Potential Bombshell!! Will McCain Announce Mitt Romney As His Running Mate In O’Fallon, Mo. Aug.31??
I was driving from my home in Kirkwood, Mo. to Clayton, Mo. to get my new auto license plates this morning and I was listening to the conservative ( what else? ) talk radio station in St. Louis, 97.1 FM, when I heard the co-host, Jamie Allman, say that he had just gotten information that McCain, Romney and Huckabee had announced that they will host a campaign rally at a minor league ball park in the St. Louis suburb of O’Fallon, Mo. on Sunday Aug. 31!!!
Jamie said that the info was so new that they didn’t have it up on their website at the time I was listening to the show. When I got home around 5:30 PM, I logged on and went to my emails first and then to this site to see what had been posted. I didn’t see any posts or emails on the event, so I thought to myself, did I get the info right? When I clicked on the station’s website, all the information I heard this morning was there. The site had this to say: “Join 97.1 FM Talk at the Road to the Convention Rally with John and Cindy McCain with his newly announced VP running mate on August 31, 2008 at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O’Fallon, Mo.” Special guest appearances by Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and country singer John Rich.
I don’t want to be a sensationalist or to spread false hype. At this point, this is all I know. We are heading up to McCain’s St. Louis H.Q. early Saturday morning to get tickets. I’ll post again tomorrow as soon as we get back. In the meantime, if any eagle-eyed Mittheads scope out any more skinny, please weigh in at the comments section.
~~John Cronin~~
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12711.html
And that interpretation was reinforced when word spread among Romney loyalists last night that the vice presidential rollout tour included Michigan.
But Michigan is a battleground, and the tour also includes a stop in the swing state of Ohio a week from today.
Making matters more confusing, Politico has learned that McCain will visit suburban St. Louis for a major rally with Romney and his still-bitter primary nemesis Mike Huckabee on Sunday, Aug. 31, the day before the start of the GOP convention.
Top Missouri Republicans yesterday received the invitation for a rally featuring McCain and his two top primary challengers. They’ll be joined by country star John Rich at a minor league baseball stadium in O’Fallon, Mo., about 35 miles west of St. Louis.
Missouri was hard-fought territory on Super Tuesday, with each of the three Republicans faring well. So the event would seem to represent a pre-convention unity rally in a swing state where each has a strong following. But Huckabee and Romney can hardly stand one another, and Huckabee has warned twice this month against selecting his once and perhaps future rival.
It would take a considerable act of pride-swallowing for Huckabee to stand before thousands of fans and watch as McCain touts Romney as his running mate.
But then it would take the same amount of magnamity for Romney to join such a rally the day before the convention if McCain were to tap somebody else as his veep choice and then laud that person in Missouri.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I got the email too. i live about an hour below st louis, mo.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Gosh, this is so confusing. The wayit is set up, it could be either of them, couldn’t it???? I hae to pray it is NOT Huckabee. He simply does NOT deserve it and wouldn’t do near the job that Mitt would.
On the other hand, could this be one of those, “make nice to unify the party….” deals???
I am just so flummoxed. I cannot even understand why anyone would want to take Huckabee anywhere let alone for something like a potential announcement of this sort if it was his nemesis…
all very interesting and VERY confusing! K
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I think it’s Mitt . . . and Huckabee will then have to stop the trashing of Mitt at every turn.
Huck is on Greta right now. I made my husband turn the channel immediately. I didn’t want to hear the almost-certain last-minute trash talk about Mitt one more time.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
CNN & Fox has confirmed it’s NOT Evan Bayh.
Susan Estrich on Fox: “lets just say, from the highest source, it’s not Hillary. Obama has made a huge mistake”
I’m 90% sure it’s Biden.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I think Biden makes Romney more likely; with Bayh, Pawlenty’s relative low-keyness doesn’t match up Biden
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Marybeth,
Someone posted here a couple of days ago that they believed Huckabee has been “taken to the woodshed” over his criticism of Mitt, who has done more to bring credibility to McCain’s campaign, than Huckabee could hope for in his wildest dreams.
I think there is a lot of truth to that. Huckabee at this point has got to decide whether or not he will become a team player, or be banished from the corridors of Republican power.
The ball’s in his court.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Amy,
Let me know here in the comments section if you want to go. I don’t know how many tickets they’ll let us have, but if I can get some extra tickets for you, I’ll be glad to do so.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
John, I believe you are correct in that the Reverend Huck was warned about bashing the V.P. pick . Tonight on Greta’s show , the Huckster actually did not bash Romney , telling me that Mitt Romney is going to be the one .
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Evelio: That is very interesting. I am sure it was quite a performance!
You guys that go to the event in MO, be sure to take pix to post, ok??? I think if thigs go our way, that willl be the most fun (funnest?) place to be…
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Evelio,
I saw that segment, too. The Huckster was uncharacteristically restrained.
It suggests to me as well that Mitt may have just been added to the starting lineup and Pastor Mike will be warming the bench!
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I agree that if Obama has chosen Biden, it bodes well for Mitt. Here are my thoughts:
1. Biden is aggressive. McCain will need a VP who is willing to go for the jugular, and that is Mitt.
2. Biden was harshly critical of Obama during the primary, and there is plenty of video to prove it. This will prevent the Dems from making an issue of the animosity that once existed between Mitt and Mac.
3. The economy is the issue of the day, and Mitt is an economic genius. Obama/Biden, on the other hand, are sorely lacking in this area.
So please, please, please let it be Biden!
My only concern is that McCain may feel he needs a female VP to sway the disgruntled Hillary supporters.
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
P.S. Wouldn’t it be great if McCain announced his pick right away tomorrow morning to steal the spotlight from Obama?
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Go Mitt!!!!!!!!!!
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I can’t stand the wait any longer lol That’s so exciting that a couple of you may be able to attend that rally in MO. Have a great time and for sure take pics!
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
JA, you are on to something re Biden beating up on Obama during the primaries. Yes, that’s normal to a degree, but Biden is, relatively speaking, a centrist, and, basically supported the Iraq War.
So I think a major part of McCain’s strategy will have to be divide and conquer. McCain should play up Biden’s positions on Iraq immediately so as to tick off people at the convention. And stur-up a Hillary revolt.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Anyone know when the Michigan rally is? I heard that there will be a 29 Aug rally in OH, but then also one sometime afterwards in MI. ??
If Mitt is picked up as VP I’ll be going to show my new-found support of Sen McCain, bringing myself back into politics again.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Don’t understand why both Romney AND Huckabee would be making this trip together???? Doesn’t make sense to me… what am I missing here folks?
I admit, I “visit” Hucks army forum sometimes and they of course, all seem to think it’s Huckabee because of this trip…
I just don’t know anymore *SIGH*
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Tami, it’s not Huckabee. The two plausible choices are either (1) it’s neither of them, and the trip/event is to show party unity and neither is the VP choice; or (2) Romney is the choice. Honestly, I don’t think there’s evidence to indicate which it is, but Huckabee is definitely not in contention.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:46 pm
SteveinBrooklyn, I surely pray you are right! I cannot bear the thought of the alternative! There is a guy on race42008 that says he has rock solid sources that say it is Mitt… Said his rock solid sources told him weeks ago it would be Mitt…. shall we pray?
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:01 am
If it is truly Romney, then, of course, McCain will demand that Huckabee go out of his way to show support for Mitt. This will be an important signal to evangelicals that Romney as VP will be acceptable to them. This explains why both Mitt and Huckabee are going to appear together.
Just my .02
Andrew
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:19 am
Oh my, now the pot thickens, I might just not make it to that hot fudge sundae. I think we have more suspense than the Dems. Many said if it was Biden, it would most likely be Mitt. We are all going to be crazy before this is done.
So glad you folks will see Mitt,we’ll be waiting for the reports and pix?? What a week this is going to be. Hold on, it’s almost over. At least the vp pick, next the election, whewie!
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
Andrew, I totally agree with you!