How Palin beat Crist for the GOP Republican nomination
by Michael C. Bender | August 3rd, 2009In a preview of their upcoming book, The Battle for America 2008, Washington Post reporters Dana Balz & Haynes Johnson write that Gov. Charlie Crist was among John McCain’s six finalists for vice president:
McCain’s search for a running mate had started in the spring with about two dozen names. Palin was not a serious candidate. One person said she wasn’t even on the initial list; others said she was — barely. It was only later in the summer, when the campaign team became alarmed at the size of Obama’s lead among women, that she was added to the list of genuine contenders. “Toward the end of the process, in July, we started taking a look at, like okay, who are we missing? Let’s take a sharper look at women candidates and try that one more time,” Davis said. “That’s when Palin came on.” Palin, he added, “stood out significantly from the rest of that list.”
Eventually, McCain narrowed his choices to six finalists. In addition to Palin, they were independent-Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman; McCain’s former rival, Mitt Romney; Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty; New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg; and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal might have been a finalist had he not taken himself out of contention.
Until days before McCain’s deadline, Lieberman appeared to be in the lead, although one top official later said it was never as clear-cut as that. “If you characterize this as yes or no on Lieberman and then someone else [became the top contender], that’s not it at all,” he said. “Was he the romantic pick? Yes.”
Tags: Charlie Crist, John McCain, Sarah Palin
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August 3rd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
The cynicism of the choice is disappointing, but not surprising. Consider though how the invisible hand moved this relatively unknown lady into national prominence despite the party leaderships reluctance to support people of real principle.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Faulty decision making by Republicans at the federal level cost McCain the election. Had they properly vetted her, they’d have realized Palin is a moron and should never have been let loose on a national stage.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Wrong realist. The full dimension of Palin’s lack of knowledge wasn’t realized until after the election. McCain was gaining until the economic and financial collapses. That’s what saved us from Palin.
August 4th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
It is about time the truth came out. Anyone with half a brain or just a pinch of common sense knew McCain picked Palin because she was a woman.
The only option that makes any sense is Romney. Rumor has it that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty mismanaged the state’s finances and rumor has it that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is just as dumb as Palin. Out side of the northeast, Florida, and California most people view New York as an undesirable place and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg would be a no go. Let me guess the Democrats have a black so we have an Asian.
The decision was horrible. Who ever was on the vetting team should have been fired and should never be hired again.
Hopefully Romney wins this time around!!