Jun 27
Thune makes another VP list
By Denise Ross
South Dakota’s own John Thune has made another list of prospective VP’s in U.S. News & World Report. This under the “Demographic Appeal” category:
John Thune became a conservative hero when he beat incumbent South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle. Thune, 47, endorsed McCain early on and would help with voters in the Midwest and the West. But he is a senator with little national stature.
Daschle is not on the list as a potential Obama VP, although I would put his odds at slightly better than Thune’s.
There’s also this from a companion USN&WR piece:
With western states expected to be contested, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, 47, a Christian conservative from the Plains, could be an asset with voters on the left side of the Mississippi River. Though not well known outside of GOP circles, the telegenic Thune became a party hero four years ago when he defeated incumbent Sen. Tom Daschle, now an Obama adviser. He endorsed McCain early and is extremely popular among party activists. “A phenomenal guy,” says one McCain adviser.
*P.S. - Posted with apologies to Bill Fleming and any other liberals who grouse at talk of Thune’s VP prospects. But, hey, I toolldd you it wasn’t just me saying this stuff.
3 Comments so far
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Thune has a much better chance than Daschle. Obama has taken a hard line against federal lobbyists, so selecting a running mate whose wife is a prominent lobbyist, and who himself is tied to a lobbying firm, would be trouble. It is also hard for Obama to “turn the page” with the Democratic leader of the past.
I don’t think those are legitimate reasons to keep Daschle off the ticket; I just think he doesn’t fit what Obama needs. Daschle is a very likely White House Chief of Staff, I think.
Other than problems with the base, McCain’s economic stance is deplorable. He has no empathy for farmers, Indians, renewable fuels, rural strife, etc. and that’s just in the midwest. Overall, he’s weak on the economy.
McCain will appeal to these folks in the heartland if he picks somebody like Thune who “gets it” on these issues. He’d have my vote and many others with Thune on the ticket.
thats why mccain needs romney… someone who can handle the financial affairs o_o
-John