Following the Money

There has been considerable speculation, as McCain has invited Crist, Romney and Jindal to Sedona for this holiday weekend.  Much of the buzz has been about VP selection, but I don't think that this is what this meeting is about.

Sure it creates excellent buzz for the McCain campaign as the MSM and the blogosphere speculate about Vice Presidential picks -and I am sure that at least one of these men are in contention- and maybe McCain wants to spend some time getting to know these three a little better.

However, I suspect that this is less about the VP-stakes and more about fundraising.  A month or so ago, I sat with a well-placed source within Florida politics and McCain's network and I asked him about Crist's chances regarding VP selection.  He was adamant that McCain would never select Crist as his VP (for a number of reasons I won't get into here), but that McCain desperately needed Crist's fundraising networks within Florida and as such he would honour the Governor by allowing speculation of VP consideration to circulate.

Then there's Jindal:  Despite some corners of the conservative blog-o-sphere promoting Jindal as McCain's solution to the Obama problem, I don't think McCain will give serious consideration to Jindal.  Despite his very impressive record of achievement, I think it would be better for both the GOP, Jindal and the people of Louisianna if Jindal was left in his state to build his record of accomplishments and apply conservative principals in a very demonstrative way to turn-around the Bayou State.  So why meet with Jindal?  Well, he is very innovative in the policy realm and he seems like a great guy to hang-out with and yes there's the media attention, but there's also this from an October IHT Report:

None has come close to matching Jindal's fundraising prowess. He has raised more than $11 million (€7.7 million). Democrat Foster Campbell, a fiery populist and public service commissioner from northwest Louisiana, is second in fundraising, with less than $2 million (€1.4 million).  

That's $11 million for a Louisiana gubernatorial run!

Then there is Romney:  He is likely the only one of the three that brings electoral college advantages to the ticket: Utah, Colorado, maybe tipping the scales in Michigan, New Mexico and Minnesota and making California just a little more competitive.  I would like to think that McCain would see the benefits of Mitt and overcome any lasting animosity, but I would be surprised if McCain chooses Mitt as his VP unless he feels that it is an absolute necessity.  

Currently, Mitt's number one attraction?  McCain's potential Fundraiser-in-Chief.

For these reasons, I think this weekend's Sedona festivities are more about filling the coffers than filling the 2-spot.