McCain On Backing Palin In 2012: Let's See Who Else Runs

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain isn't committing to supporting his vice presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, if she runs for president in 2012.

McCain _ the GOP's presidential nominee last year _ says he wants to see who the other candidates are and what the situation might be.

The Arizona senator elevated Palin to the national stage with his surprise pick. He says he has great affection for Palin and her family. But he also cites three other governors _ Utah's Jon Huntsman, Louisiana's Bobby Jindal and Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty as potential candidates.

McCain joked he was going to get himself in trouble for forgetting a name.

McCain appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press."

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Sen. John McCain isn't committing to supporting his vice presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, if she runs for president in 2012.

McCain _ the GOP's presidential nominee last year _ says he wants to see who the other candidates are and what the situation might be.

The Arizona senator elevated Palin to the national stage with his surprise pick. He says he has great affection for Palin and her family. But he also cites three other governors _ Utah's Jon Huntsman, Louisiana's Bobby Jindal and Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty as potential candidates.

McCain joked he was going to get himself in trouble for forgetting a name.

McCain appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Comments

[jimbeaux1961]

"Yeah right. I've got it narrowed down to her, my ex-wife, or Satan."

[Galvanized Democrat]

I really shouldn't laugh at that being as I'm an ex-wife, but that's darn funny!

[JohnnyMac2012]

All of you Palin-haters are laughable!

Y'all need to get your panties unwadded, and that goes for you guys, too.

[jimbeaux1961]

PALIN is laughable, dimwit. That's why WE'RE ALL LAUGHING!

[huffyjive]

democrats clearly fear Sarah Palin, why else would they devote so much time and energy to someone they feel is such a non-player, non-conten­der...keep on trying but she is a force to be reckoned with...see you in 2012

[pewty]

LOL....Dem­s are praying that she runs, I for one will send money to her campaign in hopes she is the sacraficial lamb....

[Galvanized Democrat]

She provides comic relief.

[Caln]

Um, last time I checked John McCain was a Republican.

[ajax2]

The fact that McCain is considering Palin for 2012 shows he has come to grips with mainstream Republicans.

[ThirdSection]

Either that, or he's trying to postpone a moment that will be awkward, to say the least.

[Lilybart]

Ha Ha....she was a great choice when he needed her to boost his campaign and incite the radicals to voter for him. Now? He knows she killed his chances in the end and one day he will blow and just say it.

[BCubedReg]

I think Palin was a net zero for McCain. For every vote she lost McCain, she got one of the "crazy" votes for McCain. McCain was always sitting at 46% of the vote even before he picked Palin. McCain always trailed Obama in the polls by 4-7% right up until McCain picked Palin. There was a one week positive bump in McCain's polling numbers right after he picked her. And then as soon as Palin opened her mouth outside of the RNC, the polls readjusted in favor of Obama as the world realized Palin was a pretty face with no brains and crazy ideals.

Palin did not hurt McCain. McCain hurt McCain by following the party line, his close association with Bush (voted with Bush 90%) and his increasing erratic behavior/o­ut-of-touc­h comments the closer the election day got.

McCain's anger is misplaced. The blame falls squarely on his shoulders. That said, it does not mean Palin is in anyway ready to be President (don't want you to think I am endorsing her).

[zeezan]

NOW he realizes her limitations? How refreshing.

[roblabrousse]

He hesitated in giving her his nod ? Sounds more like he kicked her out of line.

[Muss]

Public financing? Our new beaten by the day President just had the most massive public financing in the history of our elections. Perhaps Senator McNo believes that big government is no good unless it involves his ideas.

[Grunty1]

By "Public financing", McCain means what he did: take tax payer money to fund his campaign. Of course, he also kept receiving donations, which is supposed to be illegal.

[harriscrl3]

McCain needs to SHUT UP I can't stand his fake opportunist self. He is saying that we can't go on spending like this that the country wouldnt survive which is true but coming from his mouth it brings such rage in me. This was the same guy that flip flop on the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy first he was against them cause they were morally wrong then he supported and ran on making them permanent and wanted Obama in the stimulus bill to make them permanent. He is two faced and he stands for nothing just what can get him elected. There is no consistency to what he bleieves in no wonder many republicans cant stand him. Democrats want to embrace him cause he break with his party but he is the most UNTRUSTWORTHY Congressman there is. He should be isolated like the pariah he is. In some ways I hate him more than I do Palin, Jindal and the others

Carol

[cutesky]

I agree with you Carol..McC­ain actually disgusts me. His word means nothing and his loyalties don't exist. Well, I guess that could describe all politicians, but he is one of the lowest.

[ericmiami]

Soul mate under the bus. How tragic!

[x004Ronin]

I apologize for my previous post: I thought I clicked on comments for the article on "Public financing'

[x004Ronin]

I love the idea of public financing, BUT as long as the Supreme Court feels that political donations count fall under the category of protected "free speech," there's always going to be a mechanism for political donations. And as long as there are political donations (such as to candidates, political action committees, or 527's), there is no way public financing can work.

[Lilybart]

it will take an ammendment to the Constitution to change this, but until we do, money will always win.

A Senate race costs 10 million minumum.
Reps have to be re-elected seemingly constantly.

Until there is public ONLY financed elections, we will continue this corruption.

[H I McDonough]

Translation = "No"

[AliMB]

This shouldn't be considered news... if I can remember correctly, McCain previously said that he would not commit to supporting Palin at this juncture. I thought it was bizarre then to be asking someone who he would support in four years without even knowing who the candidates would be. After McCain's comment, he then went on to praise Gov. Palin. I'm sure that certain individuals will attempt to interpret this as a "snub", but I think its only natural to reserve your opinons on a far-away race.

That said, I would be surprised if McCain ended up supporting Palin in 2012. It is clear that his choice of her as a running mate was done for political reasons i.e. he wanted to attract support from certain constituencies. But from a neutral perspective, McCain will likely support a more seasoned individual, quite possibly one of his long political friends (if one were to decide to run).

[AliMB]

Just to add to my point of McCain not committing to Palin but nonetheless praising her:

"Listen, I love and respect Sarah Palin," the 2008 Republican presidential candidate said, speaking softly in an interview Friday with reporters and editors at The Washington Times. "I love her family. I am convinced that her running on the ticket energized the Republican Party in a way that, let's have some straight talk, that I couldn't or didn't."

[conservativelady]

When someone says, "listen" it means he is lying through his friggin teeth.  No way does he love that backstabbe­r.  But McCain is too much of a bastard to admit the truth, instead he would rather Palin put that  final nail in the coffin for the Republican Party.  

[bedfordny]

Here is why this is news: Because McCain chose her for the VP slot because (supposedly) she was the best person for the position and equally qualified to step in as President should anything happen to him. Whether he 'praised' her or not has no relevance. If he had been elected and died in office, he assured the American people (by choosing her) that she was more than able to handle the duties of the presidency. The fact that he will offer no support until he sees who else is running suggests that perhaps she wasn't all that qualified to begin with. (Big surprise!)

If you can see she was chosen 'to attract support from certain constituencies' than surely you can understand why people might construe McCain's less than enthusiastic support for Palin as proof that she was indeed the political gimmick that most thought her to be. It proves his motivation was to win the election at any cost even if it meant adding someone to the ticket who he knew was completely unqualified for the job.

[tokenconservative]

Oh, you mean exactly what every President does when he balances the ticket? Like Walter Mondale, or Al Gore, or even daresay Joseph Biden?

[Islandtime]

I don't get your point.

A little over 4 months ago McCain claimed, other than himself, Sarah Palin was the most qualified person in America to be President. So what has Bobby Jindal or Tim Pawlenty done to change McCains mind about that? Or, what has Palin done? Or... did McCain ever think Sarah was qualified?

[conservativelady]

McCain will support Palin if it looks like Romney will have a chance to win the nomination. McCain is vindictive and can't stand the idea of Romney having chance to become President because Romney, as a former competitor, has the skills needed to be a good President. And the little man McCain couldn't stand that. There should be a law, no short men should even be allowed to run for President. Look at what we have had to endure at the hand of McCain. Don't kid yourself though, he can't stand Palin either. But at least McCain can rest easy knowing that Palin would be a lousy President. See what I mean by "little man?"

[jrfunkenstein]

So McCain finally says what the rest of the universe is thinking; 'I sure hope that someone else shows up by 2012.'

I can't remember the last time a failed candidate publicly admitted he has no confidence in the running mate he selected, and whom he allowed to scuttle his campaign.

You reap what you sow John Boy.

[roblabrousse]

Well all this goes to show that he wasn't worthy of the job either. He calls himself a hero. I'd like to know his definition of the word. I don't think protecting our country is part of it given his choice of Palin as VP candidate.