Did Obama's pick of Biden lead directly to McCain - Palin?

[Hokie]

When Barack Obama wisely took Joe Biden as his running mate did this set up a scenario where McCain was desperate to pck someone out of the mainstream to demonstrate that he was a maverick and different from Obama? Obama could have picked someone based on regional appeal with less experience like Time Kaine. Instead he made the solid choice of Joe Biden who was from a solidly blue state but who was very qualified to be president. Now McCain has made this god awful pick of Palin. It appears to me that once again Obama looks like the well seasoned veteran and McCain looks like the politcal rookie.

[L. Coyote]

1. Mitt Romney = too many houses, too many millions

In this theory, McCain had already picked Mitt Romney before the "houses"
and his "5 million dolars" blunders caught America's full attention. The
Dems knew Romney was the pick, and they knew he had more houses and millions
than McCain. So they attacked to make McCain's VP pick dead in the water.

Well, it not only worked, it really worked. McCain dumped Romney at the last minute!

The law of unintended consequences has yet to fully play out, of course.

[TeamJordan23]

3. totally agree. I think he was set on picking Romney until the housing gap.

Romney could have helped him in Michigan and with the economy but the economy gaffe ruined that. His advisers knew they could not put Pawlenty in a debate against Biden, so he was out. McCain couldn't stand up the right and pick Leiberman or Ridge - so he was left with Palin.

[Muttocracy]

4. good points. nt

[jacksonian]

2. something like that

My theory is that a big push in the McCain camp for a Northeastern pick was nullified by the Biden choice. Desparate, McSame caved and took the Rove pick.