Romney VP search begins

[Speaker Superique]

What about Tom Colbert or Tom Ridge?
Maybe picking up a woman could be nice, not a conservative one, a moderate, from the South... Does anyone know a Republican like that?

Ridge would be a safe pick. He is a moderate and was Governor of Pennsylvania where Romney could sure use him to win Pa!

Southern Moderate and a Woman- Romney can make a call to Elizabeth Dole to see if she is interested for the VP slot. Romney needs to pick up North Carolina too on Election Day. She has been out of politics for a little over 3 years though. What about Illenia Ros-Lethien? She is hispanic and been in the US House for a long time I think.

Once I was playing with Mitt Romney on the Political Machine Game and I choosed Ridge as my VP.... He was pretty usefull!

[Reaganfan]

Romney/Bush vs. weak incumbent Obama would be akin to Reagan/Bush vs. weak incumbent Carter. Of course, who knows.

[Speaker Superique]

Romney/Bush vs. weak incumbent Obama would be akin to Reagan/Bush vs. weak incumbent Carter. Of course, who knows.

Obama is better than Carter.

Romney is like a Rockfeller, a Gerald Ford, he isn't like Ronald Reagan. Bush Senior is better than little Jeb...

[Politico]

The only criteria: "Do no harm."

Who does no harm? Even a remote affiliation with the Bush Administration does harm (e.g., Portman). If the choice potentially hurts the ticket among women in any way, shape or form, it does harm (e.g., McDonnell). If the choice potentially hurts the ticket among seniors in any way, shape or form, it does harm (e.g., Ryan). Any doubts about their ability to become POTUS does the ticket harm (e.g., Rubio).

This is a tough choice. Good thing there is plenty of time to mull it over.

Maybe a wildcard nobody has heard of like Matt Mead, the Governor of Wyoming? But then you fall into the same trap set for Rubio.

Why not Mike Huckabee? Everybody likes the Huckster.

[RogueBeaver]

There's no perfect pick.

[rbt48]

Again, I'm strong for Kelly Ayotte of NH.  She'll bring home that state, which if the race is close, would put Romney over the top.  Also, she is not a Sarah Palin and will help lots with young voters and females.

[I Can't Get That Sound You Make, Out Of My Head]

The only criteria: "Do no harm."

Who does no harm? Even a remote affiliation with the Bush Administration does harm (e.g., Portman). If the choice potentially hurts the ticket among women in any way, shape or form, it does harm (e.g., McDonnell). If the choice potentially hurts the ticket among seniors in any way, shape or form, it does harm (e.g., Ryan). Any doubts about their ability to become POTUS does the ticket harm (e.g., Rubio).

This is a tough choice. Good thing there is plenty of time to mull it over.

Maybe a wildcard nobody has heard of like Matt Mead, the Governor of Wyoming? But then you fall into the same trap set for Rubio.

Why not Mike Huckabee? Everybody likes the Huckster.

Wouldn't be a bad choice, but I don't think him and Romney get along and I think he might be moving on from politics. Besides, he isn't in sync with the Republicans economic policies.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Plus, Huckabee could upstage Romney. Had Huckabee decided to run this time around, he probably would've beaten Mitt pretty handily. The Romney-Huckabee ticket would just create a strange dynamic. Too many people would be thinking their order on the ticket should be reversed.

I still stand by Martinez as the best pick. If she accepts.

Palin was inexperienced, sure. But that's not what made her a liability--her interviews and lack of knowledge did that. Martinez is so different.

And actually... the more I look at videos of her, the more and more I think Martinez could be America's first female president.

[milhouse24]

Romney/Bush vs. weak incumbent Obama would be akin to Reagan/Bush vs. weak incumbent Carter. Of course, who knows.

If I were Jeb, I wouldn't wait 4 years to run for president in 2016.  A lot can happen in life, and there are certainly no guarantees if you wait, look what happened to Hillary.  He would be 64 and his health may decline.  So Jeb should accept VP if offered.  The media can make all the judgements, but I don't think any other VP can deliver on experience, hispanic voters, swing states, and media savvy. 

I also think Ohio and Florida will be very difficult to take from Obama.  He has a lot of influence in the midwest.  He also has a lot of popularity with hispanics in Florida.  On his own, Romney can probably do better in Ohio, so he will definitely need help from a VP to win Florida. 

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Really? I think Florida will be easier for him.

Actually, to me, it almost seems like PA and OH have switched roles. Just looking at things now, I think Romney has a better chance in Pennsylvania than Ohio.

Romney can win Pennsylvania and Florida on his own merits in close races. Ohio might not be so easy. Of course, picking a Jeb or Rubio figure might lock in Florida rather than leaving it to chance, which would be nice. So I guess we ask ourselves: Does he want to secure Florida, or does he want to open up another state to a 50/50 chance instead of a 55-45 one?

[Emperor SJoyce]

Really? I think Florida will be easier for him.

Actually, to me, it almost seems like PA and OH have switched roles. Just looking at things now, I think Romney has a better chance in Pennsylvania than Ohio.

Romney can win Pennsylvania and Florida on his own merits in close races. Ohio might not be so easy. Of course, picking a Jeb or Rubio figure might lock in Florida rather than leaving it to chance, which would be nice. So I guess we ask ourselves: Does he want to secure Florida, or does he want to open up another state to a 50/50 chance instead of a 55-45 one?

Nope. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/04/obama-doing-well-in-florida.html

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This is why playing the swing state game in VP selection doesn't work.

Work to create the strongest possible ticket overall and that is how the VP will "help" in swing states.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Really? I think Florida will be easier for him.

Actually, to me, it almost seems like PA and OH have switched roles. Just looking at things now, I think Romney has a better chance in Pennsylvania than Ohio.

Romney can win Pennsylvania and Florida on his own merits in close races. Ohio might not be so easy. Of course, picking a Jeb or Rubio figure might lock in Florida rather than leaving it to chance, which would be nice. So I guess we ask ourselves: Does he want to secure Florida, or does he want to open up another state to a 50/50 chance instead of a 55-45 one?

If you look at all the polls together, I still think Romney's chances in "the big three" look like this: FLORIDA > PENNSYLVANIA > OHIO.

Nope. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/04/obama-doing-well-in-florida.html

[Diabolical Minds Think Alike]

I'm beginning to think that Bobby Jindal would indeed be the best pick.

[RogueBeaver]

I'm beginning to think that Bobby Jindal would indeed be the best pick.

Glad to see I'm not alone.

[milhouse24]

This is why playing the swing state game in VP selection doesn't work.

Work to create the strongest possible ticket overall and that is how the VP will "help" in swing states.

That is why I still think Jeb Bush gives him the best ticket overall, at least according to polls indicating that Romney-Bush can beat Obama.  I don't really see any other VP candidate having as much success against Obama.  If Romney wants to win then he will most likely pick Jeb.  There are some other 'safe' choices that will help Romney keep it close but still lose.  I don't see Portman being that strong and it might even make Romney look too desperate in only going after Ohio while ignoring the South and Florida voters.  As least by picking Jeb, it will give a vote of confidence that he is picking the most competent person available, and he doesn't care how much the liberal media hates Jeb.  It will also be the liberal media that will focus the talk about the Bush past, and ignore Obama's past 4 years, and neglect the more important talk about the future.  Of course voters don't want the media to focus on the past, they want to focus on the future.  Romney-Bush probably talks about a better future than Obama-Biden.  At least Romney can talk about bringing prosperity back to Americans, while Obama talks about Americans living averagely in a shiny peaceful world. 

[milhouse24]

thats the best thing could happen. romney-bush 2012



obama2012

Exactly, Jeb on the ticket would automatically guarantee Florida, and losing Florida will make it very difficult for Obama to win.  If they attack Jeb's family, then his wife will speak espanol to all the hispanics about Obama being anti-spanish and hating mexicans.  I can really see Jeb being a victim if they go after his family in such a personal way, and it would offend his wife.  Of course, it would be weird to have a Mexican-born wife in the executive office, but I can see a lot of hispanics rallying around Bush to protect his family from personal attacks. 

Most of the other VP options are small time politicians who won't carry the confidence of the nation.  If you want to be a dragon slayer, you have the compete against the best.  Obama beat senior citizen McCain but I don't think he can beat a Bush.  It would be an epically legendary campaign that would be very close.  It won't be as epic as Gore-Bush, but close. 

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

thats the best thing could happen. romney-bush 2012



obama2012

Exactly, Jeb on the ticket would automatically guarantee Florida, and losing Florida will make it very difficult for Obama to win.  If they attack Jeb's family, then his wife will speak espanol to all the hispanics about Obama being anti-spanish and hating mexicans.  I can really see Jeb being a victim if they go after his family in such a personal way, and it would offend his wife.  Of course, it would be weird to have a Mexican-born wife in the executive office, but I can see a lot of hispanics rallying around Bush to protect his family from personal attacks.  

Most of the other VP options are small time politicians who won't carry the confidence of the nation.  If you want to be a dragon slayer, you have the compete against the best.  Obama beat senior citizen McCain but I don't think he can beat a Bush.  It would be an epically legendary campaign that would be very close.  It won't be as epic as Gore-Bush, but close.  

Has anyone polled Romney/Jeb in Florida? Is is large enough that a Romey/Jeb ticket without the usual election shenanigans would to better than a Romney/not a Floridan ticket with the shenanigans?

[HagridOfTheDeep]

The thing about Jeb is, he'd be far-and-away the best pick, if it wasn't for his last name.

[Gravis Marketing]

I thought Romney/Bush was polled in Florida and it made virtually no difference. Obama had a narrow lead either way.

[Gravis Marketing]

The thing about Jeb is, he'd be far-and-away the best pick, if it wasn't for his last name.

Jeb would never have become governor of Florida in the first place if it weren't for his last name.

[Diabolical Minds Think Alike]

Americans will never vote for another Bush.

[politicus]

The thing about Jeb is, he'd be far-and-away the best pick, if it wasn't for his last name.

Jeb would never have become governor of Florida in the first place if it weren't for his last name.

Maybe not, we will never know. But its hard to deny that unlike his elder brother he actually has real leadership qualities and significant political skills. 

[Senator Clarence]

The thing about Jeb is, he'd be far-and-away the best pick, if it wasn't for his last name.

Jeb would never have become governor of Florida in the first place if it weren't for his last name.

Maybe not, we will never know. But its hard to deny that unlike his elder brother he actually has real leadership qualities and significant political skills. 

Hard to say that a man elected President of the United States twice doesn't have real leadership qualities...

[milhouse24]

The thing about Jeb is, he'd be far-and-away the best pick, if it wasn't for his last name.

Jeb would never have become governor of Florida in the first place if it weren't for his last name.

Do you mean the time he lost in Florida as well?  Or just the times that he won?  He's not popular in Florida?