Chuck Todd On McCain-Palin: No Chemistry, No Trust, Possibly No Chance

Commenting on a new joint interview with John McCain and Sarah Palin, NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd described the Republican ticket as lacking cohesion, chemistry, and (he hinted) trust.

"There was a tenseness," Todd told MSNBC's Chris Matthews. "I couldn't see chemistry between John McCain and Sarah Palin. I felt as if we grabbed two people and said 'here, sit next to each other, we are going to conduct an interview.' They are not comfortable with each other yet."

Todd, who was remarking on the interview conducted by NBC's Brian Williams (he was in the room), speculated that the candidates had come to the realization that "they are losing" the campaign, and guessed that McCain may have begun to hold his vice presidential choice responsible for his dwindling White House chances.

"When you see the two of them together, the chemistry is just not there. You do wonder, is John McCain starting to blame her for things? Blaming himself? Is she blaming him?" asked the highly regarded NBC newsman. "And maybe they don't feel they can win right now, so they are missing that intensity. That was the thing that struck me more than anything. You almost wonder why they wanted the two of them sitting next to each other."

The interview, Williams said, would air over the course of three days. And some actual news - beyond the body language - was drawn from the proceedings: Palin, apparently to her own staff's surprise, promised to release her medical records.

"Both of these candidates are on the verge of pulling a Bullworth," said Todd, referencing the late '90s political classic about a pol who stopped spinning. "We are at a critical juncture inside this campaign for the McCain folks and that is who is trusting who? You have got people worrying about their reputations. Now you are wondering do the candidates trust the staff? Does the staff trust the candidates? This is a dangerous time in a campaign that is behind. They desperately need some good news because you do wonder if cohesion is disappearing on the inside."

Comments

[Stonecipher]

Here's a great look at what it might look like if McCain did actually pull a Bulworth:

http://stonecipher.typepad.com/the_stonecipher_report/2008/10/could-an-unfiltered-mccain-be-a-more-bulworth-y-choice.html

[turniptruck]

This is so laughable--Kathleen Parker says that McCain chose Palin cause he had the hots for her as the primary reason, this article says that they aren't love birds-- looks like you have all the ridiculous slander angles covered.

[SadiSays]

Chuck Todd is the man!

I bet Chuck is cool to hang with.
He seems so reasonable and kind...

[McRage]

I saw these interviews, Todd is right, and it looked like McCain was HER VP. Sad old man.

[poliscibabe]

I heard that Chuck Todd sort of backed off of his assessment, however, given the current headlines with regard to the McCain/Palin campaign it appears that his assessment was dead on. I really have to wonder why anyone would consider voting for the GOP ticket in it's current state.

Obama/Biden 08 & 12

[Busterdawg]

One day it's that there's no chemistry between them then the next day it's that McCain's mind has been clouded because he is thoroughly beguiled by her and lusts after her. I wish the HuffPo would make up it's mind.

[4usafreedom]

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
PHILIP J. BERG, ESQUIRE, ::
Plaintiff :
vs. :CIVIL ACTION NO: 08-cv- 04083
:
BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, ET AL, ::
Defendants :
ORDER ON PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

[national crisis]

Am I the only one who has noticed McCain stroking his ring finger when he is next to Palin?

He does it constantly.

[thecwexperience]

Hmmm...What would a psychologist say about that?

[funnypaysoff]

Are we sure Todd wasn't describing backstage at MSNBC?....Do these guys ever listen to themselves...They should all thank God for cable news or they would all be chasing tornadoes in the Midwest...
Has anyone noticed that now that Brian Williams has the gig he no longer has the fake tan and he let his hair go gray....Todd always looks like he is wearing someoene else's tie and Andrea Mitchell must have OD'ed on her husband's economic ideas because she cannot ask a question without looking like Admiral Stockdale....Good to know the lowest rated network in America understands chemistry....
I think NBC now has tow versions of the Big Loser....

[mexigrl]

McCain made the choice, even if he was pushed by the minority of his party. She was just the wrong choice. If he wanted a woman he should have chosen one with the resume and more moderate leanings. Choices include Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Kay Bailey Hutchinson. I think any Republican woman should be outraged that he didn't pick someone with the background of one of these amazing women. A 72 year old Presidential candidate can not afford to hook up with someone that is not capable of running our country. It wasn't her fault, she just saw a chance and took it.

[Bendersky]

Well, du-uh! McCain allowed himself to be manipulated by the Bushies in choosing one of the least qualified politicians to be his running mate, a complete stranger, and NOW they're lamenting the choice? There is a very decent chance this race would be a hell of a lot closer if McCain had chosen someone remotely capable and qualified instead of another republican caricature simply to appease a religious right who doesn't like him anyway.

McCain sold his soul and listened to the people who did such horrible things to him while campaigning against him in 2000. It would be like hiring the gang members who publicly sexually assaulted you eight years earlier to be your trusted advisers. His biggest mistake was in not looking at the utter contempt in which the majority of American's now hold our current president. McCain was trying to ride the coat tails of a president who had none to offer.

I'm not sure how one finds one's moral compass after such a fiasco.

[RobinL]

Why would he be blaming her? Any IDIOT could plainly see she wasn't fit for such a high-level office. It's obvious. He has only himself to blame for picking her.

[ttmatthe]

Agreed. He could avoided this whole mess if he'd went with Romney or even Ridge.

[Lizardtales]

She may be the VP he selected but more that that, she was a crutch and a shield to his multiple and very public self destructive PTSD traits. The only person blind to his poor decision making skills is himself.

Now that Sarah the Moosehunter has shown herself to be incapable of keeping the fascination alive for the American voter, his infatuation has passed like a bad meal and he is on to using Joe the Plummer. How fitting to select a guy who can unclog the royal throne.

He always did have a hankerin' for men named Joe...

[Ripcord5]

Au contrare, it's Chuck Todd who is "pulling a Bullworth."

Sorry, in my opinion, Chuck Todd is no "highly regarded NBC newsman."

In fact, he's a "Bullworth and a "Bogart," someone who'll stab anyone in the back.

I'm recalling his treatment of Dennis Kucinich during the primary media debates.
One day Kucinich meets all of Todd's criteria to appear in the debate,
the next day Todd arbitrarily excludes Kucinich.

Chuck Todd has no credibility with me.

I, therefore, dismiss his observations even about the dreaded McCain-Palin combo.

[TRocks]

Election is almost here. Forget Ahmadinejad. When is she going to sit down with press without preconditions?

[mexigrl]

Makes you miss Tim Russert doesn't it? He'd lie down in front of her plane to get the interview!