CAMPAIGN 2008

Yanking Our Chain?

Annoyed by wall-to-wall coverage of Obama's trip to the Mideast, the McCain campaign teased reporters about a potential VP announcement Tuesday. Stay tuned.

By Jonathan Alter | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jul 22, 2008 | Updated: 9:43  a.m. ET Jul 22, 2008
 

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"What do you want, you little jerks?"

John McCain uses the word "jerk" freely, often with people he likes, and he had a big smile on his face when he said it.

The encounter surprised us. Elisabeth Bumiller of The New York Times and I had rushed the forward compartment of John McCain's campaign airplane, sitting on the tarmac in Buffalo, N.Y., Monday night, trying to chase down the hot rumor of the day, that McCain was going to announce his vice-presidential pick at a townhall meeting Tuesday in Rochester, N.H.

We had gone looking for Mark Salter, McCain's longtime aide, and got the candidate himself, who pulled back the curtain on the first-class section, where he and the staff and Secret Service sit. When Elisabeth asked whether it was true, McCain just smiled mischievously, and went back to sit down, out of reach.

Salter then issued a series of elaborate "no comments" to us and the rest of the press corps, which tried 57 different ways to get him to tip his hand about what might happen.

Would McCain be accompanied Tuesday by Mitt Romney, whose New Hampshire country house is only a few miles from Rochester?

"No comment."

Had a decision been made on the vice-presidential nomination?

"I've been told harshly [by McCain] to say nothing about this in any way, and I won't."

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: Snowplow @ 08/27/2008 11:55:59 AM

    Has McCain vetted Christine Todd Whitman, former Governor of New Jersey, Head of the EPA, scion of wealthy politically powerhouse families of New York and New Jersey, etc? She has her own energy-promotion business and, together with her Husband's market/economy expertise, they can take care of Business. She could charm the East while He tough-guys the West. The pundits on MOJO were having trouble coming up with Republican Women as McCain VP candidates.

  • Posted By: Press Release @ 07/27/2008 3:07:36 AM

    McCain doesn't even have the decency to show proper behavior for a measly two weeks. What great disrespect McCain showed towards Obama and the rest of the world in his childish attempt to discredit Senator Obama. That was quite embarrassing and the whole world saw how distasteful McCain is. McCain brought shame to the U.S. , it would have been better if he had just shut his mouth about Obama for the time Obama was gone. But McCain is a CRYBABY and a LIAR, sturring up hate and misleading the american people. Shame on you McCain. Shame on you McCain, Shame on you. You are Scumm. McCain maybe you don't know because you forget so much , but we will always remember your lies and your crying like a baby. You are now known as Scummy McCain Crybaby Insane.

  • Posted By: LKNRaging @ 07/25/2008 4:04:16 AM

    Come on, John -- pick Phil Gramm! He's already left your campaign (or so we're told), may be about to trade (lose) his position with UBS to become a witness for the prosecution (either on direct or on cross-examination), and come this fall he could well be looking for a job and a brown paper bag to put over his head (The Unknown Econ-Comic).

    Between Gramm's 'mental recession,' and McCain's campaign appearance yesterday before a rack of processed, pre-packaged, plastic, USDA government-approved cheese (you can't make up this stuff) ... this would reunite the Mad Hatter and March Hare once again to share tea. Our problems solved. Fatuously, sanctimoniously & imperiously. The only thing left wanting would be a vision of Our Fearless Leader dancing on the White House portico while the country burns.

    Oh, wait...

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