Predict Romney's VeeP Nominee

[chowderhead]

Okay, fellow P&Ners. Use your cognitive abilities to predict who Romney will select for his VeeP nominee. Give your reasons and vote in the poll. I vote T-Paw. His website just went down for maintenance with a check back later sign and I think Romney is going to go with someone he likes and is compatible with. I still don't think Pawlenty will add much to the ticket since Minnesota is probably not in play and his campaigning skills were sorely lacking during his run. I am not sure how much his "working clas" mid-west roots will really translate.

 

[HomerJS]

White, male and boring.

 

[Jaskalas]

White, male and boring.

Just like Romney! Yes, I suspect he'll go for that.

 

[hal2kilo]

White, male and boring.

This. Otherwise I could care less.

 

[QuantumPion]

Preferably a strong conservative to counter act Romney's moderate-ism.. I'll take Paul Ryan or Marco Rubio. Don't know a lot about the others on the list though.

 

[nageov3t]

unless he's insanely down in the polls, I'd expect a do-no-harm boring nominee.

off the cuff, I'd guess Pawlenty.

definitely not: Rubio (too inexperienced), Condi (doesn't want it, pro-choice), Bush (last name), or Christie (would pull focus away from Romney)

if his poll numbers crater, then you might see a game-change/hail mary candidate like Rubio or Christie.

 

[techs]

Considering Romneys inability to make a decision and to take both sides of evey issue I think he will select himself for vice president.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I have a close colleague who is good friends with Tim Pawlenty, and my colleague is adamant that it won't be Pawlenty. Despite that, I voted for him in this poll . . . It just seems to me Romney will make a safe choice, and Pawlenty is that (plus Pawlenty really has nothing to lose by serving as running mate).

I find it interesting, and telling of the quality of this year's slate of GOP candidates for President, that none of the other contenders for the Presidential nomination (e.g., Paul, Gingrich, Bachmann, Perry, Cain) are even being discussed as a running mate.

 

[tw1164]

He's going to pick Marco Rubio to get the teaparty hyped. At the end of the day who ever he chooses isn't going to be a lick of difference.

 

[chowderhead]

Romney is supposed to announce his Vice Presidential Nominee tomorrow. This is before the end of the Olympics on a Saturday in Virginia. The polling and news must be terrible for him to pull this early to turn the page on all his tax problems.

 

[techs]

I predicted Portman a ways back and I am sticking to it.
The idea that he will pick someone like a Christie as a "game changer" is, imo, pretty far fetched.
The very act of picking someone who is percieved as a long shot because Romney is behind will be discussed as a "panic move" as much as the candidate is.

 

[chowderhead]

Portman is supposed to be in Ohio on a bike tour to raise money to fight cancer on Saturday.
Pawlenty is supposedly in New Hampshire on Saturday to attend a rally for young Republicans.
Got to check flight status into Norfolk VA. There is a delayed flight from Miami. There is also a flight from Chicago.

Edit: First Read is reporting the announcement will be made in front of the USS Wisconsin. WOW@ Romney is going for broke. hmmm. I didn't even have him (Ryan) in my poll!

 

[Pneumothorax]

If the Ryan rumors are true, Romney just deep-sixed himself. He might as well start handing out refunds. As much as I like Ryan's reforms, the American populace does not, as the VAST majority have the full belief that "You can always get something for FREE at someone else's expense"

 

[Bowfinger]

Based on an article I read a couple of days ago, it's likely to be Portman. The number of Wikipedia edits for Portman exploded in the last weeks or so, just as they did for Palin shortly before she was named. Of course the article also allowed that it could be intentional misdirection.

 

[chowderhead]

NBC/Chuck Todd is reporting it's Ryan. There is supposed to be a charted plane to take Ryan to Norfolk. The other two, Pawlenty and Portman were informed by Tagg Romney (huh?) that they were not picked. At least Romney is going for broke,

 

[hardhat]

I'm amazed if Ryan is the VP. Putting the face of obstructionism up beside Romney doesn't seem like it will garner him any swing voters at all. He has been rediculously heavy handed and partisan in every instance I've seen of him in Congress.

 

[Bowfinger]

I'm amazed if Ryan is the VP. Putting the face of obstructionism up beside Romney doesn't seem like it will garner him any swing voters at all. He has been rediculously heavy handed and partisan in every instance I've seen of him in Congress.

This. Ryan may play well with the far right, but I think he would be a negative for the moderates who will decide the election. It seems like a poor tactical choice.

 

[Karl Agathon]

I picked Condoleezza Rice..She is exactly what is stale campaign needs. Probably wont happen though. As she has stated over and over again that she has no interest in running for any political office. I would love to actually see her run for president one day.

 

[gevorg]

Rice would be a great race card and "Bond girl"

 

[Abraxas]

Based on an article I read a couple of days ago, it's likely to be Portman. The number of Wikipedia edits for Portman exploded in the last weeks or so, just as they did for Palin shortly before she was named. Of course the article also allowed that it could be intentional misdirection.

Well, that and Colbert directed his fanbase to go and edit the hell out of every person named as a possible running mate for Romney a couple days ago and if nothing else, Colbert Nation is certainly a lively bunch of vandals.

 

[PJABBER]

It will be Paul Ryan.

Not only is Ryan a brilliant strategist for the budget battles that will be required for the next four years, he is civil, sure-footed and good-natured.

Romney must not go into the Presidency with just the thought of managing the federal government behemoth, he must transform it. To have the brilliance of a guy like Ryan beside him will be the greatest signal possible that he is going to be serious about the task at hand.

Ryan is what Obama fears the most - an honest man, a decent man and one who can point to the lies of his administration and rip them to shreds:

Paul Ryan: Hiding Spending Doesn't Reduce Spending

Paul Ryan - always the adult in the room.

 

[Bowfinger]

It will be Paul Ryan.

Not only is Ryan a brilliant strategist for the budget battles that will be required for the next four years, he is civil, sure-footed and good-natured.

Romney must not go into the Presidency with just the thought of managing the federal government behemoth, he must transform it. To have the brilliance of a guy like Ryan beside him will be the greatest signal possible that he is going to be serious about the task at hand.

Ryan is what Obama fears the most - an honest man, a decent man and one who can point to the lies of his administration and rip them to shreds:

Paul Ryan: Hiding Spending Doesn't Reduce Spending

Paul Ryan - always the adult in the room.

Case in point. Ryan plays well for the right wing fringe because they believe the talking points. Moderates look at Ryan's antics and find them destructive.

 

[Abraxas]

Case in point. Ryan plays well for the right wing fringe because they believe the talking points. Moderates look at Ryan's antics and find them destructive.

Let me play devil's advocate for a moment. Yes, Paul Ryan is a terrible person and a worse leader, but, he plays well with the base. Would it necessarily hurt Romney to alienate moderates but greatly increase support, and, more importantly enthusiasm in the far right and to play to those who might otherwise do something like vote for the Libertarian party?

 

[PJABBER]

Case in point. Ryan plays well for the right wing fringe because they believe the talking points. Moderates look at Ryan's antics and find them destructive.

This thread is not going to suffice as an elaboration of the merits of Ryan's ideas. If he is Romney's choice, as I hope he is, we will have plenty of opportunity to debate the substance of his ideas then.

Good times, good times. :awe:

 

[Bowfinger]

Let me play devil's advocate for a moment. Yes, Paul Ryan is a terrible person and a worse leader, but, he plays well with the base. Would it necessarily hurt Romney to alienate moderates but greatly increase support, and, more importantly enthusiasm in the far right and to play to those who might otherwise do something like vote for the Libertarian party?

Good point. It could be the Romney campaign has calculated that defections and disinterest within the GOP base will cost them more votes than alienating swing voters. Of course if that's true, Romney has already lost unless turnout on the left is even more dismal.