fear his presence in Washington because he might actually get something done. For once, let us make a decision based on what is right for America - that would be Mitt Romney.

Presidential candidates stand or sink on their own. I doubt anyone will change their decision to vote for McCain or not based on the VP pick.

I'm intrigued by Cantor - he'd make an interesting President, returning us to the earliest days of our democracy (when the Founding Fathers were Deists) by having a non-believer (in Jesus) in the WH.

And having an Orthodox Jew with the ability to launch ICBM's would certainly concentrate the minds of muslims. The Saudi Royals will have a fit if he's picked!

I believe that the ability to articulate the campaign's agenda is very important in selecting McCain's VP. Romney is by far the most articulate of the potential VP's being discussed, and he has tremendous business experience. Romney also can raise significant amounts of cash for the party following the convention which can be used to attack Obama. I believe that his performances on the network and cable news shows have been pretty good. He aggressively counters the distorsions and bias of the media, and he stays on message. He is a very disciplined attack dog. Unfortunately, Pawlenty doesn't appear to be very clever, and his personality seems meek. I don't think Pawlenty will be a factor. Ridge is a good man, but he has not been very effective on the media shows in carrying the message, and I believe that he would be a lackluster campaigner.

Who articulates McCain Positions better than Romney? Who has a better Resume than Romney? Who could help McCain make "Purple States Red" better than Romney?

He's a Mormon.... So what... Look at what he has done with his own life if you want to focus on "Social Values"; or look what he has done with the Companies that he has worked with or the troubled Olympics if you want to focus on "Fiscal Values"; or look at how he is supporting McCain when it comes to Foreign Policy Values....

He flipped from "Pro-Choice to Pro-Life"; he fought the Libs of MA on Same Sex Marriage but lost through the courts; He took a state that was $2B in the red and left office 4 years later with a surplus (and to do that he closed some corpoate loopholes and raised some fees)..... GET OVER IT!

Considering what is going on with this Country and this World, this guy is the best Running Mate Available for McCain.... Period..... Unless, of course, folk simply don't want to be Objective... I am a very conservative Evangelical from the South and I can guarantee you that the people of Faith will openly and enthusiastically support McCain/Romney over even the slightest possibility that Obama could end up running this country with his views on Abortion, on Court Appointments, on Gun Control, on Gay Marriage, on a "No Drill and No Nuke" Energy policy, etc., etc.,...

As a Jew (and an Israeli), I'd like to comment on Rep. Cantor's status as a Jew.

First: I do not know what denomination of Judaism he practices. (However, I doubt he is a practicing Orthodox Jew. Sen. Lieberman is often incorrectly described that way too.)

Rep. Cantor was raised in the Conservative movement, according to this bio:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Ecantor.html

and we have read that he and his wife keep kosher.

Frankly, the fact that he does not advertise his precise religious affiliation is notable. I take that as a gentle reminder that how he prays is his own damn business.

In re keeping kosher as something notable in itself -- let me just point out that it's one of the more obvious ways that a Jew can be set apart. What does Rep. Cantor eat on the campaign trail in Virginia? It's not easy to constantly be refusing food for religious reasons.

If Rep. Cantor does indeed refuse non-kosher food, in public as well as in private, then my hat's off to him for his integrity. Contrariwise, if he keeps kosher at home but not in public, then I don't see why he'd bother mentioning it at all; bragging for something you do at home, when you don't do it in public, strikes me as Obama-esque.

I'd be delighted if Rep. Cantor is chosen as Sen. McCain's VP. I'd like to see Gov. Romney, but I see that as unlikely, for the reasons others have already given. Haley Barbour intrigues me.

But Cantor would be an asset, if for no other reason, because he's already made all the right enemies!

respectfully,
Daniel in Brookline

Lots of good, qualified names. I like Romney, Lieberman and Jindal but if Jindal can keep cleaning house in Louisiana he will have established a track record the next time around. I have been very impressed with Mike Pence of Indiana. He is probably better known than Cantor and has definitely shown his dedication to conservative principles. For example, how many politicians would vote against the Farm Bill in an agricultural state?
Mike is an excellent speaker and can hold his own in any debate.

Back to Lieberman, I think he would pull a lot of democratic swing votes from those who are not happy with the prospect of Obama's rapture with the prospect of higher taxes etc.