TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Crist Accepts Invite To Spend Weekend With McCains

ADVERTISEMENT

By BILLY HOUSE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 22, 2008

Updated: 05/22/2008 12:13 am

WASHINGTON - Just a Memorial Day weekend barbecue?

Or an early grilling by Arizona Sen. John McCain and campaign aides of potential vice presidential running mates?

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and at least two other Republicans who have been widely mentioned as contenders to fill out the Republican ticket this fall are headed to McCain's ranch-compound near Sedona, Ariz., over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

But exactly why?

"The governor got a call from his friend, inviting him to go," confirmed Crist spokeswoman Erin Isaac, identifying McCain as having extended the offer.

The governor was happy to accept the invite to a "social get-together," Isaac said. He plans to bring along his girlfriend, New York socialite Carol Rome.

In all, 10 couples were invited, including Bobby Jindal, the governor of Louisiana and his wife, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife.

Romney, who ran unsuccessfully against McCain for the party's presidential nomination this year, and Jindal have accepted, said a McCain campaign staffer, Jeff Sadosky.

Yet another Republican governor, Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty, who is also considered a potential contender for the ticket, was invited but will not attend because of a previous engagement.

When the news of McCain's weekend plans and the invited guests got out Wednesday, it prompted wide speculation in The New York Times and elsewhere that the presumptive GOP nominee for president is beginning to narrow his search for a running mate.

After all, McCain has said that he is in the initial stages of selecting a vice presidential candidate for the fall campaign, with as many as 20 names on his early checklists.

McCain's campaign downplayed talk that this weekend is part of that process, saying that the senator and his wife, Cindy, often host friends and political acquaintances at his ranch, amid the red rocks of Arizona.

Often described by the national media as McCain's Sedona ranch, the ranch is actually located near Cottonwood off a dirt road in what is known as Hidden Valley, complete with creeks, lush greenery, and a rustic cabin.

"The vetting of possible vice presidential candidates is just not on the agenda," Sadosky said.

From Baton Rouge, Jindal's office released a statement saying he has met with McCain many times before and discussed the challenges facing the Gulf Coast region as communities continue to build after Hurricane Katrina. Like Crist, he is looking forward to joining McCain and the other guests this weekend, the statement said.

This is not Crist's first invitation to spend time in Arizona with McCain. Earlier, Crist had to cancel a planned weekend with the McCains because of another, previously scheduled event.

Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673 or bhouse@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT