PHOENIX — It would be one of the boldest choices of a running mate in U.S. history, a gamble that would create an all Vietnam War-hero ticket, appeal to independent voters and perhaps help Democratic Sen. John Kerry win the White House.
But key Democrats in battleground states are divided over the wisdom of picking Republican Sen. John McCain as the vice-presidential nominee, particularly because he opposes abortion rights.
The notion of picking a Republican for the Democratic ticket has excited political circles for weeks, kept alive despite McCain's repeated statements that he's supporting President Bush and isn't interested in joining Kerry's ticket or party.
"I will not be vice president of the United States," McCain said. "I have totally ruled it out," he said another time.
Yet the idea persists, fed by Democrats who think it would create an unbeatable team and by Kerry's interest in McCain.
"There's a lot of excitement about a fusion ticket," said Gordon Fischer, the Democratic Party chairman in Iowa, one of the closely divided states where the presidential campaign will be decided.
"It would be groundbreaking, revolutionary and very interesting. I do think there is a bit of a danger in that there are some loyal Democrats who would say, 'Couldn't we find a Democrat to be vice president?' But overall, it would be an exciting, bold pick."
One benefit is that a Kerry-McCain ticket would put two decorated heroes of the Vietnam War on the same ticket at a time when the country is at war and national security is a paramount issue. Despite Bush's sagging poll numbers over the Iraq war, Republicans still hold an edge over Democrats in being perceived as guardians of the country's security.
Another is McCain's appeal to independent voters, who helped him in his brief, eventually unsuccessful challenge to Bush for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination. That would help Kerry reach out across the deep partisan divide that splits the country.
A new poll last week by CBS demonstrated McCain's appeal. Kerry leads Bush in the poll by a margin of 49 percent to 41 percent. But a Kerry-McCain ticket leads a Bush-Cheney ticket by a much larger margin of 53 percent to 39 percent. The survey showed McCain would help Kerry draw more independents, more Republicans and more veterans.
"Desperate times call for strong measures," said Fischer, referring to divisions in the country that make it difficult to build a majority. "It would be a strong signal to independents that we're in a new mode of thinking, that Senator Kerry is willing to take risks, that he is reaching out to the other party."
Jim Peterson, chairman of the Democratic Party in McCain's home state of Arizona, another battleground state, said McCain would broaden the appeal of the ticket to the political center. "That's where this election is going to be decided, by people who aren't hardened partisans," Peterson said. "That's where Senator McCain plays."
McCain's appeal to independents stems from his maverick personality, his eagerness to buck his party and his advocacy of campaign-finance reform. Yet he's a conservative who opposes abortion rights and wholeheartedly supports the war in Iraq.
"Sure, there would be a rebellion in certain segments of our party," Peterson acknowledged. That soon would give way to excitement about winning the White House, he said.
"I think the overall goal of beating President Bush in November trumps everything else," he said.
Indeed, some Democrats in key states do oppose McCain as a running mate, although they added that they would support any choice Kerry made.
Mark Brewer, executive chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, said McCain has become "greener" on the environment and lauded his work on campaign-finance reform. However, he said, McCain opposes abortion rights and remains "essentially a conservative Republican."
"I oppose it," Brewer said. "I just don't think he's a Democrat. It would cause lot of problems among our base supporters. Having said that, if John Kerry asked us to support it, we would."
Brewer said a bipartisan approach to governing might be welcome, given the country's divisions and the urgency of war. He said McCain's role would have to be defined, most likely in national-security areas, and he would have to be walled off from social policy.
"It would have to be crystal clear the Democratic Party wouldn't change its position on choice," Brewer said.
Kathleen Sullivan, the party chairwoman in New Hampshire, another battleground state, agreed.
"Frankly, Senator McCain's position on choice concerns me," she said. "If Senator Kerry decides Senator McCain is his running mate, I would support it. But he's not my preference. There are plenty of other qualified, excellent Democrats who would be my preference."
Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, who managed Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign, said the selection of McCain would signal weakness and the inability to come up with anyone from within the party to bolster the ticket's national-security expertise.
Brazile wrote in a recent column for Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper: "I know how badly Democrats want to win this presidential election. But I hope it isn't so badly that that they toss away our party's values and principles in the process."
Seattle Times.
But key Democrats in battleground states are divided over the wisdom of picking Republican Sen. John McCain as the vice-presidential nominee, particularly because he opposes abortion rights.
The notion of picking a Republican for the Democratic ticket has excited political circles for weeks, kept alive despite McCain's repeated statements that he's supporting President Bush and isn't interested in joining Kerry's ticket or party.
"I will not be vice president of the United States," McCain said. "I have totally ruled it out," he said another time.
Yet the idea persists, fed by Democrats who think it would create an unbeatable team and by Kerry's interest in McCain.
"There's a lot of excitement about a fusion ticket," said Gordon Fischer, the Democratic Party chairman in Iowa, one of the closely divided states where the presidential campaign will be decided.
"It would be groundbreaking, revolutionary and very interesting. I do think there is a bit of a danger in that there are some loyal Democrats who would say, 'Couldn't we find a Democrat to be vice president?' But overall, it would be an exciting, bold pick."
One benefit is that a Kerry-McCain ticket would put two decorated heroes of the Vietnam War on the same ticket at a time when the country is at war and national security is a paramount issue. Despite Bush's sagging poll numbers over the Iraq war, Republicans still hold an edge over Democrats in being perceived as guardians of the country's security.
Another is McCain's appeal to independent voters, who helped him in his brief, eventually unsuccessful challenge to Bush for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination. That would help Kerry reach out across the deep partisan divide that splits the country.
A new poll last week by CBS demonstrated McCain's appeal. Kerry leads Bush in the poll by a margin of 49 percent to 41 percent. But a Kerry-McCain ticket leads a Bush-Cheney ticket by a much larger margin of 53 percent to 39 percent. The survey showed McCain would help Kerry draw more independents, more Republicans and more veterans.
"Desperate times call for strong measures," said Fischer, referring to divisions in the country that make it difficult to build a majority. "It would be a strong signal to independents that we're in a new mode of thinking, that Senator Kerry is willing to take risks, that he is reaching out to the other party."
Jim Peterson, chairman of the Democratic Party in McCain's home state of Arizona, another battleground state, said McCain would broaden the appeal of the ticket to the political center. "That's where this election is going to be decided, by people who aren't hardened partisans," Peterson said. "That's where Senator McCain plays."
McCain's appeal to independents stems from his maverick personality, his eagerness to buck his party and his advocacy of campaign-finance reform. Yet he's a conservative who opposes abortion rights and wholeheartedly supports the war in Iraq.
"Sure, there would be a rebellion in certain segments of our party," Peterson acknowledged. That soon would give way to excitement about winning the White House, he said.
"I think the overall goal of beating President Bush in November trumps everything else," he said.
Indeed, some Democrats in key states do oppose McCain as a running mate, although they added that they would support any choice Kerry made.
Mark Brewer, executive chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, said McCain has become "greener" on the environment and lauded his work on campaign-finance reform. However, he said, McCain opposes abortion rights and remains "essentially a conservative Republican."
"I oppose it," Brewer said. "I just don't think he's a Democrat. It would cause lot of problems among our base supporters. Having said that, if John Kerry asked us to support it, we would."
Brewer said a bipartisan approach to governing might be welcome, given the country's divisions and the urgency of war. He said McCain's role would have to be defined, most likely in national-security areas, and he would have to be walled off from social policy.
"It would have to be crystal clear the Democratic Party wouldn't change its position on choice," Brewer said.
Kathleen Sullivan, the party chairwoman in New Hampshire, another battleground state, agreed.
"Frankly, Senator McCain's position on choice concerns me," she said. "If Senator Kerry decides Senator McCain is his running mate, I would support it. But he's not my preference. There are plenty of other qualified, excellent Democrats who would be my preference."
Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, who managed Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign, said the selection of McCain would signal weakness and the inability to come up with anyone from within the party to bolster the ticket's national-security expertise.
Brazile wrote in a recent column for Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper: "I know how badly Democrats want to win this presidential election. But I hope it isn't so badly that that they toss away our party's values and principles in the process."
Seattle Times.
