re: #261 HappyWarrior

It’s certainly not a decision you make when you would if elected become the oldest president ever. A foolish man chooses a VP to appease his base, a wise man chooses a VP to help him run the country. Obama could have gone with some young, liberal firebrand for his running mate too but he went with the guy who he thought would be best to help him lead the country.

It’s like Dr. Lizardo said: McCain wanted Joe Lieberman, who he felt would show outreach and be useful in running the country. James Dobson regarded such a choice as unacceptable and issued John McCain what amounted to an ulimatum: Either nominate nominate an evangelical conservative for VP or Dobson would tell his followers to “go fishing” on election day.

McCain would have had no path to victory had Dobson made good on his threat and had other evangelical leaders followed suit, so he picked someone who they’d accept but who he also hoped would represent outreach by being a woman.