It seems Rob Portman is the consensus media safe choice, thus delivering Ohio.
But I think he doesn't have the same stature outside of Ohio. Plus, his working in the Bush White House might be seen as a negative, if he were to someday become president, so Obama can knock him by portraying him as a Bush Stooge.
Mitch Daniels is a good choice but also too quiet and may not have the balls to take it to and take down Obama-Biden.
I think Thune and DeMint would be good choices to shore up the base.
Rubio is obviously too young to be taken seriously and he said he will turn down vp.
As I've said time and time again, you need a heavyweight VP to knock down Obama, and only one man has the media stature to do it, Jeb Bush. He never served in the Dubya white house, so there is no direct complaints of corruption or mismanagement. Plus, he will reunite the Evangelicals who won't backstab a Bush.
Portman? He couldn't be re-elected in Ohio if he were up for it in 2012.
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_OH_1110.pdfBrown is the Democrat up for re-election; Portman is the Republican elected in 2010. Sure, this is from November... but I doubt that much has changed in Ohio.
As with Thune, Portman as VP would open a Senate seat for a Democratic takeover of a Senate seat -- but for an even surer thing.
VP candidates have lost their own states. Think of Edwards, Kemp, Ferraro, Shriver, and Agnew (1968).
One way or the other, Rob Partman looks like a losing proposition for the Republicans as VP. In view of the unpopularity of Republicans in Ohio, Ohio will be a tough pick-up for Republicans. Barack Obama is a good cultural match for Ohio.
