As an indy candidate, who Romney would have chose as his running mate in 2016?

[UWS]

If Mitt Romney ran as an independent candidate in 2016 against Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, who would he have selected as his running mate?

[HagridOfTheDeep]

He would have picked a Latino/a.

[MLM]

I am imagine his first choice would have been Kasich but I'm not sure if Kasich would accept.

[7,052,770]

Jon Huntsman to lock up Utah

[Krago]

Mindy Finn

[UWS]

I think Kasich would have been the best choice.

Thanks to a Kasich independent candidacy for vice-president, Romney would have removed at least Ohio and potentially even Pennsylvania from Donald Trump, which would have put Trump at only 268 great electors (306 great electors for Trump - 18 - 20 = 268), thus giving victory to Hillary Clinton who would have won narrowly with 270 great electors.

Ohio, of course because it's the state where Kasich is Governor.

Pennsylvania because Kasich is born close from Pittsburgh, the second largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia.

[Sir Mohamed]

Susana Martinez.

[Rjjr77]

Susana Martinez.

This, or Brian Sandoval

[Vosem]

Jon Huntsman to lock up Utah

It's Romney. Utah would've instantly been safe.

"A woman" or "a Latino" is an obvious choice, but it's hard to say who would fit either role. Rubio was a Romney VP finalist in 2012 but I doubt he would've gone for it. (The others were Ryan, obviously, Portman, and Pawlenty, none of whom seem likely to go for it in 2012). So, spitballing...Ayotte, Haley, and Sandoval all make some sense. Martinez fits perfectly, but probably wouldn't want it.

It also depends on what Trump does -- his four finalists were Christie, Pence, Flynn, and Gingrich, and he originally intended to pick Christie before Kushner convinced him to switch to Pence. If Trump does pick the very Northeastern Christie, or Flynn, who is outright pro-choice, it might behoove Romney to try to appeal to evangelicals in a big way, counting on Republican Hispanics/suburbanites to back him over Trump anyway. Pence would be a really logical pick, but he may not want to go for it. Some other evangelical politician, then -- Perry might actually be a logical choice, since he started off hardcore NeverTrump before suddenly randomly doing a 180, or maybe Haley Barbour. Jindal would be asking for trouble.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Depends how he wants to expand his coalition.

If he wants to go establishment, perhaps Kasich or Brian Sandoval.

If he wants to pull in #NeverTrump conservatives, perhaps someone like Rand Paul or Scott Walker.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Sen. Susan Collins.

[Lincoln Republican]

This is an excellent question.

I have my doubts as to whether a sitting Republican Governor, House member, or Senator would bolt the party and run as an independent in a campaign they knew they would not win.  They may have difficulty integrating back into party acceptance.

A good Vice Presidential pick for Romney as an independent candidate in 2016 would be Alberto Gonzales.

Hispanic
Served in United States Air Force
Graduate of Rice University, Bachelor in Political Science with honors
Graduate of Harvard Law School, Juris Doctor degree
Secretary of State of Texas 1998-1999
Associate Justice Texas Supreme Court 1999-2001
White House Counsel 2001-2005
United States Attorney General 2005-2007

[Fuzzy Bear]

What kind of "Independent" candidate would Romney have run as?

Would he have been "Moderate Mitt"?  He'd have picked Susan Collins, or maybe Olympia Snowe, if that were his strategy. 

Would he have been "The REAL Republican"?  In that case, he'd probably have picked someone like Lindsey Graham.

Would he have been "The TRUE Convervative"?  He'd probably have tried to get Lyin' Ted Cruz, but Cruz probably would have resisted.

Each role would call for a different sort of running mate, and I'm not sure what niche Romney would have selected.  The only thing I know is what Rep. Louie Gohmert said of Mitt in 2012:  "Whether you're liberal, moderate, or conservative, he's been on your side at one time or another!".

[Kringla Heimsins]

Depends how he wants to expand his coalition.

If he wants to go establishment, perhaps Kasich or Brian Sandoval.

If he wants to pull in #NeverTrump conservatives, perhaps someone like Rand Paul or Scott Walker.

Rand Paul had to pledge his support to the winner of the primary.

Maybe he could have had Bill Weld. I know he absolutely hates Trump, and that would have pulled a certain number of Libertarians.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Depends how he wants to expand his coalition.

If he wants to go establishment, perhaps Kasich or Brian Sandoval.

If he wants to pull in #NeverTrump conservatives, perhaps someone like Rand Paul or Scott Walker.

Rand Paul had to pledge his support to the winner of the primary.

Maybe he could have had Bill Weld. I know he absolutely hates Trump, and that would have pulled a certain number of Libertarians.

Romney's a bit too much of a neocon for Rand Paul's taste (though not as bad as McCain).

[Kingpoleon]

Mike Leavitt.