Romney VP search: free-floating speculation and wish list thread

[Bull Moose Base]

It won't be a 20-monther. IMO either Portman or Ryan. Portman has spent more time with Romney but Ryan has by far the best chemistry, so take from that what you will.

Portman is a 20-monther. Then again, he does have prior experience in the House...and as Bush's budget director.

Portman's problem is his resume not his lack of resume.  Not a disqualifying one but a problem.

[Lincoln Republican]

Here's an outside the box pick.

What would the reaction in the country be if Romney were to announce that he has picked Chief Justice John Roberts as the Vice Presidential nominee?

Inherent problems I know, but how does this go over?

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Assuming Obamacare is overturned before Roberts is announced... it wouldn't go over well. It would give Obama a lot of firing power to  rebut the SCOTUS decision.

[Lincoln Republican]

Yes, a completely unrealistic and off the wall pick I know, but intriguing.

 

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Obama'd just campaign against the SCOTUS. Same with any senator/congressman and Congress.

[milhouse24]

Obama'd just campaign against the SCOTUS. Same with any senator/congressman and Congress.

That's a smart move. 

I wonder why exactly did republicans win in 2010?  Hopefully those issues in 2010, won't come up again, otherwise Obama could be in trouble. 

[big bad fab]

The question was: who is Romney's best running mate ?

Tim Pawlenty, because of his roots and because of Mid West.

Hope you'll be right, Mr. Morden

[Torie]

Rob Portman:  Romney's Quiet Man  

Reading this article makes it seems as if Portman is almost preordained to be on the Mittens' ticket - can raise money, is smart and knowledgable, works well with others, and has traction with swing voters. Oh, and he is from Ohio, a state that has evolved into more of a problem for Mittens than anticipated. And Ohio is in the Midwest.

[Lincoln Republican]

Rubio is an interesting public figure, no doubt.  But the VP pick?  No.  Romney will pick someone who will be able to step into the Presidency if necessary, and be an able President.  Rubio hardly fits that requirement at this time.

I'm telling you, the pick is going to be Rob Portman.  He has the experience, the capability, and the smarts, and he even looks Vice Presidential, and Presidential for that matter.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Romney/Portman 2012?

[California8429]

What's the track record for Sandoval as Governor?

[RogueBeaver]

What's the track record for Sandoval as Governor?

Pro-choice, tax-raiser, failed to prevent a hostile takeover of the state GOP by Paultards.

[CLARENCE 2015!]

I read earlier that Ryan is officially being vetted- very interesting

[Grumpier Than Thou]

I read earlier that Ryan is officially being vetted- very interesting

:DDDDDDDDDDD

[President von Cat]

I hope Romney is foolish enough to make Ryan his VP.

[CLARENCE 2015!]

I hope Romney is foolish enough to make Ryan his VP.

I agree it'd be a silly move

[President von Cat]

Honestly, it is too unlike Romney.

Ryan is way, way too risky, precisely because his suggested reforms aren't popular. They are a lightning rod for controversy and get people really fired up in protest. Romney is running a risk averse campaign, and (wisely) does not want to turn the spotlight away from Obama's stewardship of the economy. Putting Ryan on the ticket would automatically put Romney on the defensive re: Ryan's policy proposals, and take the focus off Obama.

I just don't see it happening.

[technical support]

Rob Portman is the favorite. Pawlenty not so sure because remember in the primary he said obamneycare.... then again he could do like mccain did and choose someone outside of washington

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Rob Portman is the favorite. Pawlenty not so sure because remember in the primary he said obamneycare.... then again he could do like mccain did and choose someone outside of washington

He won't.

Just a thought I had this morning: What about Herman Cain? I know he's not being vetted or anything, but wouldn't it have been cool for Romney to pick Herman Cain? That'd dilute some of the white bread, at least in appearance.

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Portman's association with Bush makes this election about Bush...imagine the line from Obama and Biden when attacked over the deficit..."Romney's running mate was the budget director who presided over many deficits"

Portman won't work, folks...

[You kip if you want to...]

Portman's association with Bush makes this election about Bush...imagine the line from Obama and Biden when attacked over the deficit..."Romney's running mate was the budget director who presided over many deficits"

Portman won't work, folks...

I've thought this about him even back in the days when the Ohio 2010 seat was a sort've tossup.

This pick has to be a curve-ball because these frontrunners are just dire (even from a non-hack point of view).

[HagridOfTheDeep]

[broken record]Martinez[/broken record]

[AmericanNation]

Portman's association with Bush makes this election about Bush...imagine the line from Obama and Biden when attacked over the deficit..."Romney's running mate was the budget director who presided over many deficits"

Portman won't work, folks...

What? you presided over budgets deficits 2 to 3 to 8 times smaller than us!!!   ...that isn't really a trump card.  

let me check my math here: over 2 trillion (1.3 trillion estimated + unfunded Obamacare state coercion, double counting, etc) is more than 8 times 250 billion right?  

[milhouse24]

Portman's association with Bush makes this election about Bush...imagine the line from Obama and Biden when attacked over the deficit..."Romney's running mate was the budget director who presided over many deficits"

Portman won't work, folks...

What? you presided over budgets deficits 2 to 3 to 8 times smaller than us!!!   ...that isn't really a trump card.  

let me check my math here: over 2 trillion (1.3 trillion estimated + unfunded Obamacare state coercion, double counting, etc) is more than 8 times 250 billion right?  

It would really seem self-hating for Obama to go after Romney for "approving HC in Mass but repealing HC in the Fed" and Portman for "smaller deficits than now"

We now have the big theme of the 2012 election - "Repealing Health Care" and either you're with Obama or you're voting for Romney - there is no 3rd option. 

All the pissed off tea-partiers are not going to risk keeping Obama in office just because "romney created health care in MA." 

It just seems like the worst campaign strategy for Obama, "that Romney created a program you hate just as much as you hate Obama-care."  Like, Obama wants to remind people why they hate him and his policies.  Romney's health care plan is bad, "but its not as bad as my Obamacare plan." 

Romney has complete cover now to "Repeal Health Care" and not worry about his past issues on anything.  Same with Portman, he will get a pass on everything else as long as he advocates for "repealing the health care mandate tax." 

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

John Kerry lost an election because of accusations of hypocrisy that were arguably not true. What makes you think that accusing a Massachusetts politician of hypocrisy that manifestly is in fact a thing would go any better for the target?