Draft Haley for Vice President

Who Makes the Better Running Mate? Pawlenty or Barbour?

2008-03-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

Lisa Schiffren of the National Review Online says her readers' number one choice for McCain's running mate is Bobby Jindal. But her choices for second place are a tie between Governors Pawlenty and Barbour.

Governors Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Haley Barbour of Mississippi tie for second place, though Pawlenty is edging ahead even as I write.

Pawlenty supporters are convinced that he has a big future. One reader wrote, “He’s young, energetic, has a good grasp of policy, and won re-election in a blue state in 2006.” Another: “He appeals to the vast majority of the conservative grassroots while bringing in moderates, and he’d shore up support in important Midwest swing states like Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.” “He won’t alienate the media. He has co-chaired McCain’s campaign since the beginning and remained loyal in the dark days of autumn.” Furthermore, unlike McCain, Pawlenty is sound on immigration; and “his wife, an articulate former judge, is a Baptist and he attends her church.” (A professionally accomplished wife is a big plus in my book.) And “Pawlenty has held the line on fiscal conservatism and kept his ‘no new taxes’ pledge, vetoing more than 50 bills sent to him by a tax-and-spend Democratic legislature.”

As it happens, the current conventional wisdom among strategists is that Pawlenty is the man. To win this year, the GOP will need to hold all the states that Bush won — unlikely — or to bring over some that he narrowly lost. Minnesota tops that list. His downside is that he has no national presence. I couldn’t pick him out of a line-up. Now would be a good time for him to start raising his profile.

Another reader enumerates Haley Barbour’s assets: “He’s a bit younger than McCain, and is a southern governor with a strong pro-life record — and he was the only competent elected official in the midst of Hurricane Katrina. He’s also strong on taxes and spending: He balanced Mississippi’s budget, and he vetoed a cigarette-tax increase and vowed to veto others. Barbour would be a perfect balance to McCain by addressing his southern problem and his conservative problem — and he is credible enough that Americans would be comfortable to see him being one heartbeat away from the Oval Office.”

I, personally, have seen Haley practice the dark arts of politics up close, and emerged with great respect for him. He’s a Reaganite. He is also immensely charming (you can’t win if people don’t like you) as well as very smart. (Imagine if Trent Lott had been really smart.) Barbour may be top-of-the-ticket material in the future. The downside may be that this is not the best year for a lobbyist or a genuine (if upper-crust) good ol’ boy.

Show your support for Governor Barbour as John McCain's running mate today and sign the petition today!

Draft Haley Campaign Makes News

2008-03-07T09:23:00.000-08:00

From the Sacramento Bee-

BILOXI, Miss. -- An Atlanta group wants Gov. Haley Barbour in the White House.
On Sunday, the group known as Draft Haley Barbour for Vice President will run ads touting Barbour as the best choice to be Arizona Sen. John McCain's running mate in November's presidential election. The spots will run in Phoenix and Jackson, where the two politicians live.
The ad, which is posted on Draft Haley's Web site, shows Republican Presidents Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan and the voice asks, "Remember when Republicans stood for something? Extolled conservative values and meant it? When Republicans fought for a government that spent less but did things better? Haley Barbour does."
The group will continue to run the ad on the Web site, and hopes people contribute so the ads can be run again later, the release said. It hopes to collect 50,000 signatures to persuade the candidate to pick Barbour.
Earlier this week in a meeting with the Sun Herald, Barbour was complimentary of McCain. He said the senator, who has a reputation for being against earmarks, actually helped Barbour lobby other fiscally conservative senators to appropriate billions in Katrina relief money.
"He brought them in to meet with us one by one with him sitting there," Barbour said. "He not only voted for us, but he very actively helped us and helped us with the people we needed help with the most."

George Will Mentions Haley for Vice President

2008-03-07T09:04:00.001-08:00

Highly regarded and widely read political columnist George Will has mentioned Governor Haley Barbour as Senator John McCain's potential running mate again.
In a piece running in several major news outlets, Mr. Will said,

Three two-term governors might help McCain, including Missisippi's Haley Barbour, 60. He has two things McCain lacks -- impeccable conservative credentials and a genial disposition. He was conspicuously competent in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. As a political director in the Reagan White House and as national party chairman, 1993-97, when Republicans ended 40 years of Democratic control of the House of Representatives, Barbour demonstrated political subtlety and an agreeable absence of righteousness, qualities McCain as president would need close at hand.

McCain Cinches the Nomination, Now He Needs a VP!

2008-03-05T11:30:00.001-08:00

Now that Senator McCain has cinched the nomination he has to pick a running mate. The blogs and national media have lit up with potential running mates for the senator. Show your support for Governor Barbour by visiting the following links and stories and leaving your statement of commitment to Haley!

Boston.com article, "John McCain has big decision"

The All-American Blogger "Who Will McCain Choose?"

VeepWatch "McCain Must Decide Ideological Identity"

TPM Cafe "McCain's VP Pick?"

Red Maryland "Question of the Week: McCain's VP Pick"

Human Events, "McCain-WHO?"

The American Spectator, "McCain-Somebody '08"

It's time to raise your voice and let your opinion be heard! Tell the media and Senator McCain to Draft Haley today!

Politics Today: Mid-South may still get on the GOP ticket

2008-03-03T11:27:00.000-08:00

Read what Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, thinks of Gov. Barbour's chances in today's Memphis' online news source CommercialAppeal.com.

More National News Coverage!

2008-02-29T12:23:00.000-08:00

The national media mentions keep coming in!

Nicholas Kristoff of the NY Times Opinion Blog has mentioned Gov. Barbour as a possibility.

And USA Today's Chuck Raasch!

Governor Haley Barbour has real experience both in and out of Washington. His vision and his ability to lead have taken Mississippi to new heights--with better jobs and higher income. His legacy of leadership and ability to unite to get things done is what conservatives need and want in Washington. It is the type of leadership that will mobilize and unite the Republican Party, and ensure true conservative values in this election.

Results are the metric by which we measure Governor Barbour. With the current rhetoric of change and the demand for new leadership, we sometimes forget that results matter more than anything else. Under his leadership, Governor Barbour has demonstrated results that matter, no matter the political landscape.

Show your support for Governor Barbour, the Republican Party, and conservative values by signing the Petition to Draft Haley for Vice President at www.DraftBarbour.com. Or visit our blog at drafthaley.blogspot.com.

Haley Barbour for Vice President Makes National News!

2008-02-28T13:46:00.000-08:00

The Draft Haley Campaign made great strides today with mentions of his potential in three major news outlets!

The Washington Post, Miami Herald, and CBS News have all mentioned Gov. Barbour as a Vice Presidential possibility. Show your support for the Draft Haley campaign by leaving comments on their sites!

Draft Haley in the News Again!

2008-02-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

Vote in the NBC poll!

2008-02-23T15:55:00.000-08:00

Vote for Governor Barbour in NBC Poll!

We need you to vote for Haley Barbour in the WLBT-TV online poll!

To vote, please visit the WLBT News Web site at:
http://www.wlbt.com/Global/category.asp?C=7857&nav=menu119_2

Scroll half-way down the screen. There, you will find the on-line poll. Show your support for Governor Barbour by voting "YES!" in the poll.

Thank you for your support.

Joshua Jones of Draft Haley Campaign to be on NBC Tonight!

2008-02-22T12:24:00.000-08:00

Joshua Jones, Chairman of the Draft Haley Campaign, will be interviewed (via telephone) on WLBT-NBC, Jackson in the 5 and 6 pm news hours. Discussion will be regarding the new Draft Haley TV ad.

Sign the Draft Haley petition today!

Draft Haley on the ABC Jackson News!

2008-02-21T09:32:00.001-08:00

Please take this survey!

2008-02-21T09:26:00.000-08:00

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Kentucky Politics

2008-02-21T09:07:00.001-08:00

Just a quick quote from Senator Bunning in Kentucky Politics (www.kypolitics.org) on Gov. Barbour's campaign.

"I like Governor Haley Barbour. (He) would solve a lot of problems. He's the Mississippi governor. He's a very strong conservative."

From the blogosphere

2008-02-20T08:20:00.000-08:00

Every day different bloggers comment on the potential of a Haley vice presidency. Here are some of the comments found today--

Greg from the Left- "Another reader enumerates Haley Barbour’s assets: “He’s a bit younger than McCain, and is a southern governor with a strong pro-life record — and he was the only competent elected official in the midst of Hurricane Katrina. He’s also strong on taxes and spending: He balanced Mississippi’s budget, and he vetoed a cigarette-tax increase and vowed to veto others. Barbour would be a perfect balance to McCain by addressing his southern problem and his conservative problem — and he is credible enough that Americans would be comfortable to see him being one heartbeat away from the Oval Office.”"

Mornin' Coffee-- For John McCain, I would expect him to pick someone with executive experience like a governor, as well as someone viewed as conservative… He has to do something to try and get the party base behind him. I would also expect him to pick someone from the south, again to further shore up his base from a region of the country least likely to be enthused to support his campaign. Sonny Perdue of Georgia, Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Haley Barbour of Mississippi certainly meet that criteria. I would guess that Barbour would likely have an edge in so far as name recognition goes.

Barbour in the Clarion Ledger

2008-02-19T13:13:00.000-08:00

The Clarion-Ledger asks the question today, "Could Barbour make run alongside McCain?"

From the article-

Barbour, 60, Mississippi governor
Pro: Popular former national party chairman helped Republicans win Congress in 1994 and got good reviews for his leadership after Hurricane Katrina. Conservatives like his push for spending cuts.
Con: A long record as a Washington lobbyist that could clash with McCain's reform message

Join Gov Barbour on MySpace

2008-02-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

You can now be "friends" with Governor Barbour on MySpace! Click here to go to his public profile.

Gov. Barbour Interview in Business Week

2008-02-19T13:07:00.000-08:00

Governor Barbour was interviewed candidly and frankly in Business Week magazine. Check out the story here!

What are your thoughts on the emergence of Obama?

Senator Obama is not only attractive and energetic, but he's very positive. He leaves people with a sense of hope. He's a powerful, charismatic personality. Having said that, he's got the most liberal voting record in the United States Senate. And there's so little in the news media about his policy positions. That'll change between now and November. One thing about this election that the press overlooks is that there are going to be more voters in play. You're going to have many independents who either haven't decided who they will vote for or who will change their minds between now and November. And unlike the 2000 and 2004 elections, this time you're going to have a lot of self-identified Republicans and Democrats who are going to consider voting for the other side. It's going be an election about persuasion.

Demand Haley Barbour as Vice President on Eventful.com

2008-02-14T10:58:00.000-08:00

Sign the Petition to Draft Gov. Barbour for Vice President

2008-02-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE 020607-01

CONTACT: Joshua W. Jones
Draft Haley Barbour for Vice President
(678) 207-6723 (mobile)
josh@drafthaley.com

SUPER TUESDAY SHOWS NEED FOR SOUTHERN CONSERVATIVE ON TICKET
Committee launches formal campaign to gain VP nod for beloved Mississippi Governor

ATLANTA – With John McCain as the predicted GOP front-runner, people are beginning to speculate on his running mate. Pundits agree that if McCain secures the nomination, he will need a strong conservative in the Deep South. Draft Haley Barbour for Vice President, an Atlanta-based committee, has launched an online petition to engage conservative Americans in a push for the GOP nominee to select Haley Barbour, Governor of Mississippi, as his running mate.

“Governor Barbour has the mass appeal needed to help the GOP nominee carry not only the south but the traditional conservative base,” said Joshua W. Jones, chairman of the Draft Haley for Vice President committee. “He doesn’t risk polarizing the constituency like other candidates being discussed by the political pundits.”

Yesterday, exit polls revealed that voters in both parties favor economy as the most important issue facing the country, an idea that has been reinforced by a turbulent day on Wall Street and in stock markets worldwide.

“Governor Haley Barbour is a proven economic leader,” Jones said. “In spite of the nations largest national disaster, he has pulled Mississippi out of a $720 million budget deficit to a $246 million surplus, decreased Medicaid rolls to less than 600,000 and created more than 38,000 jobs—all without raising taxes.”

When Hurricane Katrina struck, Governor Barbour took the lead early on and worked with local, state and national leadership to tap into many resources of assistance for victims of the hurricane. For his leadership, Barbour was awarded the Thomas Jefferson Freedom Award, which is presented by the bipartisan American Legislative Exchange Council to a nationally recognized leader who has an extraordinary record of successfully advancing Jefferson’s principles.

“For more than a decade, Governor Barbour has fought to defend conservative values, to maintain freedom and to honor faith,” Jones said. “As true conservatives, we want to make our voices heard by drafting Haley Barbour as America’s next vice president.”

The committee has produced its first TV spot highlighting Barbour’s qualifications, which they expect to air later this month.

To sign the petition in support, view the TV spot or learn more about the Draft Haley movement, visit http://www.DraftHaley.com

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