Mitt Romney, at the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) meeting, dropped out of the presidential race. John McCain has wrapped up the GOP Nomination. Good for John McCain, a man that had endured more pain and anguish than most people ever do in a lifetime, for sealing up the republican presidential nod. He is a good man, regardless of any policy differences and choices he has with the far right, and has an 84% republican rating and voting record.
The democrats are far from picking their nominee. The coronation of the next democrat nominee for president, may go thru march and even to the Democratic National Convention, depending on who is behind. Where Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will have to squabble for delegates, keep on the campaign trail, and maybe, just maybe distinguish policy discrepancies. John McCain will not, and has a rare opportunity.
McCain should announce, in the next week, that Mike Huckabee will be his vice presidential nominee, even if he "doesn't win the presidential nomination." Huckabee could stay on the ticket, primaries and debates would continue, and then after four to six weeks Mike Huckabee can "officially drop off of the ticket and become the vice presidential candidate." John McCain and Mike Huckabee could explain differences to the republican party, getting the Christian and Evangelical right focused, and make some history. All the while, creating a huge media buzz for the GOP.
Why John McCain wants Huckabee to on the GOP ticket and announce his plans for making him VP?
1. John McCain has the nomination wrapped up, with a bow, BUT he does not have the "far right" (Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Brent Bozell, Dr. James Dobson, Laura Ingram, and other media figures, plus voters) in his corner now. However, when it comes to the actual election, republicans are going to vote for John McCain, rather than voting Hillary, or for Obama. Therefore, John McCain can use the "Huckabee to the White House" symbol, to go to debates [town hall meetings and the primaries], get the American public, the far right and republican base, to get to know more of both Huckabee and McCain. Proving to the base, that they are not only decisive and have a plan, but more than republican enough.
2. Huckabee and McCain have not got in the mud, smeared each other to date, and will not start anytime soon. Therefore, they should go into every primary and debate talking about how their previous records, future policies, and plans "in detail" for the country. All the while, hammering home differences between the GOP candidates and the democratic hopefuls. Huckabee was a hit and won states/delegates, the more people got to know him, his humble background, and he had a huge like ability factor. Every media and public situation will be free advertising and more air time, for them. Plus, the more people and "the right" get to know the intentions of the McCain/Huckabee ticket (thru pundits, talk shows and radio, debates and interviews), the faster the base will come back to them.
3. Announcing Huckabee as a VP candidate, while he is technically running on the ballot for president, shows that McCain is thinking of "change." Change, has been the catch phrase of Obama, Hillary, and Romney, though they have not actually put into exact words what and how they would be changing. If McCain (like I actually predicted, three weeks ago, in this blog) goes this route, while they are both running for president (technically), combining debates into actual stump speeches and primaries into polling data, there is nothing to lose. He is not going to find a huge conservative candidate, bring him into the public eye, and get momentum in time, so this could be a great decision. However, it has to be planned and timed correctly.
If John McCain makes Mike Huckabee, into "Huckaveep," while Mike is still "running for president," it would be a flashback to the days of "the "Maverick" John McCain. McCain and Huckabee would be utilizing every minute they have together, by forming fresh ideas and policies (while the democrats are still battling), to show both republicans and independents, their agenda. The "Straight Talk Express" (McCain) would have a VP candidate, that has only gained in popularity and won states that McCain hasn't. It would also allow the republican party to reunite, and maybe have a rebirth. Both candidates get their message across, through most of the primaries and media debates, and roll into the Republican National Convention together. They would be gathering steam, approval ratings, most of the dirt on them would be dug up, and democrats would still be duking it out, not laying a glove on them.
