'This Idea That John Said, "Joe Ain't Gonna Work--What's That Lady's Name?" That Ain't What Happened.'
(Apologies if this has been posted before. It's good!)
ST. PAUL, Minn.--Very few people know John McCain as well as Lindsey Graham. An old friend and confidant, the South Carolina senator has spent more time on the trail with the Republican nominee this cycle--from Southern barbecue joints to Midwestern mill towns--than any other politician (and even some McCain staffers). Earlier this afternoon, Graham graciously agreed to give panel of NEWSWEEK reporters and editors an exclusive look inside McCain's hush-hush vice presidential selection process. As has been reported, Graham lobbied McCain hard in the final hours to choose their mutual friend, Sen. Joe Lieberman, whom he believed would be a "transforming pick." But in the end, McCain tapped Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin instead--surprising even Graham, who found out "for sure" only last Friday, the day of the announcement.
For me, the most fascinating part of the conversation came when Graham delved into Palin's positives, framing her first and foremost as "the right persona for what McCain wants to do and compelling story rather than someone who's ready to occupy the Oval Office at a moment's notice--effectively admitting, in other words, that she's a campaign pick rather than a governing pick. Indeed, Graham believes that the recent flurry of negative news about Palin--her teen daughter's pregnancy, her husband's DUI, her ancient fishing violation and especially the "questions" about whether having a child with Down syndrome should prevent her from running for veep--will only accentuate that narrative and redound to her (and the GOP's) benefit. "People can relate to her more than they can relate to the other three," he said. "Her story in many ways reflects modern America, and I'm thinking that's going to help us--warts and all." Also worth noting: how aggressively Graham turns the tables on Obama when asked about Palin's inexperience (something we predicted would happen the day she was unveiled). Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: What does it tell us about John McCain that he met Sarah Palin twice and offered her the job at the end of the first interview?
Lindsey Graham: I think the basic point here is--I underappreciated it a bit--is that John was committed to making a transforming choice. Pawlenty was by everyone's estimation a safe choice, a solid choice. And if he would've been the pick we would've been talking about an accomplished governor of the state of Minnesota who stuck with John during difficult times and is a solid conservative. But Tim is Tim.
What do you mean by that?
He's a guy. And at the end of the day John was looking at trying to do something different. Lieberman was one road you could go down. I thought that would be a transforming pick. It would be John telling the country that these are unique times and we're all under siege. Everybody in America is threatened by this radical Islamic movement throughout the world. Joe understands it. Joe has been a great ally. I trust him. Party label don't mean what they used to before the war. That's one story.
More .. (and easier to read):
http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/09/02/graham.aspx
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