Would John McCain Pick Mike Bloomberg?

11.06.2008

The New York Post has a wonderfully Postian headline today, "MAC: MIKE STILL IN VEEPSTAKES" about the possibility of New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, joining the GOP ticket. As usual, John McCain had effusive praise for his old friend:

"We don't talk about our vice-presidential possibilities," [McCain] said, but pointedly added, "I appreciate Mayor Bloomberg enormously and the great job he's done as mayor."

Bloomberg's been spoken about as a strong potential v.p. contender for both candidates--the only American with that unlikely distinction--and I assessed his chances in the latest issue of TNR. The gist: Though he's been an excellent mayor, and would be in many ways an appealing addition to either campaign, it ain't gonna happen. And it shouldn't happen--because vice president is a uniquely ill-fitting position for Mayor Mike. You can read the piece, "Second To None," here, and find TNR's complete Veeptacular coverage here.

--Ben Wasserstein

Posted: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 11:00 AM with 5 comment(s)

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Rhubarbs said:

Both parties should take a lesson from the Whigs: Don't put someone who isn't a member of your own party on your ticket. Both Whig presidents had WINO VPs -- Whigs In Name Only -- and both died, and both VPs went on to conduct ruinously anti-Whig administrations.

If you count Lincoln as the third Whig president on account of his having been a Whig before he was a Republican, then the Whigs are three-for-three in elevating non-Whigs to the White House with bad VP picks.

So it's nice PR to make a show of considering someone who isn't from your party. But it's a bad idea to put him on the ticket. History shows that if you're Tippecanoe, you shouldn't put Tyler on your ticket too.

June 11, 2008 11:19 AM

rozenson said:

I don't think the way for McCain to solidify support with Southern Evangelicals is to place one of the chosen on the bottom half of the ticket. (Makes me meshugga, let me tell you!) As I say, other religions do not exist in the general election. Everyone in America is Christian when the parties have their nominees, especially for the Republicans.

June 11, 2008 11:23 AM

liberal reformer said:

Michael Bloomberg will not be named as veep on either ticket. Johnny Mac cannot afford alienate the right and this pick would do it. The Barackster is going to pick a Democrat, so that is that.

June 11, 2008 11:58 AM

Wandreycer1 said:

McCain is old friends with Bloomy, he's probably just doing him he favor of keeping his name in a high profile rotation. Bloomy wants to keep his juice up for whatever he choses next and he's made alot of good friends in high places.

June 11, 2008 1:09 PM

clifton said:

A billion dollars sounds like a good reason to pick Bloomberg. In a single moment, McCain would nullify Obama's' financial advantage, and shore up his weakness: economics.

Or do I misunderstand campaign finance laws?

June 11, 2008 6:20 PM