Talk Elections

Unlike me some of you seem to think that the VP choice matters a great deal, so out of curiosity which Republican governor or senator would be the worst possible VP choice for Romney? Would there be a candidate, that could cost him 10%?

Olympia Snowe or Mary Fallin.

Rick Perry comes to mind.

This guy (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/04/06/allen_west_i_would_say_yes_to_vp_slot_on_gop_ticket.html).

Among governors or senators? Probably not. Tom Coburn or Rand Paul might come close.

Basically a VP pick is irrelevant unless it makes some people question the candidate's sanity and good judgment (not counting partisans of the other side that were already convinced that such sanity was questionable, obviously). Eagleton being the textbook example, though other picks - Dan Quayle! - have had much more minor but effectively similar effects.
Even then, much depends on the media response. I mean, Republicans got away with picking Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin recently with no ill effects.
I don't think you can win votes with a VP pick, though there will be  hacks that do think so.

Thankfully West is neither a Governor nor a Senator. And as to the literal "Worst Possible VP for Romney"... I think a random 35-year old Black homeless person with mental problems and a few felony convictions would be an even worse pick than West. ;D

Yeah, the multiple felonies would really hurt him in comparison to West.

Joe Walsh

Former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.

What a turnaround too. Last year he ruled out being a Presidential candidate or a VP choice.

Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, Mary Falin, Paul LePage.

What's wrong with Fallin? She's conservative, could help solidify the South's support for Romney, and has more than enough experience for VP.

Guess its the infidelity allegations about her and the state trooper - her own little "troopergate".

Only a Congressman, so he doesn't count. But the guy does sound horrible - both his political views and personal life.

Either of those probably would help him with as many people as they'd hurt.

The Haley rumors are just that, rumors.  Practically no one believes them, and those who do are probably like the birthers convinced that Obama's a Muslim, people who hate her so much that even if something bad isn't true, they think it should be.

Not that I think Haley would help the GOP ticket more than an average VP choice would help, but she wouldn't be a disaster of a pick.  (Sticking up for Haley is a weird feeling, so please people, stop mentioning her in the veepstakes.)

Yes, that hasn't stopped them as (unelectable) presidential material.
Falin is a hack. too. And from a state that Obama would lose even against David Duke (and by a huge margin).

Romney doesn't need to solidify the South to win the election (McCain won there and remember how it worked). He has to appeal to voters in NV, OH, NH, PA and FL to win.

Are former ones allowed? Governors Palin, Schwarzenegger, or Taft would all be awful picks.

Sarah Palin, Paul Ryan or Rick Scott

OP was TLDR. But among sitting governors and senators, it would be hard to do worse than David Vitter.

Constitutionally ineligible to run for Vice Presidency.

Michelle Bachmann or Tom Tanacredo

John Ensign.

I wouldn't call her a hack, but I'm just saying that "alleged" infidelity doesn't disqualify someone. Fallin never had proof against her that she was in an affair, just like the accusations against Haley and Palin weren't supported with evidence either.

Newt Gingrich, of the major candidates.

Current Govs/Senators?  Jan Brewer and David Vitter come to mind.

Rick Scott. Unpopular governor of a swing state, but unlike some with that profile, he's also got the "rich guy" issue that Romney needs to downplay.

Jim DeMint. Liberals would scream "Antichrist," while conservatives would be wondering when DeMint abandoned reason for madness. Liberals would take DeMint's conservatism seriously, while conservatives would ask, "Whom does Romney think he is kidding?"

Rick Scott
Rick Santorum
Rick Perry

You get the idea.

Ooh yeah.

Also (and to a lesser degree), Scott Walker by then.

Yeah, Brewer would be bad.  Not on paper, but once she opens her mouth.

I don't know what it is about Arizona but they're starting to say even crazier/stupider sht than Texans say.

Rick Scott, Nathan Deal, Newt Gingrich, Olympia Snowe.

Olympia Snowe wouldn't be a terrible pick.  I don't know why people keep mentioning her, but she could easily win over some voters who are on the edge between White Obama and Black Obama.

The worst possible pick, bar none, would be Paul Ryan.  Imagine what the Dems could come up with to attack Rmoney if he picked Ryan.  The DNC would celebrate if he did such a dumb thing!

You know, Alvin Greene could always register as a Republican.

Not sure, but it's probably because Hispanics aren't as big as they are in Texas, so there's more opportunity to be racist?

What exactly is racist about wanting to stop illegal immigrants from leeching off of hard working Americans?

Scott Walker

Rick Scott

John Kasich

Nathan Deal

Jan Brewer

Rick Scott

Paul LePage

Rick Snyder

These are Republican governors from D states or near-swing states.

In general it is lazy, greedy Americans who exploit the cheap toil of illegal immigrants and try to fleece them as customers. Illegal immigrants really can't get away with much if they don't want to get deported.

Citizenship is usually examined during the booking of any crook who shows any indication of being from elsewhere. Illegal aliens are frequently deported after they are apprehended for spouse abuse, DWI, or minor drug offenses.   

Aww, poor illegal immigrants.  That's right they're clearly the victims when they are the ones who shouldn't even be there in the first place.

Good, as they should be.  First, they cross our borders illegally, and then they violate our laws.  Why wouldn't we want them out of our country?

Who could cost him 10% points?

Paul LePage could do that.

He has no control over what he says, doesn't care who he insults, and is guaranteed to alienate everyone but hard-core partisans.

Also, he grew up speaking French. Imagine that on a Republican ticket.

sigh, Because democrats fear him so much? or is it the telegenic brilliance?  

[/quote]Also (and to a lesser degree), Scott Walker by then.[/quote]

Walker is 4 to 8 years away from considering it.  He could be a serious player by then though.  So he would be bad only from the standpoint of timing.  His achievements are just starting to shine through the crap thrown at him by dems.

 sigh, I imagine any VP will get lies 'imagined' about them

Romney speaks French

Not any VP would make another "granny off the cliff" ad barrage effective.  Ryan is special in that regard.

Ryan as VP would make that laughable, not effective. 
I'm not a wordsmith, but the substance would be something like:

Q:Congressman have you proposed anything that negatively effects current seniors?
A: No, and their is a mile long paper trail backing that up.

Q:Why is the president spending a lot of energy misleading the american people?
A: It is really the only card he has left to play.

IDK but, he's going to be linked to the campaign anyway.  Probably should jack up his profile so he can fightback and win.  Running away from a winner like Ryan because Dems are afraid of him and will lash out doesn't make sense to me.   

I could see Missouri Senator Roy Blunt sinking Romney's campaign if he was the VP. With all the damage Republicans have done to themselves crusading against women's rights, having Blunt on the ticket would drive a fatal wedge between Romeny and women voters.

Other than that, having Gingrich, Perry, or Rick Scott as VP would probably cost Romney a fighting chance to win the election.