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

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Romney definitely should not pick another governor.  He can't afford to have his own record as governor of Massachusetts become subject to comparison with his running mate's record.  It'll either make Romney look weak or stupid depending on whether his running mate had a better or worse record as governor.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

At this point, I doubt that Romney will announce a choice until mid-July at the earliest.  The principal motivation for announcing early would be to get the running mate on the stump to do fund-raising, but that doesn't look to be a problem for either party this year.  I think Romney is going to wait to allow the decision on Obamacare to percolate thru the public consciousness a couple weeks so that the announcement of a running mate doesn't overlap with that.  Plus, the outcome of that decision could conceivably affect the choice of a running mate depending on how it affects te campaign narriative.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I maintain that Burr is an excellent pick.  He's Southern but not Haley Barbour Southern; he's from a swing state; conservative but not Jim DeMint crazy; he's won multiple elections; and he's scandal free.

He's not an excellent pick, tho I don't think there is an excellent pick that would be a game-changer for the Mittbot.  Burr would be a safe pick, which is why I am surprised he doesn't get more press.  Mitt likes to play it safe.  He only leaves his comfort zone if he feels the need.  Right now he doesn't feel the need to take risks, which is probably one reason The Mitt won't call out The Donald for being an idiot.  If the June jobs report is similar to May's, the chances Romney makes a safe boring pick go up.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

He's not an excellent pick, tho I don't think there is an excellent pick that would be a game-changer for the Mittbot.  Burr would be a safe pick, which is why I am surprised he doesn't get more press.  Mitt likes to play it safe.  He only leaves his comfort zone if he feels the need.  Right now he doesn't feel the need to take risks, which is probably one reason The Mitt won't call out The Donald for being an idiot.  If the June jobs report is similar to May's, the chances Romney makes a safe boring pick go up.

Game changers List: Rubio, Ryan, (Christie) end of list.  

When I mentioned game-changers I was thinking of people who would help Romney, not people who would end up helping Obama overall. Ryan and Christie would definitely hurt Romney.  Rubio is meh.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

What if Romney uncharacteristically decides to pull a 1956 Stevenson-lite?  Let's say Romney decides after all his vetting that there are two or three people remaining from his short list and that he has no obvious preference between them.  Submitting his his picks to the convention for them to decide would certainly create some buzz for the boring ritual that conventions are these days.

So if Romney submits say Portman, Ryan, and Jindal to the convention, who do you think wins?  Does it go past a first ballot?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Romney needs someone straight-forward and unafraid to challenge people to their face - a counter balance to Romney's aloof, "no comment" style. Christie comes to mind, despite inexperience.

In these days of SuperPACs supersaturating the airwaves with with attack ads, the benefits of picking a running mate to be the attack dog of the ticket are minimal.  Being seen as Presidential is far more important, and Christie doesn't project that.