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What If?

it is. We need to heal the red and the
blue here, man, the red states and the
blue states ...
"Do I think it's going to happen?
No. But I think it is a reflection of the
desire of this country and the desire of
people in both parties to want to see
this God-awful vicious rift that exists in
the nation healed, and John and John
could go a long way to healing that rift."
According to the original U.S.
Constitution, the runner-up in the pres-
idential election would become vice-
News' Meet the Press
president, but it only happened once.
were discussing the
situation in Iraq when this exchange
Federalist John Adams won the
took place:
presidency in 1796, and Democrat-
Russert: "Sen. McCain, its the ele-
Republican Thomas Jefferson
became veep.
phant in the room, the story that will
not die. This is the
In 1804, the 12th
front page of the New
Amendment changed the elec-
York Times yesterday.
tion process into what we see
Headline: 'Undeterred
today — a running mate picked
by McCain Denials,
by the political party.
Some See Him as
I got to wondering what
Kerry's No. 2.
would happen if a constitution-
"'Despite weeks of
al amendment was ratified that
steadfast rejections
required a presidential nominee
from Sen. John
from one party to choose a run-
McCain, some promi-
„,
ning mate from another
nent Democrats are
party?
angling for him to run
Think about it. No
for vice president alongside Sen. _
matter what your ideo-
John Kerry, creating a bipartisan
logical bent — liberal,
ticket that they say would
conservative — you'd
instantly transform the presiden-
have to pick someone
tial race. Senator McCain would
from the other side, and
not have to leave his party, [for-
my guess would be a
mer Democratic Sen. Bob]
moderate, someone with
Kerrey said. He could remain a
whom you could corn-
Republican, would be given some H.R.C.
promise.
authority for selection of Cabinet people.
Plus, both political par-
"What do you think of Senator
ties would have a voice in the Oval
Kerrey's recommendation?"
Office. No weak candidate would run
McCain: "I'd like to have the camera
as second in command, because weak-
move over to a palm tree to start with
ness is not a good attribute to show-
case in a candidate.
... I've said categorically — categorical-
ly, I will not be vice president of the
With the opposing party presenting
United States. I will not be a candidate. an appealing second-in-command, the
And I mean that. I'm happy in the
rank and file would have to at least
Senate. I'd like to maintain my role. I
think twice before dismissing the other
am a loyal Republican. I am support-
party's presidential ticket.
ing President Bush's re-election. I am
And it would certainly change cam-
campaigning for it ..."
paign financing, wouldn't it?
Russert: "Senator Biden, what do you
If there's some fatal flaw in this rea-
think of John McCain as a Democratic
soning, I have yet to find it, but I'm
candidate for vice president?"
almost positive that you'll tell me when
Biden: "I think John McCain would
I'm wrong. You always do.
be a great candidate for vice president.
So before you write back, sit back,
I mean it. I know John doesn't like me
close your eyes, and think of how
saying it, but the truth of the matter is,
much fun a George W Bush-Hillary
Rodham Clinton ticket would be to
watch this fall. 11] .
Harry Kirsbaums e-mail address is

T

he thought's
been rattling
around in
my head since
Sunday, and it's
keeping me awake
at night.
Sen. Joseph Biden,
D-Del., Sen. John
HARRY - McCain, R-Ariz., and
KIRSBAUM moderator Tim
Russert on NBC
Columnist

.

hkirsbaum@thejewishnews.corn

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