Scott Walker running mate

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Who would be a good VP candidate for Scott Walker in the event he won the nomination?

[Blair]

John Huntsman

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I personally think that if I was Scott Walker, I'd choose Marco Rubio, since (from a Republican standpoint) he's Hispanic, he has expertise in foreign policy, and he's a bit more charismatic.  If the election is a referendum on foreign policy the base might not care so much about his efforts to reform immigration.  This depends of course on Walker not alienating the tea party too much.

[Vega]

It'll probably be a woman. Likely a Hispanic one.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

It'll probably be a woman. Likely a Hispanic one.

You're thinking Susana Martinez?
Well to be honest Walker hides his dog-whistling best with a non-white running mate.

[Blair]

Please, Rubio isn't a foreign policy expert. He's a foreign policy failure, who backed out of immigration reform

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Please, Rubio isn't a foreign policy expert. He's a foreign policy failure, who backed out of immigration reform

The Republicans think he's one - and that's truly sad.  But that's all that matters - if they think he has expertise on foreign policy, he's on the short list to be nominated.

[Del Tachi]

Kelly Ayotte?  Ann Wagner?  Ileana Ros-Lehtinen?  Cathy McMorris-Rodgers?

[bedstuy]

Please, Rubio isn't a foreign policy expert. He's a foreign policy failure, who backed out of immigration reform

What are you talking about?  Rubio has lots of nuanced, informed foreign policy ideas, like saying that our strength should be stronger.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Kelly Ayotte?  Ann Wagner?  Ileana Ros-Lehtinen?  Cathy McMorris-Rodgers?

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is an intriguing choice. Ann Wagner? Unlikely. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers? Middle of the road.  Kelly Ayotte? Would be a good choice as well (like Rubio) but it may be problematic for her in case she is in the middle of a competitive Senate race.
Overall? A good roster in terms of adding to the discussion.

[RogueBeaver]

Rubio or perhaps Haley.

[Zioneer]

Rubio is definitely a decent VP choice for Walker, hits all the boxes while not being disastrous like Palin (though Rubio does have skeletons in his closet).

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Rubio is definitely a decent VP choice for Walker, hits all the boxes while not being disastrous like Palin (though Rubio does have skeletons in his closet).

Rubio doesn't have much in his closet, because he's an empty suit.

Empty suit?  I was going to say he has a black suit.
Meaning, you know, he isn't all that special.

[Suburbia]

Thune or Cotton are the best choices.  Rubio and Martinez,  or Pence too.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Thune or Cotton are the best choices.  Rubio and Martinez,  or Pence too.

Cotton?  I don't think he's experienced enough.  To nominate him would be to pull a Quayle, only a bit worse becuase he's only been in Congress half as much time.

[Mr. Smith]

Kelly Ayotte or Susanna Martinez

[The_Doctor]

Portman is the best candidate but a good runner up is Rand Paul. All of the other names here have a problem - naming them vice president would put the Senate seat at risk. Ohio included.

Kentucky is red enough but there are complications with the filing deadlines for the November elections.

Rubio only makes sense if he chooses to run for president and he has said he won't seek reelection if he does.

The leading contenders are probably names that we haven't considered yet.  The vice presidential candidate is sometimes picked for a non electoral reason. George Bush Sr, Richard Cheney, Spiro Agnew, and Joe Biden were picked for non electoral reasons (Biden had a slight electoral handicap in that he was selected because he has an ability to communicate with blue collar white voters that the president couldn't).

[Lief 🗽]

Hopefully someone with a college education, to help him get through some of the more complicated briefings.

[Blair]

Please, Rubio isn't a foreign policy expert. He's a foreign policy failure, who backed out of immigration reform

What are you talking about?  Rubio has lots of nuanced, informed foreign policy ideas, like saying that our strength should be stronger.

Haha it's just annoying to see him listed as one, when he clearly doesn't understand basic geopolitics

[Mister Mets]

He can't go with anyone from Wisconsin (condolences to Paul Ryan and Ron Johnson) and his running mate will be expected to be experienced enough, given his lack of a college degree and national experience. So, Joni Ernst is not a good pick for him. But otherwise, he can go with a lot of people.

Someone who has been a major figure for a relatively long time (Jeb Bush, John Thune, Rob Portman, Condoleeza Rice, Jon Huntsman, Tim Pawlenty) adds experience.

Someone younger/ newer (Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Kelly Ayotte, Nikki Haley, Susanna Martinez) makes this look like a fresher ticket.

If he goes with someone from the midwest, he doubles down on a politically useful area that no one is opposed to. Otherwise, it's a geographically diverse ticket.

If he goes with a fellow Governor, he doubles down on executive accomplishment. Otherwise, the running mate can be praised as someone who will help him navigate Washington/ international politics.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

He can't go with anyone from Wisconsin (condolences to Paul Ryan and Ron Johnson) and his running mate will be expected to be experienced enough, given his lack of a college degree and national experience. So, Joni Ernst is not a good pick for him. But otherwise, he can go with a lot of people.

Someone who has been a major figure for a relatively long time (Jeb Bush, John Thune, Rob Portman, Condoleeza Rice, Jon Huntsman, Tim Pawlenty) adds experience.

Someone younger/ newer (Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Kelly Ayotte, Nikki Haley, Susanna Martinez) makes this look like a fresher ticket.

If he goes with someone from the midwest, he doubles down on a politically useful area that no one is opposed to. Otherwise, it's a geographically diverse ticket.

If he goes with a fellow Governor, he doubles down on executive accomplishment. Otherwise, the running mate can be praised as someone who will help him navigate Washington/ international politics.

Experience and leadership could be a flashpoint between the two parties in 2016, with Republicans attacking Obama's leadership and Democrats vice versa.  So if you want to run on that, it's logical to pick a running mate who helps in that department.  That might be a counterpoint to selecting Rubio.

[Suburbia]

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. Classic southerner with a business-like profile. Low-risk, medium-reward choice.

[Clermont County GOPer]

John Kasich

[TDAS04]

Martinez would obviously bring gender, ethnic, and geographical balance.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Can you think of any downsides to selecting Martinez?