Talk of John Kerry tapping John McCain (R-Ariz.) as his running mate refuses to go away. In fact, the talk is getting louder, not quieter.
Oddly enough, lending credence to the notion that this ticket is a distinct possibility, a lot of the talk is coming directly from the Kerry campaign.
If there is a consensus among Kerry aides about who would be the boldest and most potent pick, it is Senator John S. McCain of Arizona — a Republican.
While Kerry has talked about his search with few people other than his wife, campaign manager, and the head of his search committee, Washington power broker James A. Johnson, many high-level staff members believe — based on Kerry’s past and recent comments — that McCain will get serious consideration.
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Not only could McCain help Kerry pick up crucial Electoral College votes in a pivotal Southwestern battleground state, but the former Vietnam prisoner of war would also be a staunch ally for what is expected to be a fierce battle with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. In addition, his selection would provide powerful thematic lines both for the fall campaign and the potential Kerry presidency.
The union of a Democrat and a Republican “would make good on the president’s promise to be a uniter, not a divider,” said one Kerry aide, who like the others spoke on the condition of anonymity. Such a ticket could offer Americans the prospect of a reduction in the partisanship that has increasingly gripped Capitol Hill during the past decade, as well as a return to the national unity experienced in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
Above all, the aides hypothesize that by choosing McCain as a running mate, Kerry would energize the election, create a weeks-long buzz in the media, and, perhaps most importantly, attract the support of swing and independent voters from both parties.
My friend Poppy at Patridiot Watch, however, noticed a side-benefit that I hadn’t even considered.
Right now, the U.S. Senate is split 51 to 49. (Technically, it’s 51-48-1, but the lone independent is Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont who caucuses with the Dems and votes for the Dem leadership.)
If McCain did accept an invitation to join Kerry’s ticket, he’d have to change parties and become a Dem. At this point, McCain believes the Republican Party has “gone astray” and sees the Dem Party as “a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and their philosophy,” so maybe that wouldn’t be too tough of a switch to make.
But that would do something interesting to the make-up of the Senate — the GOP would lose its majority.
So McCain for VP would not only bring Arizona into play and counter any concerns about a Kerry administration being soft on defense, it would also put the Senate back into absolute parity. This would prevent the Republicans from forcing political votes as they have been trying to do, and prevent any right wing activist judges from getting through committees.
Good point. After the 2000 election, the Senate was 50-50 with Cheney as the tie-breaker. In light of the even split, Daschle and Lott struck a “power-sharing” deal. Presumably, if McCain joined the Dems, the Senate would have to bring the deal back to accommodate another 50-50 Senate.
I still don’t believe a Kerry-McCain ticket is going to happen — maybe all this is a trial balloon to make Karl Rove lose sleep at night? — but I have to admit there are a lot of interesting possibilities associated with a McCain switch.