With Santorum suspending his campaign today, Mitt Romney is the presumptive nominee. Hooray, now we can offer our Vice Presidential picks and start working on defeating Obama. It's a long time to November and there is plenty of time for Romney to make up the little bit of distance that separates him in the national polling from Obama. Obama is currently the favorite on Intrade, but at 60% not the overwhelming favorite. Besides, there is a saying I took to heart a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away:
Romney isn't exactly the tea party candidate of choice, but to twist Gordon's famous line from the Dark Knight: He's not the hero America deserves, but he's the one we need right now. Because we face an incumbent and a party committed to the endless expansion of the federal government into every corner of our life. (An aside, the latest tracking polls of registered voters show Obama ahead, but the only poll I saw of likely voters shows a tie.)
Mitt Romney has been hitting his stride. The contested primaries have made him a better candidate. Further, I find him sincere and compelling when he talks about the need for a society that can grow new businesses, free from oppressive regulation. I believe he means it, because he built a business himself. I think his credibility is rising in a nation that knows in its heart that more government is not the answer.
What about the Veepstakes? I liked Marco Rubio for tactical reasons, but Sir Charles resists due to a "birther" controversy? I am not sure I agree with him, but its worth thinking about. Conventional wisdom is that Romney needs to shore up his image with women, so Nikki Haley comes to mind. But does he really need to shore up South Carolina? If he does, he's not winning. How about Chris Christie. I'm not sure that the entertainment value of watching him mop the floor with Biden in a debate, a great spectacle to be sure, is worth having another North-easterner on the ticket. Allen West, looks like a great choice, peeling off even a couple percent of African-Americans would set Obama back. But I don't feel good about West's stability. He's a great attack dog, but my gut says no. Bobby Jindal? Flubbed his big time TV test. Sarah Palin, just to drive the left nuts? OK, more Schadenfreude but, no. Any of a bunch of serious white guys from the upper midwest? If Wisconsin's in play, I guess. But I'm thinking we have to be bold.
So if its bold you want, then we might have to go with Ron Paul. He brings the policy positions that would be actually helpful for Romney to win the election and he brings a certain energy and following. Could Romney handle the competition? Am I an idiot? What do you think?
What about Rand Paul, Brian? He'd be at the top of the list for me :)
ReplyDeletei was thinking paul ryan, but anyone in the paul family would be nice.
ReplyDeleteand beating biden in a debate is easy. make him recite facts. ryan and rand paul would destroy him.
It would be amazing to get Condi Rice as the VP. As far as Rubio, I like the guy but rules are rules.
ReplyDeleteSome of us have felt this is where we should have been 3 months ago..Coulter, Medved and me..well that's 3 anyway...anyway, hasn't Haley said she's out? It would please me no end if our most recent Secretary of States were offered it...Condi or Hillary.
ReplyDeleteRon Paul would at least get most of the big mouths who complain but never vote to the polls.
I don't think it matters..Obama is done.
Some of us have felt this is where we should have been 3 months ago..Coulter, Medved and me..well that's 3 anyway...anyway, hasn't Haley said she's out? It would please me no end if our most recent Secretary of States were offered it...Condi or Hillary.
ReplyDeleteRon Paul would at least get most of the big mouths who complain but never vote to the polls.
I don't think it matters..Obama is done.
Rand Paul.... Susanna Martinez of New Mexico...John Bolton. It will be interesting to see who he picks.
ReplyDeleteSo if its bold you want, then we might have to go with Ron Paul. He brings the policy positions that would be actually helpful for Romney to win the election and he brings a certain energy and following. Could Romney handle the competition? Am I an idiot? What do you think?
ReplyDeleteMildly deranged by excessive exposure to the internet. Definitely not stupid, although maybe crazy. ^.^
For starters, Ron Paul would drive as many people to refuse to vote as it would actually gain. I notice a lot of folks my age talk about how great Paul is, but would open a vein rather than vote for a republican. (When they can be bothered to vote at all.) I'd seriously consider going third party, and I'd dang near vote for my HOUSE CAT over Obama. (The fluffy one, not the short-hair.)
Secondly, it would just destroy the cool factor of Ron Paul. (how else would they assure themselves that they're being consistent, other than to decide that he's betrayed everything he stood for?)
I'd kind of like Condi, even though I seem to remember she hasn't got much to recommend her on social issues (her response to abortion was a textbook example of normal education and not looking into it) because she's pretty dang smart, and it would utterly destroy an attacks on Mitt having issues with working women.
Mutnodjmet-- Oooh, Bolton! I WISH!
Thanks for the comments, but pleas VOTE in my poll.
ReplyDeleteRand Paul or Gov. Bob McDonnell. Don't know enough about Susanna Martinez yet.
ReplyDelete