'Meet the Press' transcript for May 18, 2008

MR. MURPHY:  I think McCain might pick her, but I'll be stunned if Obama does.  I mean, McCain might.  They agree about Obama.  The problem is...

MR. SHRUM:  That's why they won't hire you in the McCain....

MR. MURPHY:  Oh, no, no, I--yeah, I--the problem--you don't pick somebody who symbolizes what your campaign was about changing.  It doesn't work.  Now, I think the practical politics inside the Democratic Party, there will be pressure on him, on him to pick her.  It could happen.  But I think it would be a big--it would be very bad political karma, I think, for Obama to do that.

MR. SHRUM:  I think he'll make a very hard-headed decision.  That's what Kennedy did with Johnson, that's what Reagan did when he picked Bush.  I don't think it'll be based on pressure from inside the party.  I don't think it'll be based on who looks good in a photo op.  I think the questions will be, "Does this person reinforce or undercut the message?  Can this person help me in states I might not otherwise win, or deliver a state as Strickland or Bill Nelson might?  Can this person help on the national security foreign policy front, as Jim Webb or Wes Clark might?" I think there are--or Joe Biden, or Chris Dodd.  So I think there are a number of considerations out there.  But the one thing I will say is not going to happen is the Clintons are not going to force Hillary's way onto the ticket.  That ticket would lose.  Obama would look weak if he gave in to that kind of pressure...

MR. MURPHY:  In fact...

MR. SHRUM:  ...and the last thing people want in a president is someone who's weak.  It's not going to happen.

MR. MURPHY:  The, the best scenario would be some pressure on Obama, and he stands up and says no, because then he'd have what he isn't perceived as having now, which is a ton of political strength.

MR. RUSSERT:  Vice President Huckabee, who would you like to debate?

GOV. HUCKABEE:  You, you keep going to this.  Let me see.  (Grabs phone to ear) That was Senator McCain.  He said to quit this talk.  I'd like for whoever will help the Democrats to implode most.  That's what I'm looking for. You know, I don't pretend to know what, what's going to work or not work for them.

MR. SHRUM:  That's why I endorsed you.

GOV. HUCKABEE:  That's right, that's why it's all...

MR. FORD:  That's why he may endorse you.  Careful.

GOV. HUCKABEE:  I think that it would be very tough for them to, to marry at this point.  I really do.  Because the heat of the, the campaign has, has gotten personal, and while that could heal over, I'm not sure it can heal over within their supporters, and that's where it gets tough.

MR. SHRUM:  Can I defend her, though?  Can I defend her, though?

MR. FORD:  I have a wild--I have a wild card for VP.  My governor, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, has shown how you win in the South.  He's been able to do some of the things we've talked about.

MR. RUSSERT:  He's from upstate New York.

MR. FORD:  Conservative, moderate Democrat.  We keep that quiet.  But we will keep him as our Tennessee, as our Tennessee governor.

MR. SHRUM:  Can I say one quick thing?  Can I say one quick thing on Hillary Clinton's behalf?  I don't think the animosity between them and their supporters matters.  John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and their supporters did not get along in 1960.  If it's the right ticket, it ought to be the ticket. Question is whether it's the right ticket.

MR. RUSSERT:  That...

MR. MURPHY:  It's not.

MR. RUSSERT:  That has to be the last word.  Shrum, Murphy, Congressman Ford...

MR. FORD:  Our prayers go out to Senator Kennedy.

MR. RUSSERT:  Vice President Huckabee.

MR. SHRUM:  Thank you.

(Announcements)

MR. RUSSERT:  Start your day tomorrow on "Today" with Matt and Meredith, and the "NBC Nightly News" with Brian Williams.

That's all for today.  We'll be back next week.  If it's Sunday, it's MEET THE PRESS.

Congratulations to the Boston College Class of 2008, one guy in particular.

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