Cantor for Veep Movement Gaining Steam
Conservatives wary of John McCain and worried about who he'll choose for a running mate are offering up ideas left and -- more to the point -- right. One of the ideas gaining momentum in conservative circles is Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.).
McCain-Cantor Campaign Button
Cantor, the 45-year-old Republican chief deputy whip of the House, has three great attributes: youth, conservative bona fides and geographic desirability, as Virginia will likely be a crucial swing state in this year's presidential election.
All of which may explain why McCain had a private lunch last weekend with Cantor and his wife, Diana, in the Hamptons at the residence of Revlon mogul Ronald Perelman, a major GOP donor and hefty contributor to Jewish causes. (Perelman held a fundraiser that same evening for McCain.)
Asked about the lunch and whether McCain discussed the possibility of choosing Cantor as his running mate, Cantor spokesman Rob Collins told us what we hate hearing most: "No comment."
But someone who isn't shy at all about touting Cantor's prospects on the GOP presidential ticket is Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.), whose district is next door to Cantor's.
Goode, who has become Cantor's No. 1 booster, tells the Sleuth McCain should choose the Virginian for two main reasons: he's a prodigious fundraiser, something McCain desperately needs to compete against Barack Obama's money machine, and he's a true conservative.
Goode says by choosing Cantor, McCain could stem a threatened tide of wary conservatives turning to Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr. "We need some enthusiasm generated with the conservative base," Goode told the Sleuth by telephone. "If not, I'm worried that you would have more defections to Bob Barr or [Constitution Party presidential candidate] Chuck Baldwin."
He points out that Cantor has been "consistently pro-life" with a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee, is pro gun, and is a strong advocate of border security, a supporter of the Federal Marriage Protection Act and strong on national security.
"But he gets along well with the more moderate wing of the party, plus, he works pretty well with Democrats," Goode adds.
Goode also made the case for Cantor for vice president in a letter he sent to McCain campaign manager Rick Davis. "With Eric on the ticket, Virginia will remain a red state, and John McCain will be elected president of the United States," Goode wrote.
While Cantor isn't among the most widely mentioned or well known of the contenders, he is getting a lot of fuel from various groups and polls. JTA, the Jewish news service, has been touting Cantor, who is the only Jewish Republican in the House, to be McCain's running mate. A recent National Journal poll of anonymous congressional Republicans put Cantor as the second most favored GOP vice presidential pick, behind Mitt Romney. There's even a Web site promoting Cantor for vice president.
And there are McCain-Cantor buttons, too. Goode commissioned the buttons and is handing them out everywhere he goes, including to the Virginia Cantaloupe Festival this weekend.
By Mary Ann Akers |
July 25, 2008; 2:00 PM ET
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Posted by: Larry | July 25, 2008 2:41 PM
HUSSEIN Obama hates Jews.
Posted by: Dan | July 25, 2008 3:24 PM
If Obama picks Hillary Clinton.....its game over for McCAin and whoever he picks..
Obama/Clinton 08
Posted by: Oregon4Obama | July 25, 2008 3:33 PM
This gentleman, Eric Cantor, by McCains own standards,is not experienced enough to be president therefore he is not an acceptable choice for vice president. Is he???
Posted by: thinking | July 25, 2008 4:00 PM
If McCain is to have any prayer of winning, he better pick Jesus as his running mate. Then again, God may already be on Obama's side, 'cause I doubt he'd want endless wars.
Posted by: Dean N | July 25, 2008 4:07 PM
I agree with others. McCain has no chance no matter who he chooses as his VP. Obama is presidential. McCain is McSame.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 25, 2008 4:20 PM
McCain is looking for attention. Senator McCain, it is not working. Keep on chewing on those German veal chops!
Posted by: McSame/McSame for Runner-up | July 25, 2008 5:04 PM
I think Cantor is an great pick. I saw him give a speech in NOVA and I thought he was really dynamic. McCain needs someone who will spice up the ticket, be able to talk to a younger generation and help in the South. Cantor could do all those.
Posted by: Brad | July 25, 2008 5:19 PM
Thinking: with all do respect, Cantor served in the VA legislature for 12 years and 8 years in Congress. We are told Obama's 198 days in the Senate before he decided to run for President are enough, I'd still take Cantor's 20 years of elected service.
Posted by: Cantor Fan | July 25, 2008 5:21 PM
GO Cantor--in NJ a guy like Cantor would actually make the ticket competative!
Posted by: Josh | July 25, 2008 5:23 PM
It might help if they could find a color photo of him.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 25, 2008 5:24 PM
So God doesn't "want endless wars". Well maybe God is going to set this one out since Obama is going to escalate the war in Afghanistan and he's giving a hard look at Iran.
Posted by: 1ahead | July 25, 2008 6:08 PM
Virgial Goode is a honest and respectiable Man... He is right if McCain doesnt choose a conseratvie then many will vote for Barr or Baldwin.... Baldwin is clearly the more conserative out of those two... http://www.baldwin08.com
Baldiwn has my support.... Hopefully Goodes soon!!!
Posted by: Kevin | July 25, 2008 7:27 PM
Aren't both Cantor & McCain Muslims?
Posted by: Truth Squad | July 25, 2008 8:31 PM
OH please. This guy is the biggest, most transparent self-promoter inside the beltway and completely unknown outside it. He brings nothing to the ticket besides the fact that his leaving will make the Republicans in the House that he's trying to overthrow to move up the ladder there happy.
Posted by: AN | July 25, 2008 11:06 PM
When I first read the headline, I said to myself "is Mickey Kantor still around?" Ummm, I think this would be a Dan Quayle pick -- but hey, go for it. And Dan, you bigoted slime .... Barack Hussein Obama does not hate Jews and nothing other than your own twisted synapses could ever come up with anything to support that stupid statement. Go fish.
straight talk hussein
Posted by: straight talk my a** | July 26, 2008 12:24 AM
VP doesn't matter anymore. After seeing where McCain now thinks Obama's 16 month pullout from Iraq is a good idea...it looks like McCain has just imploded his campaign.
I used to think he was just a World Champion Flip Flopper, but now I just feel sorry for a very old man whose mind seems to be increasingly fading away. He reminds me of Reagan after he left office.
I hope McCain gets the medical help he needs.
Posted by: Jack | July 26, 2008 3:10 AM
You mean Edie Canter. Isn't he dead? If he's not, I'll bet he's almost as old as McCain.LOSER!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: majorteddy | July 26, 2008 10:56 AM
â–▂▃▄▅▆▇█ OBAMA - LEAHY '08 █▇▆▅▄▃▂â–
Obama can certainly handle foreign affairs, and with Leahy, we get to exfoliate the repugs. I support this combo because it drives the repugs to bleed out their discharge shoots in fear (Congressional investigations with Executive Branch teeth...)
Posted by: angriestdogintheworld | July 26, 2008 5:11 PM
Hillary & Bill didn't buy 1,834 pantsuits for nothing. When Obama stumbles, Hillary is going to ride into the convention on a white horse and Save The World. Bill is itching to get back into the White House and maybe hook up with another chunky, young intern.
Watch out B. Hussein. The Clintons are still lurking around on the sidelines.
Posted by: Garland | July 26, 2008 11:11 PM
Cantor must be doing somthing right, the blogs love him and he is has the conservatives fighting for him--I cant think of another candidate like that.
Posted by: getrightstayright | July 26, 2008 11:53 PM
Bob Barr is the only one pointing out that our Goverment is spending way to much and is takeing our personal freedoms away from us!
Vote Bob Barr
www.BobBarr2008.com
Posted by: Nicholas | July 27, 2008 10:56 PM
Glad to see that I am not the only person who doesn't have a clue who Eric Cantor is. I don't think that this is a wise pick for McCain and at his age he should have acquired some wisdom.
Posted by: Mary | July 28, 2008 9:46 AM
Some pundits say that John McCain has a fighting chance to become president, though for many it is hard to see why. A man running for President of the US in 2008 who has never sent an email, who complains like sour grapes about Barack Obama's European tour, and who is making many more gaffes than Obama, surely has his work cut out for him. He has very little charisma, compared to Obama, has a slow learning curve, and is subject to more and more senior moments. If race doesn't end Obama's chances in the private voting booth, and picks a good vp choice, it seems to be his to lose. Perhaps McCAin can pick a really challenging younger vp which might help him. He needs some magic and it appears that he has rather little.
Posted by: Michael Prosser | July 28, 2008 9:49 AM
Both candidates had better not forget China, Japan, South Korea, and India in their efforts to gain more knowledge about what 1 /3 or more of the world is doing. If Obama can have another high volume and positive visit to these four countries befoe the election, both to share ideas, and to gain more knowledge, this would be a very important accomplishment. It wouldn't hurt McCane to make a trip also to Asia, and then both may be better informed than they probably are now.
Posted by: Michael Prosser | July 28, 2008 9:52 AM
Eric Cantor's departure from the House of Reps will be another gain for the Dems in Congress. In november, Eric can open a successful deli . He has already has the right surname.
Posted by: cruztbone | July 28, 2008 10:14 AM
I'm still not getting the confidence that Obama will be the next president. The polls are very close, especially in the battleground states. This is true even though McCain is running a *terrible* campaign. Obama clearly has not "closed the sale" and needs to do so. In presidential elections, the benefit of the doubt always seems to go to the Republicans.
Posted by: Vince | July 29, 2008 7:39 AM
Polls are not going to be predictive in the era of blogs and massive Internet activism that lean to Obama. It has been said that the new young voters has no land lines but cell phones so they are not polled. Poor McCain, born in Panama, is not for the future and his offer is only more wars, my friends. He should retire and live the good life that Cindy provides with her millions and 8 houses.
Posted by: J. Moreno | July 29, 2008 6:29 PM
Virgil Goode is my representative. He's one
of the dumbest boozos in Congress (which is
a real distinction). But, hey, this may be
the only chance Cantor has in order to get
a TV spot pushing American Express.
Posted by: fred | July 30, 2008 9:30 AM
I will be very happy if NO ONE who went to Yale University or Columbia University sits in the White House. Those two institutions just turn out pro-Israel bipartisan fascists.
Posted by: Dan'l | July 31, 2008 12:54 PM
Well, I don't really know that much about Eric Cantor, but I have to say I still am pulling and praying for Romney. I think he has much more to offer. Experience, conservatism, financial expertise etc. Yep, I am still thinking and hoping for Romney. I think that is the best thing that could happen for our nation.
God Bless America~please???
Posted by: Tennessee | August 3, 2008 8:58 PM
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Give me a break. The only Jew who will be on the ticket is Joementum.