Powell for Obama? It doesn’t add up
Ever since the National Journal reported July 1 that former Secretary of State Colin Powell had met privately with Barack Obama at Powell’s Alexandria office, the mainstream news media and the blogosphere alike have speculated that Powell might be on the verge of deserting the Republican Party to endorse Obama for the presidency.
His office denied such rumors, saying the meeting was merely “an informal conversation . . . about issues,” but that did little to squelch the rumors. Even respected conservative columnist Robert Novak penned in a Washington Post piece that Powell was on the verge of bolting from the GOP: “Looming on the horizon are two big possible Obamacons, Colin Powell and Chuck Hagel,” Novak wrote. “Powell probably will enter Obama’s camp at a time of his own choosing,” he added.
An LA Times editor blogged that Powell had given indications that he would make a public endorsement, and characterized him as “the potential endorser whose backing would cause quite a stir.”
Yesterday, Steve Forbes opined that Powell might be “an eye-popping choice” as Obama’s running mate.
But, wait. Isn’t Powell on McCain’s veepstakes short list? It’s true, supposedly. A source close to the McCain camp told reporters late last week that 6 names were on McCain’s VP list: Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Tom Ridge . . . and Colin Powell and Joe Lieberman. So how can Powell be on McCain’s short list if he’s considering endorsing Obama, or (if some pundits are to be believed) is even being considered in Obama’s own veepstakes?
One possibility is that the “leak” by the McCain advisor is the stuff of smoke and mirrors. After all, from everything that we know about this closely-guarded secret of who the bottom name will be on the GOP ticket, McCain’s decision is already made or has been narrowed to a couple of either/or choices. Lending credibility to this possibility is the inclusion of Sen. Lieberman’s name. A McCain/Lieberman ticket probably can’t be totally ruled out, but it seems highly unlikely. McCain would benefit among independents with Lieberman as his veep selection, but the risk of a crippling backfire is quite high: Such a choice could cause already bitter conservatives to abandon the ticket in droves.
Regardless, it doesn’t seem very likely that Powell is considering an endorsement of Obama, despite the reasoning (that Powell, who did not support the Iraq war despite helping the Bush administration make the case for it, is bitter with the Bush administration, the war in Iraq [of which McCain is a strong supporter] and the GOP in general. Powell also openly criticized the Bush administration on a number of issues after leaving his State Department post at the end of Bush’s first term). Powell was opposed to the Gulf War in 1991, disagreeing with many members of George H.W. Bush’s cabinet on the issue. He didn’t defect from the Republican Party then, obviously, and has remained a friend and political ally of McCain.
But for the most damning reason why Powell isn’t likely to defect? As is often the case, follow the money. Campaign finance records show that Powell donated $2,300 to McCain’s campaign in August 2007, the maximum allowed by an individual. He has not donated to Obama’s campaign. Obviously, the 10 months between his donation and his June meeting with Obama brought some changes; Obama had not emerged as the Democratic front-runner by August ‘07. But little has changed with McCain, so there’s no reason to think that Powell is going to bolt for the Democratic Party.
It’s entirely plausible that Powell will sit this election out . . . that he will not offer a public endorsement of either candidate. But I would be a bit surprised if he doesn’t endorse McCain after the GOP convention and as the race nears an end.
As for those rumors that Powell will wind up on the McCain ticket? It seems highly unlikely. For one, there is the McCain comment that he may be a single term president, and speculation within the party is high that whomever the veep selection this fall, that person will be the likely GOP candidate in 2012, regardless of the outcome in November. Powell is the same age as McCain (71) and running for the Oval Office in 2012 as a 75-year-old presidential candidate seems doubtful, at best.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Palin’s the only one who really stands out as adding up!
Q&A
1. Which McCain Veep pick is SIMULTANEOUSLY the safest AND boldest?
ANSWER: Sarah Palin
2. How can McCain SIMULTANEOUSLY attract both Hillary AND Bob Barr voters?
ANSWER: Sarah Palin
* * *
And there’s this from the Conservative Voice:
“Desperately seeking Sarah
July 26, 2008 10:00 AM EST
By Stephan Andrew Brodhead
Desperately seeking Sarah
Americans need a little Palin Power
Sarah Palin the current Governor of Alaska is John McCain’s ultimate choice for VP. I do believe a woman is next in line for the presidency. All Conservatives like her. She is popular in Alaska. Hillary supporters would relish her. She would solidify a 12 or possibly 16 year Republican executive.
John McCain’s boring campaign is wearing thin. I need a little Palin Power to get me interested again. They would say ‘but she is only a half term Governor!’ And your point is?”
July 29th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Sarah is too inexperienced and unknown. She is a rookie governor of a state with less population than portland!
But Romney would be worse. Remember those lying clips of his lying lips!
So who?
I think this list shows who would be good:
Powell (so what if he deosn’t run in 2012 - big deal!), Fiorina, Bloomberg, Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee.
Notice how each one of them is likeable and exciting.