Romney to announce running mate on Saturday @9am ET in Norfolk, VA

[Mr. Morden]

No link, but my sources out in Utah said Condi Rice was the star of Romney's speech, receiving a standing ovation. I expect her name to start being floated around more.

I hope. She would be a fantastic pick. Her pro-choice stance isn't exactly one I agree with, but she's content to accept pro-life politics. And... people in the rust belt will take kindly to a moderate, well-spoken woman. I think Condi is the only real trump card left in this game.

Rice said this just this morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNS_-6DVMWQ&feature=player_embedded

[You kip if you want to...]

No link, but my sources out in Utah said Condi Rice was the star of Romney's speech, receiving a standing ovation. I expect her name to start being floated around more.

I hope. She would be a fantastic pick. Her pro-choice stance isn't exactly one I agree with, but she's content to accept pro-life politics. And... people in the rust belt will take kindly to a moderate, well-spoken woman. I think Condi is the only real trump card left in this game.

Rice said this just this morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNS_-6DVMWQ&feature=player_embedded

We've all obviously forgotten this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4R3-ig-ohM

That goes against the GOP's "Obama the superstar" meme. And many GOPers wouldn't be happy with an African American on the ticket, let's be honest here.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

That is possibly the largest insult I've ever seen wrapped up so nicely in a nonchalant post.

[tmthforu94]

Just a question:

How many points would Rice be leading President Obama by if she were the presumptive nominee?

I'm going to say it would be around 49-44.

[Mr. Morden]

McDonnell reverses course on the vetting question.  In the early days after the vetting began, McDonnell says that he hadn't been contacted by the Romney campaign.  Now he refuses to comment:

http://www.wtop.com/120/2919120/Virginia-governor-shifts-tone-might-be-vetted-for-VP

So the list of people who currently refuse to comment on whether they're being vetted:

Jindal
McDonnell
Pawlenty
Portman
Rubio
Ryan
Thune
Tom Graves (?)

Also, as far as I can tell, no one's asked Christie if he's being vetted.....which seems rather strange.

[Mr. Morden]

Google's new Veepstakes page tracks web trends for some of the likely veep contenders:

http://www.google.com/elections/ed/us/veepstakes

[Mr. Morden]

Another day, another veep denial from Condoleeza Rice (though this one actually leaves some slight wiggle room.....not that she'll be picked anyway):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Jtiv8lOmY&feature=player_embedded

[RogueBeaver]

He's being vetted, so obviously is at least willing to entertain the idea.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/06/27/paul_ryan_aiming_for_ways__means_instead_of_vp___114623.html

[milhouse24]

He's being vetted, so obviously is at least willing to entertain the idea.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/06/27/paul_ryan_aiming_for_ways__means_instead_of_vp___114623.html

If Paul Ryan wants to be president some day, he'll need to run for Senate or Governor.  Kohl is retiring so he should have run to replace him.  I guess he could run for governor after Walker.

[RogueBeaver]

He's being vetted, so obviously is at least willing to entertain the idea.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/06/27/paul_ryan_aiming_for_ways__means_instead_of_vp___114623.html

If Paul Ryan wants to be president some day, he'll need to run for Senate or Governor.  Kohl is retiring so he should have run to replace him.  I guess he could run for governor after Walker.

Budget/W&M has much more power than a freshman senator does.

[Torie]

He's being vetted, so obviously is at least willing to entertain the idea.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/06/27/paul_ryan_aiming_for_ways__means_instead_of_vp___114623.html

If Paul Ryan wants to be president some day, he'll need to run for Senate or Governor.  Kohl is retiring so he should have run to replace him.  I guess he could run for governor after Walker.

Budget/W&M has much more power than a freshman senator does.

Ryan's power is mostly a function of his superior knowledge, based on his superior knowledge of economics and mathematics.

[milhouse24]

He's being vetted, so obviously is at least willing to entertain the idea.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/06/27/paul_ryan_aiming_for_ways__means_instead_of_vp___114623.html

If Paul Ryan wants to be president some day, he'll need to run for Senate or Governor.  Kohl is retiring so he should have run to replace him.  I guess he could run for governor after Walker.

Budget/W&M has much more power than a freshman senator does.

Governor and President have more power than that.

[Mr. Morden]

A fun retrospective on VP denials from elections past:

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/27/155848653/translating-the-veepstakes

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[RogueBeaver]

Ayotte is marching with Romney tomorrow.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/03/12544053-more-clues-emerge-in-veepstakes?lite

[RogueBeaver]

Doubtful Jindal's on the list.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/07/05/romneys_vp_short_list_it_may_be_down_to_four_114698.html

[Dereich]

Ann Romney is saying Mitt is thinking of picking a woman: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/07/05/romneys-wife-says-woman-being-eyed-for-ticket/

With what Roguebeaver posted yesterday I'd guess he's looking hard at Ayotte.

[RogueBeaver]

"Marco Rubio is being thoroughly vetted." Same thing. It would be way OOC for Romney to shortlist a Northeastern 20-monther who barely escaped a TP challenge in her primary 2 years ago.

Again I find myself agreeing with Halperin.

http://thepage.time.com/2012/07/04/superfriends/

[big bad fab]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/07/05/romneys_vp_short_list_it_may_be_down_to_four_114698.html

It's only about T-Paw, Portman, Ryan and Jindal, according to RCP.

Ayotte, McDonnell and Rubio as dark horses, but a short list is a short list...

[Mr. Morden]

Jindal-Pawlenty head-to-head veep-athon in Ohio:

http://decoded.nationaljournal.com/2012/07/rating-the-jindalpawlenty-veep.php

[Lincoln Republican]

Jindal-Pawlenty head-to-head veep-athon in Ohio:

http://decoded.nationaljournal.com/2012/07/rating-the-jindalpawlenty-veep.php

Makes for a good show, but Portman is as we speak working on his VP acceptance speech for Tampa.

[President von Cat]

Jindal-Pawlenty head-to-head veep-athon in Ohio:

http://decoded.nationaljournal.com/2012/07/rating-the-jindalpawlenty-veep.php

Makes for a good show, but Portman is as we speak working on his VP acceptance speech for Tampa.

An invasion!

...of boring...

[RogueBeaver]

A staff is already being assembled for the eventual nominee, per WaPo. Announcement this month?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-in-final-stages-of-veepstakes-is-weighing-when-to-pick-running-mate/2012/07/08/gJQAfTsaWW_story.html

[Vern]

Maybe he will do it before he goes overseas

[cavalcade]

Maybe he will do it before he goes overseas

Shouldn't he want to be able to announce his VP and then have them campaign together for 2-3 weeks, rather than skipping town?

Besides, I think he should keep up the whole Avengers thing he's got going with Portman/Rubio/Ryan/Christie/Jindal/Ayotte/Pawlenty.  Especially since there's generally a clear line between the popular, attention-grabbing group (Rubio, Ayotte, Christie) and the RCP short-list.

[Lambsbread]

I still think it's gonna be Paul Ryan.