Veepstakes

Our little poll on who should be the GOP nominee for Vice President closed in a tie between Ron Paul and Marco Rubio. I kind of like both choices. Rubio, after dropping from view for a while, seems to have been on the TV quite a bit of late. Ron Paul didn't pick up near the delegates I thought he would, and I wonder if he hasn't jumped the shark. However, he may still bring tea party energy to the campaign. Reince Priebus, chair of the RNC, made the statement today that Ron Paul's issues have became mainstream concerns of all Americans.

HotAir is predicting Rob Portman or Mitch Daniels. I wouldn't mind Daniels, on the theory that he has the experience to actually be the President in the event of the unthinkable.

Meanwhile, Romney is campaigning on an explicit anti-big government message that sounds positively Reaganesque. I heard him today and he hits the right notes, telling America that the choice is between an America where the government is in charge of half the economy and we are ruled by czars and bureaucrats in Washington and freedom. I especially like the reference to czars, because I don't think the public really likes all the unaccountable czars.

Here is a screen capture of the intrade odds as of today for the GOP VP nomination. Click to enlarge.

Mitt's the Man - Who's the Veep?

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?