Posted on 06/22/2012 7:52:19 AM PDT by Kaslin
Every summer, millions of Americans enjoy baseball, summer camps and vacation plans. But for the nation's political junkies, every fourth summer is filled with guessing games about the vice presidential nomination.
While the guessing games are fun, it's more accurate to look at the fundamentals facing the candidate and what he hopes to achieve.
In the case of Mitt Romney, he is in a much better place than John McCain was four years ago. McCain was trailing badly in the polls and likely to lose unless he swung for the fences and hoped for a home run. That led him to make a risky pick and elevate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to national prominence.
Romney, however, is currently ahead in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and a slight favorite to win in November. He doesn't need to swing for the fences; he needs to avoid making a foolish mistake.
Additionally, the Romney campaign wants the election to be all about President Obama and his record on the economy. Just 33 percent now give the president good or excellent marks for handling the economy. That's down 8 points from 41 percent just over a month ago. It's no coincidence that declining ratings for the president coincide with declining consumer confidence and poor jobs reports. Romney doesn't want those economic realities drowned out by a controversial vice presidential pick.
That means the ideal nominee for the Republican challenger is someone who looks capable of becoming president if needed but is bland enough not to distract attention from either Romney or the president's record.
Political pros will endlessly analyze the process Romney follows for clues as to how he might govern if elected. So far, the process appears to reflect what you expect from public perceptions of the candidate -- buttoned-up and methodical. But more important than the process of selecting the nominee will be the way the choice is rolled out to the public.
At that moment, all eyes will be on the newly famous nominee. More than likely, most Americans will learn all they know about the new name on the ticket during the week the candidate is introduced.
Consider, for example, Sen. Rob Portman from Ohio. Many see him as the frontrunner in Romney's veepstakes. He looks solid, has been reasonably well vetted in public and comes from a key swing state. His biggest negative is having served in the Bush administration, but every candidate has drawbacks -- and that's more manageable than some others.
Still, the way Portman is introduced to the public will matter more than his resume. Half the nation's likely voters (47 percent) have absolutely no opinion one way or the other on Portman. They don't know who he is. Another 43 percent have only soft opinions. They're not sure they know who he is. Just 11 percent currently have strong views one way or the other.
That means, if Portman is selected, nine out of 10 Americans will have their opinions shaped after the nominee is picked. Portman, by the way, is the rule, not the exception. Some other prospective nominees are even less well known than he is.
So enjoy the summer guessing games for now. But discount most of the political analysis until you see how Romney's choice survives his or her introduction to the nation.
They’re looking for an “anti-Palin,” and will get exactly that.
With the candidate being a no-sale to a lot of conservatives, I’d think that would be the greater issue.
And if he does, what will be the first words out of Biden's mouth?
"Thank you."
It actually is not.
John McCain got 97% of the votes that George Bush did in 2004 and 20% more of the vote than George Bush got in 2000. McCain's loss was due to swing voters, not stay-at-home conservatives.
I know that many posters on this forum say that they are staying home and that millions of conservatives will too.
But in reality, conservatives vote for the GOP candidate.
Many - especially here - predicted in 2008 that millions of conservatives would jump ship to third parties.
The libertarian/conservative third parties got 180,000 more votes in 2008 than in 2004, or a lot less than one-fifth of one percent of the electorate.
I'm not staying home. Downticket is far too important. But there's no way in hell I'm voting for Mitt Romney. I don't support statism.
But in reality, conservatives vote for the GOP candidate.
In reality, conservatives can think for themselves. Some will choose Romney and will be stuck with their vote. Others will vote their conscience.
Zzzzzzzzzz.
Depending on how one defines "statism", every GOP president since Coolidge has been a statist.
Romney falls much more into the Eisenhower/Nixon/Ford camp than the Reagan/Bush camp, certainly.
In reality, conservatives can think for themselves.
I didn't say we couldn't. I just made the factual observation that the overwhelming majority of us hold our noses and vote for the McCains and Doles of the world even though there are third parties available.
Suggest that Romney run as Obama’s VP.
THEY BOTH SUPPORT THE SAME THINGS.
ROMNEYCARE/OBAMACARE
SHARIA
TARP
LYING
USING EXCUSES OF THEIR RELIGION/COLOR
DNC JUDGE LOVE
LOVE FOR COVERUPS
LOVE FOR TAXES
You know, Kaslin, we should FEAR an Obama/Romney ticket.
Certainly. But I'd argue he falls farther left than that, which is why I can't and won't support him.
I didn't say we couldn't. I just made the factual observation that the overwhelming majority of us hold our noses and vote for the McCains and Doles of the world even though there are third parties available.
Quite true and well observed. We won't see the change this country needs until that fact changes and more conservatives see that the Grand Old Plantation has left them. In the meantime, I can and will donate time and money to genuine conservatives wherever they can be found on my ballot.
Delegates all over the USA (EVEN MASSACHUSETTS)
hate RINO Romney who has become EVEN MORE LEFTIST
(as if he was not already to left of Ted Kennedy).
Team RomneyCARE is besides itself.
They expect all to bow down to their lying diety.
Romney needs a VP to fire people up. Lets face it, he’s no ball of fire. If he picks a blah candidate, it will be an up hill battle. Mostly the Rino and ABO crowd will vote for him. Say what you will about Palin, but she drew the crowds, fired them up and saved McCain from complete disaster. The people of America want change and more than that, they want honesty in DC. They want someone to clean out the corruption and get us back in line. Who would you pick to get things going? Forget Palin, she won’t mix with Romney. Romney needs the spot light, he can’t afford to have a celebrity on the ticket. Maybe a take no sh*# candidate may work, but who? Bolton?
I ain’t drinking cyanide whether they serve it with the finest wine or with raspberry kool-aid.
No matter who he picks, the intro will never top August 2008. THAT was once in a lifetime dramatic evnt.
Experienced, more conservative than Romney, attractive, staunchly pro life, pro gun, a family man (5 Kids, one wife, 32 years), a man of faith (Catholic), Military career (Served 21 years in the U.S. Army, both on active duty and reserves, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel), an educated man, (University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana on an ROTC scholarship, graduating with a B.B.A. in management in 1976.
M.B.A. from Boston University in 1980.
His career path shifted from business to law and public policy when he selected a joint degree program at Regent University. He obtained an M.A./J.D. there in 1989.)
http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/meet_bob
Wait a minute .........should THIS guy be president and Romney veep?
P.S.. I don't know McDonnell, I'm from NY not VA. I just want what is best for America and I want to DEFEAT OBAMA!
There is a list of people on another site. It goes like this:
10.) Luis Fortuno
9.) Bob McDonnell
8.) Chris Christie
7.) John Thune
6.) Kelly Ayotte
5.) Bobby Jindal
4.) Marco Rubio
3.) Paul Ryan
2.) Tim Pawlenty
1.) Rob Portman
Here is the link to the article:
Good work, as always, Clintonfatigued. Thanks.
Ping
Who is Luis Fortuno? I have never heard of him
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