Tampabay.com
APRIL 08, 2008

Bill Nelson could boost Crist's VP prospects

Well, that's the theory from former Republican U.S. Rep. John LeBoutillier: "...(John McCain) needs to wait to see what the Democratic ticket looks like first because that ticket will signal their electoral strategy. For example, if Obama wins the nomination and picks Bill Richardson, then we know he is going for the Southwest region - New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado - full of Hispanic voters - plus McCain’s own Arizona and California (strongly Democrat anyway).

"Or Obama may go for Florida Senator Bill Nelson and try to take the Sunshine State out of the GOP column. In that case McCain might take Florida’s popular new governor, Charlie Christ (sic), who helped propel McCain to victory in January in the GOP primary there. That would make Florida the key to the whole general election race.

"So, until the Democrats pick both their nominee and ticket - don’t forget that as the ‘out’ party they go first - McCain should wait to make his decision."

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