If Romney is the Republican Nominee

[redcommander]

Who should be his choice?

[RIP Robert H Bork]

None of them would make me more likely to vote for him.

[Psychic Octopus]

I voted either McDonnell or Thune. Daniels would also be a fine choice.

[LastMcGovernite]

Daniels and Thune.

Thune would shore up national experience and evangelicals.  But it does raise problems- two white, pretty-boys with silk ties.  not necessarily the most helpful image for the GOP.

[You kip if you want to...]

Jindal. A popular southern evangelical governor with legislative experience and executive experience.

[Mr. Morden]

Jindal. A popular southern evangelical governor with legislative experience and executive experience.

I don't see the GOP putting up a Mormom-South Asian ticket.  Also, he's Catholic, not evangelical.

Anyway, of these options, probably Thune.  Though Kasich and Portman should also be considered (dependent on their winning their respective races this year of course).

[Poundingtherock]

Who cares?  The PPP poll showing him up in Texas will be exposed as bs once the results from the Texas governor's race come in, showing that PPP found a terribly flawed sample.

I think he should choose Michael Bloomberg.

[milhouse24]

If Willard wants to win, he would select Jeb as the VP.  The 51% know the Bush name and would vote for him, the ones that don't like the Bush name know that He is not Dubya.  Its win-win.  He picks up Florida and possibly Ohio. 

If they put Palin on the ticket in 2008, which was a risky, terrible idea, Jeb would be a far saner and less riskier choice.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Out of those, probably Thune.

[President Mitt]

I'd prefer not to think of the possibility.

[TheGreatOne]

Who cares?  The PPP poll showing him up in Texas will be exposed as bs once the results from the Texas governor's race come in, showing that PPP found a terribly flawed sample.

I think he should choose Michael Bloomberg.

Yeah, but he's also leading in New Hampshire, New Mexico and Utah.  Right now he's a major factor in the Republican Primary. 

[Poundingtherock]

The New Hampshire poll was from last August and the pollster hasn't released its crosstabs.

His lead in New Mexico is one point....everybody here thought Palin would get crushed in the Southwest.  I'm glad that you are sort of conceding the Texas poll from PPP could be rendered invalid if Perry beats Hutchinson by a wide margin on Tuesday.

Who cares about Utah?  It's the equivalent to caring about whether Huckabee wins Arkansas.

Of course he's a major factor.  So are Palin and Pawlenty.  I don't see multiple posts talking about their prospective VPs (I suspect Bloomberg would be Palin's veep) because it's all irrelevant until someone wins the nomination.

[California8429]

McDonnell or Hutchison. I won't vote or support a Romney-Thune ticket

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

I wouldn't support a Romney-Jesus ticket, but.

Thune would be a good strategic pick.

[useful idiot]

Thune, because it puts a senator on the ticket and sets him up for a presidential run in 2016.

Millhouse, I think Jeb would be a bad pick, only because frankly, Jeb is really the biggest star the Republicans have. It would invited too many unfavorable comparisons I think: Jeb has the depth, insight, and personality that Romney doesn't. He was also an extremely popular governor who would carry his state in a heartbeat if at the top of the ticket, versus Romney who was a mediocre governor(to put it mildly) that couldn't win his own state if he threw all of his resources there. Though with Jeb on the ticket Romney would be very competitive in Florida.

[Bo]

McDonnell and Pence would be the likeliest. I suppose Thune or Huckabee could also be picked, though.

[evan bayh]

senator john thune

[Mjh]

Obviously it would have to be someone who could deliver the Conservative base, and balance the ticket. Huckabee is one possibility. Maybe Thune.

[pbrower2a]

He will need someone to shore up the South, lest he be in the same position as John McCain in August/September 2008: leaving too many possible targets for an Obama effort.

It would be possible for Romney to win the Presidency with every state that Dubya won in both 2000  and  2004 except Colorado and Nevada (but he can't lose both).  John Thune would not do that, as he is no Southerner.

To lose any one of Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, or Florida, all of which would be competitive in a 50-50 race, would ensure a defeat of Romney.

[21st Century Independent]

I like Cantor for his stand against the Healthcare bill in its current form and David Petraeus.

[pbrower2a]

I like Cantor for his stand against the Healthcare bill in its current form...

Just about every current GOP member of the House and Senate has that "qualification". So what?

Congressional Representatives do not win Presidential nominations. Senators, Governors, and 4-and-5-star generals do. Even as VP nominees they are poor choices. Neither Geraldine Ferraro nor Jack Kemp could swing New York State for their parties.  Both were well-respected in their own states at the time.

As for General Petraeus, highly-successful generals help incumbents get re=elected before they are themselves elected. Think 2016 for Petraeus.

So here's the usual succession to the Presidency:

State Attorney General/Secretary of State (state)/mayor of a large city/State senator > Governor or US Senator > President

Member of the House of Representatives> Senator > President   

Highly-successful General > President

[paul718]

Daniels, McDonnell, or Pawlenty. 

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

He will need someone to shore up the South, lest he be in the same position as John McCain in August/September 2008: leaving too many possible targets for an Obama effort.

It would be possible for Romney to win the Presidency with every state that Dubya won in both 2000  and  2004 except Colorado and Nevada (but he can't lose both).  John Thune would not do that, as he is no Southerner.

To lose any one of Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, or Florida, all of which would be competitive in a 50-50 race, would ensure a defeat of Romney.

Keep in mind that a Southerner is not a required as long as its a southern-esque candidate. Following the Palin pick, McCAin's numbers shot up in NC, as well as the Dakotas, MT, and Alaska.

[milhouse24]

Can we add Jeb to this list?  He would do well just as long as he doesn't talk about Iraq or Wall Street Bailouts.

[Derek]

I think he would take it right to Obama on all the handouts. He has run a business and will win even with a good economy.