God-o-Meter knew John McCain’s comments about possibly picking pro-choice running mate wouldn’t be taken lightly by the Christian Right. Here’s an email GOM received last night from Family Research Council Action senior vice president Connie Mackey, comparing what McCain said this week to comments he made in April that seemed to rule out a pro-choice vice presidential pick:

He said clearly that it would be difficult to choose someone like Ridge because the Republican Party is a pro-life party and he went a bit further stating that he too was pro life…It seems odd that McCain continues to run away from his prolife base when Obama has lied repeatedly about his voting record on abortion in order that he appeal to this Republican base.

If he’s gonna wind up picking a pro-life running mate anyway–and GOM predicts that he will, lest the Christian Right go from ambivalent about his nomination to apoplectic–why would McCain needlessly rankle Christian conservatives? Was this a calculated reminder from McCain of his non-ideological ways, for the benefit of independent voters? Or was he just being clumsy, still unaware about what really sets off the Christian Right and the potential costs of doing so after years of campaigning for president?
Here’s what Family Research Council Action sent to supporters last night:
How to Lose an Election in 83 Days
Both presidential campaigns are talking about abortion, but unfortunately neither seems to be getting it right. On the Democratic side, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is trying to mask his strident pro-abortion views. First they drafted the Democratic Party Platform using flowery language that made the party’s stance on abortion even more prominent, while hiding it behind empty rhetoric that claims, “The Democratic Party also strongly supports a woman’s decision to have a child.” Now the Democratic Party has chosen as one of its highlight speakers a self-described pro-life Senator, Bob Casey (D-Penn.). When you consider Senator Casey voted for taxpayer funding for groups that perform coercive abortions, one would think he is a poor choice to counter Presidential nominee Barack Obama, who is unquestionably one of the most militant pro-abortion nominees either party has ever nominated. The Republican Party fares just as poorly following comments by their nominee, Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), that he would consider nominating a pro-choice politician for Vice President. This counters statements that the Senator gave at Villanova University earlier this year, comments that garnered him a standing ovation from that audience. Beyond the choice of his running mate, Senator McCain’s comments raise questions about the type of individuals he would appoint to other important positions like HHS Secretary and even judgeships.

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