Rick Santorum's VP?

[N.i.K.]

What do you think? It seems fitting that Santorum gets a thread for this, considering that he may actually be leading in a national poll.

[Keystone Phil]

I think Santorum-Huntsman would be good.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Errant speculation:

- Bobby Jindal
- Rick Perry
- Bob McDonnell
- Rob Portman
- Susan Martinez
- Mike Huckabee
- John Thune
- Jon Huntsman

[Senator Clarence]

Phil I disargree- Huntsman was terrible as a candidate but I agree some one more moderate with executive experience is a good idea- a John Danforth type

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Phil I disargree- Huntsman was terrible as a candidate but I agree some one more moderate with executive experience is a good idea- a John Danforth type

But Clarence, doesn't Huntsman fit the mold of recent VPs? That is to say: Flawed individuals with strengths that complement a candidate's weaknesses (e.g. Palin, Biden, Edwards, Cheney, Lieberman... you need to go back decades to find someone who doesn't fit this mold).

[rbt48]

I'm thinking probably not a Catholic.  Perhaps Romney, Bob McDonnell, Mitch Daniels, John Thune, or Pawlenty.

[IDS Speaker Ben Kenobi]

Congrats Phil!

I love this thread. Portman would be a solid choice.

[King]

Rob Portman, Mitch Daniels, or Jon Huntsman would be good choices.

I don't see the point of getting a guy like Huckabee, Thune or McDonnell on this ticket.  Santorum might do better than Bush with value voters, if that was even possible.  The side guy needs to be somewhat moderate and mainly focused on either the budget or foreign policy.  

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Rob Portman, Mitch Daniels, or Jon Huntsman would be good choices.

I don't see the point of getting a guy like Huckabee, Thune or McDonnell on this ticket.  Santorum might do better than Bush with value voters, if that was even possible.  The side guy needs to be somewhat moderate and mainly focused on either the budget or foreign policy. 

Nonsense. The side guy needs to be an imaginable President and someone who won't "go rogue" on the campaign trail. That's it. Presidential and risk-averse.

In retrospect, Daniels belongs on my list and Huntsman doesn't. I guess I left him out because I'm used to assuming that Daniels is overrated.

[NCeriale]

Daniels

[A-Bob]

Bob McDonnell
Mitch Daniels
Jeb Bush
Rob Portman
Susan Martinez
John Thune
Jon Huntsman (maybe)
Cathy Rodgers

[N.i.K.]

Santorum/Daniels doesn't seem too bad, actually. Any damage that has been done by Daniels' "truce" is mitigated by Santorum's unflinching social conservatism. Daniels could probably help out with uneasy fiscal conservatives, as well as bring Indiana back into the Republican fold.

[Chris B]

I think he'd probably need someone known primarily for their fiscal conservatism, to try and offset the perception of him being only a social issues candidate.

So I'd agree that Huntsman, Daniels, and Portman would be his best bets.  

[Politico]

VP of what? Newt Gingrich's Moon Colony?

In all seriousness...You know, it's hard to be super tough on Santorum. He did endorse Romney back in 2008. Even he did not see himself succeeding like this. Even Phil could not have predicted this. And Santorum's more likable now than he was six months ago. If he makes a decent run of this, and gets Gingrich out of the picture relatively soon, I think there is a phenomenal chance of Romney picking Santorum to be his running mate. That is, assuming that Santorum does not participate in ganging-up on Romney in any remaining debates with Gingrich as his tag team partner. Santorum is clearly able to connect with social conservatives in a way that Romney is not. And Santorum already has a history of supporting Romney, as he did so in 2008. Plus, Santorum is good-looking and somewhat youthful looking, but not so good-looking/youthful as to overshadow Romney on the ticket. The biggest downside is making the ticket an all-northeast combo...

[hotpprs]

Marco Rubio would be my 1st choice for anyone who gets the GOP nomination.
But the more I see interviews with him, the more I suspect he would rather stay a Senator while he waits his turn to run for President.
I think Rick Perry would be a good choice. Santorum may need help in the South, and Perry could help with organization and money. And he will help with Hispanic voters.
Susana Martinez might be a good pick, but she would have to be well vetted first.
It could be another repeat of the whole Sarah Palin thing, but then again, that could be a plus.
There may be a backlash once and for all against the opposing party bashing a women, seemingly just because she is a woman.
Huntsman? He is the poster child for China taking our jobs away. I don't know what all this talk is about Huntsman. He was not popular as a candidate, how will he help Santorum? No way!!

[So the Heroes Fall]

I'm thinking probably not a Catholic.  Perhaps Romney, Bob McDonnell, Mitch Daniels, John Thune, or Pawlenty.

What?

[Paleobrazilian]

Santorum/Daniels doesn't seem too bad, actually. Any damage that has been done by Daniels' "truce" is mitigated by Santorum's unflinching social conservatism. Daniels could probably help out with uneasy fiscal conservatives, as well as bring Indiana back into the Republican fold.

If Republicans need Daniels to bring Indiana back to the GOP, they'll be in huge trouble...

Anyway, he'd still be a good pick, just like Huntsman. Executive experience will be important for his pick.

[Chairman Wow]

I know geographical balance is not as popular anymore.

But I still see a Westerner or a Southerner being key. Thus no needs for Santorum to be vp, less Romney is desperate during conventioning time.

Westerner for the all important arizona-colorado-new mexico-Nevada. One needs to come home. A Southerner...well, the South doesn't seem to like good ol' Mitt very much... And I suspect even Santorum has the problem of being really a Yankee.

[Gravis Marketing]

It would have to be a B-lister eager for attention. Anyone with a solid career would turn down the career hit of running alongside a sure loser like Rick.

Maybe Scott Brown if he saw himself losing his senate race? A house member looking for a Palin-like boost to the big leagues?

[Keystone Phil]

It would have to be a B-lister eager for attention. Anyone with a solid career would turn down the career hit of running alongside a sure loser like Rick.

Maybe Scott Brown if he saw himself losing his senate race? A house member looking for a Palin-like boost to the big leagues?

The pissyness is rushing back to the surface!

[Stranger in a strange land]

I think Rick Perry would be a good choice. Santorum may need help in the South, and Perry could help with organization and money. And he will help with Hispanic voters.
Susana Martinez might be a good pick, but she would have to be well vetted first.

Perry is an embarrassing gaffe machine who will never get out of Texas again, and whose epic fail of a presidential campaign was so bad that it put his day job in jeopardy. Also, the last thing Santorum (or Romney for that matter) needs is a VP who reminds people of Dubya or Palin, and Perry combines the worst characteristics of both.

[Prez Duke]

I think Rick Perry would be a good choice. Santorum may need help in the South, and Perry could help with organization and money. And he will help with Hispanic voters.
Susana Martinez might be a good pick, but she would have to be well vetted first.

Perry is an embarrassing gaffe machine who will never get out of Texas again, and whose epic fail of a presidential campaign was so bad that it put his day job in jeopardy. Also, the last thing Santorum (or Romney for that matter) needs is a VP who reminds people of Dubya or Palin, and Perry combines the worst characteristics of both.

I'd take Dubya in a heartbeat over this crop of candidates, except maybe Mittens only because I think he has a clue at fixing the economy.

[Ljube]

The best candidate would be a Republican from California, possibly an actor who is Republican. Gary Sinise comes to mind.

[TheGlobalizer]

It would have to be a B-lister eager for attention. Anyone with a solid career would turn down the career hit of running alongside a sure loser like Rick.

I wouldn't put it quite like this, but I think Santorum is rightly perceived as something other than a top-tier candidate and no otherwise top tier candidate would want to be on a ticket playing second fiddle to him.

I think it'd actually be some second-tier senator or representative, someone respected and with long service, conservative credentials.

[ChairmanSanchez]

A moderate. Scott Brown, Jon Huntsman, or Mitch Daniels.

If he wants to lose, but pick someone close to his values, I would pick my Congressman, Allen West.