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NNguyenMD

(1,259 posts)
Mon Feb 6, 2012, 10:43 PM Feb 2012

Romney's possible VP picks

Just got done reading Game Change, and became very intrigued at the VP selection process. The way I see it, much like McCain Romney has plenty of "safe" choices in the form of middle aged white dudes like Tim Pawlenty, Mitch Daniels or Chris Christie.

His riskier choices but more likely to excite the conservative base would be folks like Bobby Jindal, or Nickey Haley IMHO. He could try to rally the base with a convential evangelical conservative, but no one is going to want him to select anyone like Santorum, there is always Mike Huckabee, but he has limited appeal outside southern evangelicals and it would make more sense to select someone currently in a goveronr's or senator's office.

Probably a stretch, but there is the remote possiblity to choosing a former Bush cabinet member like Condaleeza Rice, or even more of a stretch Colin Powell, especially if he opts not to endorse Obama for 2012.

Just chewing the fat, but I'm certain the Romney folks are running throuh every possible scenario and it'll be interesting to see what direction they take. I think the riskier choices are interesting, and it'll be interesting to see how the GOP VP selection affects the general election.

But in all likelihood, VP picks don't generally leave any great positive impact, unless its a critically reckless choice like Sarah Palin. It absolutely amazed me in Game Change what little time the McCain people spent on vetting Sarah Palin, and their shock and awe when they realized what little she knew outside of Alaska politics.

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Romney's possible VP picks (Original Post) NNguyenMD Feb 2012 OP
Rubio or some Southern Evangelical type JI7 Feb 2012 #1
I'd love to see him choose Powell... richmwill Feb 2012 #2
No way it would be Powell. Powell likes President Obama. n/t Tx4obama Feb 2012 #33
VA Gov Bob McDonnell. FSogol Feb 2012 #3
Also has to bring in atleast one swing state grantcart Feb 2012 #15
I was thinking he'd go with Pawlenty early on vixengrl Feb 2012 #4
Pawlenty is hoping, I'm sure, but I don't see it. He's too much like Romney: stiff & boring.nt Honeycombe8 Feb 2012 #6
Since Romney has zero foreign policy experience, I think he'll pick someone who has some. Alexander Feb 2012 #5
Sarah maybe? rurallib Feb 2012 #7
Now that I think about it, Romney's from Detroit, and you can actually see Canada from Detroit. Alexander Feb 2012 #18
A good running mate usually fills gaps where the candidate is weak RZM Feb 2012 #8
Christi, Pawlenty, Coulter, Limbaugh, or nanabugg Feb 2012 #9
Rubio. I can't see anyone who could help him more. AlinPA Feb 2012 #10
Ditto. nt Honeycombe8 Feb 2012 #12
I was thinking Jeb Bush ... femmocrat Feb 2012 #11
Ted Nugent, Victoria Jackson, Steve Doocy! FarLeftFist Feb 2012 #13
NAH, he’ll want people to think he’s donco Feb 2012 #14
Michelle Bachmann would be way better if it is to be a female.... yellowcanine Feb 2012 #17
Ann Coulter? I thought you just said he would pick a woman? Marie Marie Feb 2012 #23
Newt would be fun. yellowcanine Feb 2012 #16
Huntsman. JTFrog Feb 2012 #19
Just a note about Romney and Christie. pa28 Feb 2012 #20
Rommney is tone-deaf, and his crew is little better Mopar151 Feb 2012 #21
Romney has four ways to go that I can see Yupster Feb 2012 #22
Kay Bailey Hutchison is the complete opposite of safe Ter Feb 2012 #30
Romney will pick himself Johonny Feb 2012 #24
Trouble with this idea intaglio Feb 2012 #31
I.R. Elevant Boombaby Feb 2012 #25
It'll be a GOP governor. He has several to choose from. AtomicKitten Feb 2012 #26
I'm going to go way out on a limb here Art_from_Ark Feb 2012 #27
It will be Governor Christie Creme Adenoid_Hynkel Feb 2012 #28
I think Santorum is set up as VP pick whether Romney or Newt win. stevenleser Feb 2012 #29
See #21 n/t Mopar151 Feb 2012 #32
I think it will be Senator John Thune (R-SD) n/t Tx4obama Feb 2012 #34

JI7

(89,250 posts)
1. Rubio or some Southern Evangelical type
Mon Feb 6, 2012, 10:47 PM
Feb 2012

Rubio could help in florida which is big.

some evangelical type could help with those who are worried about his own religion.

Rubio would probably be a better pick because Florida really is purple and while VPs don't matter much, in a close race which Florida could be it might.

FSogol

(45,488 posts)
3. VA Gov Bob McDonnell.
Mon Feb 6, 2012, 10:54 PM
Feb 2012

1. Has to be controllable
2. Has to appear moderate despite fringe beliefs
3. Has to not upstage the eminently boring Romney.

Bob McDonnell. Why do you think Newt can't get on the ballot on VA?

vixengrl

(2,686 posts)
4. I was thinking he'd go with Pawlenty early on
Mon Feb 6, 2012, 11:05 PM
Feb 2012

because Pawlenty endorsed Romney straightaway after dropping out, but I'm starting to think it will be a pick more like Huckabee--more appeal to Evangelicals, and a warmer personality, which makes up for things Mitt lacks.

 

Alexander

(15,318 posts)
5. Since Romney has zero foreign policy experience, I think he'll pick someone who has some.
Mon Feb 6, 2012, 11:16 PM
Feb 2012

Obviously whomever he picks will be to his right, to solidify the base. It's clear they don't exactly trust him given the low turnout and his less-than-stellar percentages so far.

You're right that usually VP picks don't often grab headlines and impress voters, but they can more subtly shore up support in an area where a candidate is weak.

Originally I thought Obama made a horrible mistake by picking Biden, but Biden proved to be valuable when it came to winning the votes of white blue-collar workers, who were previously not sold on Obama. Clinton's selection of Gore nailed down the environmentalist vote for Clinton, and previously their support for him was lukewarm. Carter picking Mondale shored up support among liberals who weren't big on Carter. And of course, Kennedy's selection of Johnson was crucial in helping him to win the votes of Southerners, and the state of Texas in particular.

 

Alexander

(15,318 posts)
18. Now that I think about it, Romney's from Detroit, and you can actually see Canada from Detroit.
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 12:04 AM
Feb 2012

Plus his father was born in Mexico, and young Mitt was a Mormon missionary in France.

I guess Romney does have foreign policy experience after all.

 

RZM

(8,556 posts)
8. A good running mate usually fills gaps where the candidate is weak
Mon Feb 6, 2012, 11:23 PM
Feb 2012

That's why it will almost certainly be a tea party person. If not a southern evangelical, then probably Rubio, who can both help the ticket in Florida, appeal to the Tea Party base, and try to make inroads with Hispanic voters in crucial Western states. Problem with him is that he's inexperienced. That would leave a foreign policy hole in the ticket. But there's never a perfect choice for any ticket.

It won't be anybody like Pawlenty, Daniels, or Christie, who can't complement Romney in the ways that he needs.

 

nanabugg

(2,198 posts)
9. Christi, Pawlenty, Coulter, Limbaugh, or
Mon Feb 6, 2012, 11:25 PM
Feb 2012

I just don't see anyone helping the GOP ticket...their hate is burying them.

femmocrat

(28,394 posts)
11. I was thinking Jeb Bush ...
Mon Feb 6, 2012, 11:30 PM
Feb 2012

So when Romney loses in 2012, it will be Jebbie's "turn" in 2016. The bushes didn't waste any time in endorsing romney.

donco

(1,548 posts)
14. NAH, he’ll want people to think he’s
Mon Feb 6, 2012, 11:45 PM
Feb 2012

an out of the box thinker and pick a woman. Ann Coulter it is.

pa28

(6,145 posts)
20. Just a note about Romney and Christie.
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 12:07 AM
Feb 2012

We know a little right now about Mitt and his character. He respects the idea of clean living; keeping the body and mind in shape.

Looking at this from Romney's shoes I'd say the aesthetics alone disqualify Christie. Let's not even get into the moral implications.

No, I think Romney would just as soon scrub a toilet with his bare hands than let Gov. Christie be his running mate.

Mopar151

(9,983 posts)
21. Rommney is tone-deaf, and his crew is little better
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 12:23 AM
Feb 2012

And Little Ricky Santorum would commit lewd and lascivious acts with Seamus in order to cling onto Willard's coattails. The temptation to burnish Rommney's "real conservative" cred will be strong.
Condi Rice would be the logical choice given her foreign policy experience, but she won't fly with the teabaggers - wrong sex, wrong color, might have done something sensible once.

Yupster

(14,308 posts)
22. Romney has four ways to go that I can see
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 12:28 AM
Feb 2012

He can go for the midwest states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan. -- Possible picks there would be Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie.

He can go for the Hispanic vote. -- Possible picks would be Marco Rubio, Suzanna Martinez, Brian Sandoval.

He can go with the safe legitimate pick -- Possible picks would be Kay Bailey Hutchison, Bob McDonald

He can go with the game changer pick -- Possible picks are Colin Powell, Joe Lieberman

My guess ..... Susanna Martinez, Governor of New Mexico.

 

Ter

(4,281 posts)
30. Kay Bailey Hutchison is the complete opposite of safe
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 03:02 AM
Feb 2012

Conservatives already don't trust Romney. A pro-choicer on the ticket would be insanity. Rand Paul would be the smart thing to do.

Johonny

(20,851 posts)
24. Romney will pick himself
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 12:50 AM
Feb 2012

He's the only one worthy to run with him. Not saying he has an ego problem but...

intaglio

(8,170 posts)
31. Trouble with this idea
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 04:01 AM
Feb 2012

Romney disagrees with Romney's positions. I mean President Romney would never cooperate with VP Romney about healthcare, citizenship and immigration, Bush tax cuts, gun control, global warming ...

 

Adenoid_Hynkel

(14,093 posts)
28. It will be Governor Christie Creme
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 02:24 AM
Feb 2012

The media's in love with him, and they'll want to milk that for all it's worth.

 

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)
29. I think Santorum is set up as VP pick whether Romney or Newt win.
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 02:32 AM
Feb 2012

Santorum is from a swing state, has already been minimally vetted through the campaign and has no surprising gotchas that will hurt Romney.

I don't think it will be Rubio, because the first thing that will be said about him is negative, that he lied about his parents coming to the US to escape Castro. That is a huge negative right up front. It is all kinds of pandering and hyper-exploiting of his Latin American roots.

Is there anyone else who can realistically try to help deliver a state that is a purple state? Christie doesnt help at all, there is no way New Jersey goes for Mitt. Christie wouldnt pull New Jersey vs Obama even if he was at the top of the ticket.

Daniels doesnt help, Mitt probably gets Indiana anyway. Put another way, if a Republican is in danger of losing Indiana, it probably means the Democratic candidate is headed for a landslide.

Does Pawlenty help? I dont know enough about his popularity in Minnesota. I would guess not.

Which brings me back to Santorum. Would Santorum help with Pennsylvania?

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