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

[ChairmanSanchez]

I'm 100% certain it's going to be Ryan.

Im 99.9% certain...Rubio is still a possibility, I think.

[RogueBeaver]

Rubio was never a shortlister.

Now that we know who the Veep is, let's guess location/day.

My guess for rollout day is next Thursday or Friday. Location WI or IA, won't be in a place which the bus tour hits.

[Senator Clarence]

I don't believe it is a 100% certainty to be Ryan.... I also believe Rubio is a potential choice and there could yet be a dark horse none of us have guessed. I believe we can clearly say it will not be Portman or Pawlenty- they do not excite enough and Romney needs a game changer...

[For Oklahoma]

I'm gonna guess next Wednesday (the 15th) or Thursday (the 16th) in Iowa.

[Comrade Funk]

I always thought Ryan too, but why is everyone so sure now? Is there something I missed here?

[RogueBeaver]

He's on vacation for a week in CO but comes back next Wednesday. Just in time.

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/07/13169966-paul-ryan-set-to-take-vacation-amid-vp-fervor?lite

[RogueBeaver]

Actually next Saturday upon rereading the article. So a few days prior to convention... just like Biden and Palin.

[Mr. Morden]

Actually next Saturday upon rereading the article. So a few days prior to convention... just like Biden and Palin.

By "next Saturday", do you mean the 18th?  Because that's not just a few days prior to the convention.  The convention doesn't start until the 27th.

[RogueBeaver]

Yep. But less than 10 days out. Ryan went on vacation in CO when he considered whether to run for POTUS around this time last year, so fits his pattern. Say Romney calls him Monday, he flies to Wolfeboro Tuesday for the final briefing, Thu/Fri rollout.

[Mr. Morden]

Yep. But less than 10 days out. Ryan went on vacation in CO when he considered whether to run for POTUS around this time last year, so fits his pattern. Say Romney calls him Monday, he flies to Wolfeboro Tuesday for the final briefing, Thu/Fri rollout.

I don't believe they'd be able to keep a veep offer a secret for more than 24 hours, nor do I think there's much point in trying.  Romney could call any of the shortlisters in for an interview, and they *might* be able to keep that a secret.  It's possible that Romney is asking shortlisters to really clear their schedule so that if they go missing for a day, it won't be noticed.  But once an offer is actually made, I think we'll inevitably find out about it in no time.

Btw, Petraeus's spokesman says that he would turn down a VP offer:

http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/08/david-petraeus-douses-vp-talk-131368.html?hp=l5

And Romney says that we shouldn't read anything into the convention schedule as it relates to the veepstakes (but of course he kind of has to say that):

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/242587-romney-convention-speakers-not-excluded-from-vp-search

[RogueBeaver]

We already did... kinda. But I get your point.

[Mr. Morden]

Karl Rove says he thinks Romney is "close to a decision", and:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57488787-503544/rove-romney-close-to-a-decision-on-vp/

[A veep announcement] "could come as early as Friday", though he added "it's more likely to come next week."

"We could get one on Friday because they've got a bus tour announced for four days in key battleground states that starts on Saturday," Rove said during an interview with Fox News Tuesday.

"My gut tells me though that it's more likely to come next week. I think Romney is going to spend this bus tour laying out ... the grassroots plan that he laid out last week, called the 'Plan for the Middle Class.' I think he's going to try to give that some depth and substance."

From the way that's phrased though, it sounds like Rove is just sounding off with his opinion from reading the tea leaves, as opposed to basing these comments on firsthand info from the campaign.  But it's not 100% clear.

[Mr. Morden]

A lot of activity in the last few pages, so I'm not sure if this has already been posted.  Rafalca didn't advance to the finals of dressage or whatever it is, so it's possible that Ann flies back to the US early:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/08/sports/olympics/jan-ebeling-and-rafalca-ride-in-olympic-dressage-finals.html

The Weekly Standard thinks the VP announcement will come as early as this week Thursday or Friday:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/stars-aligned-thursday-vp-announcement_649430.html

though my own feeling is that if it was really coming up as early as Thursday, we'd already know.

[A-Bob]

As adverted by the Jeffco party chair and Vice Chair of the state

RALLY 08/08/2012 WITH SENATOR ROB PORTMAN

SENATOR ROB PORTMAN WILL BE IN DENVER ON WEDNESDAY, 08/08/2012, FOR A 2:30 PM RALLY AT HOTEL VQ (RIGHT NEXT TO MILE HIGH STADIUM). COME JOIN THE CROWD, SEE THE ROMNEY BUS AND GET EXCITED!/quote]

Thune was here today or yesterday I believe to campaign for Joe Coors.

Just a heads up. Interesting note Romney's bus is here but not him.

[AmericanNation]

She's celebrated and beloved mainly by people who don't study literature and have terrible taste in it. I don't even understand her political and ideological value when there are plenty of genuinely talented libertarian genre fiction authors out there and have been for most of the recent past.

What this indicates about Ryan's political beliefs most people already knew. What it indicates about his taste in literature and culture is worrying.

Why does "a certain crowd" always say this line.  Atlas isn't that well 'written'(for entertainment and literary purposes), but the lessons in it are constructed fantastically.  I never would have chosen the medium, but you remember certain scenes forever.  It is very effective and important writing.  I think people hate it because they either don't like or don't understand the harm they cause... Nobody 'wants' to acknowledge something like that.  It's like saying people who appreciate the lessons of the Bible have no taste in literature.  The value of an informative lesson IS THE LESSON, not how artsy it's written or how good it makes you feel.             

[All life is a blur of Republicans and meat.]

Down to three?

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/08/13180408-first-thoughts-the-final-three?lite

Assuming it is, I think it'll be Ryan. He's a total lightning rod but he's definitely the smartest and most exciting of the three. He'd also hold his own against Biden in a debate.

Portman would be a pick that would put everyone back to sleep, plus he has Bush baggage.

As for Pawlenty, I'm sure he's "in the mix" as a courtesy. I mean Romney and his people can't be that dumb, can they?

[RogueBeaver]

Yep, though there are still handwringers.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79465.html?hp=f1

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I have no idea who I would want the pick to be out of those three. My brain tells me the Ryan buzz would be a great thing for Romney, but my gut is telling me a Ryan pick would totally change the narrative of the campaign and pull the rug right out from underneath Romney by September.

On the other hand, I have no enthusiasm whatsoever for Tim Pawlenty or Rob Portman.

[Senator Snowstalker]

If it's these three, I think it will be Portman; Pawlenty is just terribly boring, while Romney is begging to lose in Florida and Nevada by going with Ryan.

[For Oklahoma]

Just got this email. Not sure if it means anything, but:

Friend,

I can't wait to find out who Dad will choose as his running mate. Even I haven't been able to get so much as a hint out of him. You'd think I'd have a little bit of "pull" being his youngest and favorite son -- sorry Tagg, it's true -- but no luck!

I'm excited to meet the leader who will help get our country back on track.

In just a few days, one lucky supporter will win the remarkable opportunity to meet Dad and his VP pick in person. Don't miss out!

Enter now at: http://www.mittromney.com/donate/vp

Time is running out for you to enter to win your chance to personally meet America's Comeback Team.

It's history in the making -- and this could be your chance to be part of it!

Thanks and good luck!

Craig Romney

It's obviously not a secret that the announcement will be soon, but what does "in just a few days" mean?

[AmericanNation]

Imagine the scene at the convention when Scott Walker announces the next VP of the US, his good friend: Paul Ryan! 

[RogueBeaver]

RP: Not next week. Palin was announced 3 days out, Biden 5.

[For Oklahoma]

Imagine the scene at the convention when Scott Walker announces the next VP of the US, his good friend: Paul Ryan! 

A lib's worst nightmare?

[All life is a blur of Republicans and meat.]

If it's these three, I think it will be Portman; Pawlenty is just terribly boring, while Romney is begging to lose in Florida and Nevada by going with Ryan.

How is Portman any less boring than Pawlenty? Pawlenty is at least such a joke that he's almost entertaining.

[For Oklahoma]

Romney would be stupid to pick someone as close to the Bush Administration as Portman...Ryan is the only logical answer.