Who will be Mitt's running mate?

[Starman]

There's a story on this in Politico today, in which some unnamed GOP bigwig is quoted as saying "they're looking for an incredibly boring white guy." So Portman or Pawlenty it is.
As with most human organizations, the Romney campaign is overreacting to the last war (campaign). They don't want a Palin, so they'll overreach the other way.

That's one way to look at it, but in some ways they need a "game change" too -- Romney in and of himself is a pretty boring guy and doesn't really fire up the base very much on his own. Many of them doubt he is really "one of them."

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Star, the overriding theory of the Romney campaign is that they want to make the only candidate in the race Obama, on the basis that economic dissatisfaction will result in Romney winning if he keeps the lowest possible profile and just keeps saying "Obama sucks." That's how they think Reagan beat Carter in 1980, which is only partially correct. Reagan also had to be a good enough campaigner to make people not think he might start World War III, which he was.
This is a pretty passive stance for a challenger. Reagan had a large and specific set of policy proposals. Romney doesn't have much more than "I'll reverse all Obama policies." Extreme risk avoidance can be pretty risky. Right, Mr. Dimon?

 

[Starman]

Star, the overriding theory of the Romney campaign is that they want to make the only candidate in the race Obama, on the basis that economic dissatisfaction will result in Romney winning if he keeps the lowest possible profile and just keeps saying "Obama sucks." That's how they think Reagan beat Carter in 1980, which is only partially correct. Reagan also had to be a good enough campaigner to make people not think he might start World War III, which he was.
This is a pretty passive stance for a challenger. Reagan had a large and specific set of policy proposals. Romney doesn't have much more than "I'll reverse all Obama policies." Extreme risk avoidance can be pretty risky. Right, Mr. Dimon?

Basing your whole platform on "Obama sucks" is very risky if you're not prepared to argue that:

a) Bush -- whose policies Romney intends to continue and in fact double down upon -- didn't suck much worse, and

b) Your side has continually tried (and usually succeeded) to monkey-wrench anything and everything Obama has tried to do. Undoubtedly this will continue and probably ramp up over the next few months.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I think it will/has to be Rubio., but I'd be thrilled with Ryan as well.

They are each articulate, and confident. They can defend, and promote conservatism, and capitalism.

And, judging from his performance on FoxNewsSunday last week, I think Rubio could be the kind of attack dog VP nominee we haven't seen in a while -- all while not coming across as "angry".

Ryan could too, and would help focus the debate on the economy. The question would be whether or not the electorate likes his recipe for recovery.

The GOP seems to want to couch its plans for Medicare and Social Security -- as in, not say what those plans plainly are. Having the author of said plans on the ticket would make that end-around a lot more difficult.

 

[Starman]

I think it will/has to be Rubio., but I'd be thrilled with Ryan as well.

They are each articulate, and confident. They can defend, and promote conservatism, and capitalism.

And, judging from his performance on FoxNewsSunday last week, I think Rubio could be the kind of attack dog VP nominee we haven't seen in a while -- all while not coming across as "angry".

Ryan could too, and would help focus the debate on the economy. The question would be whether or not the electorate likes his recipe for recovery.

The GOP seems to want to couch its plans for Medicare and Social Security -- as in, not say what those plans plainly are. Having the author of said plans on the ticket would make that end-around a lot more difficult.

Anybody who has been paying even the slightest attention over the last 80 years knows precisely what those plans are:

 

[ColdCat]

even though the GOP tends not to pick VP candidates from swings states (and lately not even from big states- were they really worried about Wyoming and Alaska and those three electoral votes each that they needed to tab Cheney and Palin?) but this time I think they need to consider it. Romney needs to essentially run the table among Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. FL is the biggest in that group and the President taking FL makes things very difficult for Romney. That's why Rubio might be the best choice, especially given his tea party bona fides

If I had to pick a Florida republican, I'd take Crist (he was governor when I lived there and I always liked the guy), but the GOP already has a moderate at the top of the ticket so I doubt they would

 

[Dick Whitman]

Ah, McDonnell. Knew I was forgetting someone obvious.

 

[Football_Bat]

There's a story on this in Politico today, in which some unnamed GOP bigwig is quoted as saying "they're looking for an incredibly boring white guy." So Portman or Pawlenty it is.
As with most human organizations, the Romney campaign is overreacting to the last war (campaign). They don't want a Palin, so they'll overreach the other way.

That's one way to look at it, but in some ways they need a "game change" too -- Romney in and of himself is a pretty boring guy and doesn't really fire up the base very much on his own. Many of them doubt he is really "one of them."

I guessed Rubio early on and for now, I'm sticking with him for the reason you mentioned.

Portman is safe, but he budges the needle not one bit, not even in his home state, according to some polls I've seen.

 

[MankyJimy]

 

[Starman]

I voted other, only because I'm surprised Bob McDonnell isn't on the ballot. I know he took a hit with his vaginal intrusion issues, but he's still pretty popular here. Plus, he's got bonafide conservative credentials and a suprising streak of moderation (most of the time).

And if Romney's looking for another boring white guy, they don't come more milquetoast than McDonnell.

I think McDonnell is in trouble from the base on his waffling semi-evasive response to VaginalProbeGate, because the proper response from the Shiite Repubes is to stonewall, double down, counterattack and ram, ram, ram ram ram whenever any opposition arises to the ALEC agenda.

You are supposed to never ever acknowledge for even a split second the opponent could have anything even remotely approaching a valid point. When you have the sledgehammer in your hand, you are to ram ram ram ram ram, or be accused of not being sufficiently 'pure.'

Since if anything one of Romney's biggest problems with the base is his propensity to tiptoe around things, McDonnell will not help in this area.

 

[Brian]

Is Portman even particularly popular in Ohio?

I lived in the Congressional district next to his for six years and I honestly could not tell you a single thing about him.

He gives the vibe of a blandly effective guy.

But running the OMB for George W. Bush isn't exactly something he'll want to bold on the resume.

 

[Armchair_QB]

 

[Starman]

Is Portman even particularly popular in Ohio?

I lived in the Congressional district next to his for six years and I honestly could not tell you a single thing about him.

He gives the vibe of a blandly effective guy.

But running the OMB for George W. Bush isn't exactly something he'll want to bold on the resume.

I thought that was Mitch Daniels, but it's hardly surprising two refugees from the catastropic Bush (Mis)Administration are being held up by the Repube Party as financial geniuses.


"Cut Taxes On The Rich, Cut Everything For Everybody Else."

Yeahhh, takes real economic deep thinkers to come up with innovative stuff like that.

 

[dooley_womack1]

I voted "other" for no particular reason.

Whoever it is, he or she will be living in Joe Biden's house this time next year.

Why would the GOP running mate move to Delaware next year?

 

[dixiehack]

Because Christine Whatshername is a stone hottie.

As for the poll, Chris Matthews was pimping John Thune today, which would certainly meet the boring white guy test.

 

[Bubbler]

Does Mitt Romney need steroids?

 

[joe]

Nah, just a drink or nine.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

even though the GOP tends not to pick VP candidates from swings states (and lately not even from big states- were they really worried about Wyoming and Alaska and those three electoral votes each that they needed to tab Cheney and Palin?) but this time I think they need to consider it. Romney needs to essentially run the table among Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. FL is the biggest in that group and the President taking FL makes things very difficult for Romney. That's why Rubio might be the best choice, especially given his tea party bona fides

If I had to pick a Florida republican, I'd take Crist (he was governor when I lived there and I always liked the guy), but the GOP already has a moderate at the top of the ticket so I doubt they would

Crist remains 'WAY off the national radar.

Skeletons. Closet.

 

[Double J]

 

[93Devil]

I voted other, only because I'm surprised Bob McDonnell isn't on the ballot. I know he took a hit with his vaginal intrusion issues, but he's still pretty popular here. Plus, he's got bonafide conservative credentials and a suprising streak of moderation (most of the time).

And if Romney's looking for another boring white guy, they don't come more milquetoast than McDonnell.

I think McDonnell is in trouble from the base on his waffling semi-evasive response to VaginalProbeGate, because the proper response from the Shiite Repubes is to stonewall, double down, counterattack and ram, ram, ram ram ram whenever any opposition arises to the ALEC agenda.

You are supposed to never ever acknowledge for even a split second the opponent could have anything even remotely approaching a valid point. When you have the sledgehammer in your hand, you are to ram ram ram ram ram, or be accused of not being sufficiently 'pure.'

Since if anything one of Romney's biggest problems with the base is his propensity to tiptoe around things, McDonnell will not help in this area.

McDonnell would not be a terrible choice. He can battle the gay rights issue, and he could swing VA back to the GOP.

But after 2008, anything is possible. God, was Palin just an amazingly poor choice. I still cannot get my head around how smart people, and these are smart people which I do not agree with on matters, could screw up something so badly.