Republican VP nominee?

[RogueBeaver]

Unless by some fluke Palin is nominated, in which case we have '72 Redux VP-wise, who do you think it will be?

My prediction: it will be Bobby Jindal.

Requirements:

- Interfactional unity
- Conservative beloved by base
- Personality
- Experience
- (Romney): healthcare
- reform record


Jindal has all of these, plus a charming, self-deprecating and fiery personality that will do him well on the trail. He's hardly been coy about his ambitions, almost openly flirting with the idea in various interviews while making crystal-clear that Romney is his candidate.

All those named such as Rubio, Martinez, Sandoval, Ayotte are 20-monthers, and lest we forget, Sarah Palin had been governor for that exact period of time when she was picked. While they're more substantial figures than Palin, they're far too inexperienced and apart from Rubio, none of them have given even a hint of national ambitions.

So let's discuss.

[redcommander]

Christie or one of the '10ers. I don't think Jindal wants it, nor does he have any desire of leaving his state seeing that he already rejected McCain. Rubio is another choice, but I really don't want a tea partier on the 2012 ticket.

[Yelnoc]

McDonnell or Thune if the nominee needs to shore up 'da base.  I'm drawing a blank for moderate VP picks except maybe Daniels.

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

Chris Christie has rejected the Vice Presidency: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrZdAiuAf4s

[Mr. Morden]

I don't think Jindal wants it, nor does he have any desire of leaving his state seeing that he already rejected McCain.

He "rejected McCain" because he thought McCain was going to lose, and perhaps because he thought that, at age 37 and less than a year into his term as governor, he would be dismissed as being too green for the national stage.

2012 might be different.  If the GOP presidential nominee is seen as having a decent chance of winning as of the Summer of 2012, it's quite likely that Jindal will agree to be vetted this time.

[RogueBeaver]

He rejected McCain (who was quite enthusiastic for him) for very specific reasons.

1) Inexperience: he had been governor for all of 5 months in 2008.
2) ID politics: without the experience, it would have been painted as an ID politics pick and debased both his and McCain's political currency.
3) Age: he is literally half McCain's age. Republicans often pick a VP a generation younger than the running mate (Bush, Palin) but given McCain's health issues...
4) "Train wreck" was his understated but accurate description of the McCain campaign.

Today none of those things apply. Have you heard any of his interviews recently? "I won't comment on a job that hasn't been offered to me" is hardly a Shermanesque statement.

As for Rubio et al, the ID politics and inexperience points from 2008 apply to them as well. He isn't a tea partier, but a conservative affiliated with the TP. A Teeper would be someone like Angle, Miller or Rand Paul. Rubio is a career legislator and was a Jeb Bush protege in Tallahasee.


BTW, I predicted Palin in July, hopefully I'm twice lucky on the Veep pool.

If anyone has any other suggestions, please discuss.

[Poundingtherock]

I'll go with Rudy.  He'll throw the race to the conservative (whether it's Palin or someone else) in New Hampshire and be rewarded for his efforts at ending this race quickly.

[Mr. Taft Republican]

I'm going with someone really irrelevant. Chuck Hagel, he's very popular in Nebraska, and is capable of bringing diverse groups to the ticket. And because he isn't so polarizing, moderates wouldn't be afraid to vote for the ticket!

[Niemeyerite]

John Hoeven, Mike Johanns, Mike Rounds, Tim Pawlenty, John Thune or Terry Branstad. As you can see, I predict the VP nominee will be from that region.

[feeblepizza]

John Thune, Tim Pawlenty, or another moderate Midwesterner will be a good pick.

[Insula Dei]

Wild thought: If Romney'd be the nominee, what's there to stop him from picking Palin?

[RogueBeaver]

Sanity?

[Insula Dei]

Sanity?

Think about it:
* fixes his problems with conservative base
* makes sure there is no major fracture in the party
* Sarah gets her place in the spotlights once more and is happy like a child
* if Romney feels like he's lost already he gets to take Sarah down with him (noone survives being on the losing ticket twice)
* when did sanity ever stop anyone from doing something

[Yelnoc]

Wild thought: If Romney'd be the nominee, what's there to stop him from picking Palin?

I don't think Palin would sit at the bottom of a ticket twice.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Bunning

[Niemeyerite]

Sanity?

Think about it:
* fixes his problems with conservative base
* makes sure there is no major fracture in the party
* Sarah gets her place in the spotlights once more and is happy like a child
* if Romney feels like he's lost already he gets to take Sarah down with him (noone survives being on the losing ticket twice)
* when did sanity ever stop anyone from doing something

and finally, and most important, palin will destroy romney's independent base

[RogueBeaver]

First of all, Palin is not going to settle for the VP slot after having been on it once. This is presuming that she runs when, again, there is absolutely no indication that she is. Secondly: Romney would not even consider her. There are plenty of other people who can rally the base.


As a side note: today Rubio categorically ruled out the VP slot, and I'm quite certain that like Jindal in '08 (but for different reasons) he'll refuse a vetting, but the nominee's camp will name-drop him to sate the media's appetite.

[Lambsbread]

My Nominee Pick: Mike Huckabee
My VP Pick: Tim Pawlenty

Why Huckabee will pick Pawlenty:

He's from Minnesota, a state that tends to lean D, but I think the GOP could pick it up in 2012.
He's a Conservative with a history of balancing budgets and other fiscally responsible policy.
He's well spoken and very intelligent.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

John Thune, Tim Pawlenty, or another moderate Midwesterner will be a good pick.

Did you just call John Thune a "moderate"?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Unless by some fluke Palin is nominated, in which case we have '72 Redux VP-wise, who do you think it will be?

My prediction: it will be Bobby Jindal.

Requirements:

- Interfactional unity
- Conservative beloved by base
- Personality
- Experience
- (Romney): healthcare
- reform record


Jindal has all of these, plus a charming, self-deprecating and fiery personality that will do him well on the trail. He's hardly been coy about his ambitions, almost openly flirting with the idea in various interviews while making crystal-clear that Romney is his candidate.

All those named such as Rubio, Martinez, Sandoval, Ayotte are 20-monthers, and lest we forget, Sarah Palin had been governor for that exact period of time when she was picked. While they're more substantial figures than Palin, they're far too inexperienced and apart from Rubio, none of them have given even a hint of national ambitions.

So let's discuss.

I agree 100%. I think I maybe the only person on this forum who seriously thinks the GOP will win 2012.

[Napoleon]

I wonder if that Romney/Rice ticket is still possible/viable.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I wonder if that Romney/Rice ticket is still possible/viable.

That would be interesting, but she wont. She hasnt really been in the spotlight at all.

[Mr. Morden]

I wonder if that Romney/Rice ticket is still possible/viable.

Romney is too cautious to gamble on a Mormon / black woman ticket being accepted in certain parts of the country.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I would bet on Jindall, even if it is Romney.

[California8429]

Jindal, Christie, McDonnell, Thune, Portman are really your top choice.

If there's a need for the energetic right: Rubio, Ayotte

If there's a need for a balance from the middle: Daniels, Pataki??

Others: T-Paw, some runner up for the nomination, Martinez