Romney Floats VP Names at Campaign Stop
By AmandaBCarpenter Posted in Archived — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
At a South Carolina campaign stop former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney floated a trio of names as possible running mates.
He mentioned South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Of Bush, Romney said "I love him. If his name weren't Bush, he'd be running for president, I'm convinced."
Source.
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Romney Floats VP Names at Campaign Stop 14 Comments (0 topical, 14 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
(1) Nobody is going to pick Jeb Bush as their VP, especially if George Bush approval ratings are still in the mid-30s. Its hard to see how Jeb Bush name wouldn't hurt the ticket in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania.
(2) Jeb Bush doesn't want to be anybody's Number Two. He's young; he can wait and run and win the nomination in a few years.
I don't think any of these names make good sense from an electoral standpoint. Gingrich has huge negatives and we don't need his help in Georgia or most of the south where he is still popular. Jeb is too associated with W who has huge negatives. It would also undercut one of Romney's talking points--that's he's an outsider to Washington who can bring change. But, at least Jeb would help carry the key state of Florida. I like Sanford, but he has no nationwide name recognition and it's not like we need his help to carry South Carolina.
Am I the only one who is so cynical as to think that Romney naming a staunchly conservative South Carolinian, Floridian, and Georgian to a South Carolina audience is just more political pandering? I'd bet that if Romney wins the nomination his VP selection would not be one of these three.
Bush didn't need Cheney for Cheney's home state either. I don't think we're going to see a Newt Presidency anyway, but if he were to win, having a proven conservative on the ticket would be very helpful. Jeb Bush would be an AWFUL choice for VP for anyone simply because people would vote against that ticket because of the name "Bush." If his last name was Smith, he'd be a great VP or Pres candidate.
My dream ticket would be Thompson/Sanford. Thompson brings the gravitas of an older gentleman who is a straight-shooter, knows the ins and outs of policy, and is able to communicate the message to the people with ease. Sanford is the young but very proven conservative who is the future of our party and our movement. He is also a great speaker and communicates the message of limited government as well as anyone. I think that will help you win many states rather than picking someone in hopes that they will win you their one home state. Conservatism wins when communicated correctly.
I agree with you that home state and regional affiliation are not the only considerations for a VP, although they are not unimportant. Cheney helped Bush electorally by being seen as strong and experienced on foreign policy, something Gov. Bush did not have a lot of experience with. I just can't see either Gingrich or Bush being of any electoral benefit (in fact, I think both would hurt the ticket electorally.
Sanford is a little different. He's unknown so he doesn't have the negatives of a Gingrich or Bush. I also don't see how he helps Romney with any particular weakness, the way Cheney helped Bush. It also seems to me that many in the battleground states (unfairly so) have a negative opinion of Deep South politicians, so that I don't think Sanford would be particularly helpful there. Also, since Romney is running in the primary as a conservative, I suspect that in the general he would move to the middle, including his VP selection--another reason I doubt he'd actually pick Sanford.
I think there should be other considerations when choosing the VP, other than who helps them electorally. The VP for a successful candidate is probably going to be the party's nominee 8 years down the road, so it is very important. You can basically take a Sanford with no name recognition and give it to him. Even if the ticket loses, the VP nominee will have enough recognition to make a run of their own the next time around.
Those are the only three really good choices . . .
-Pawlenty could possibly swing over Minnesota, and if Republicans win Minnesota we are going to win the election.
-JEB is broadly respected and would bring real gravitas to a ticket, his problem could be creating a kangaroo ticket, especially with Romney, where the hind legs are stronger than the front ones
-Watts is loved by conservatives but could open the door to new minority voters joining the party.
Sandford would be good for a guy like Rudy, but his name ID doesn't help and a Republican is going to win South Carolina regardless.
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"As nations can not be rewarded or punished in the next world they must be in this."
- George Mason
Sanford is 100 times more qualified to be President than Romney and quite frankly, I'm not sure he would join a Romney ticket. As much of a libertarian type of conservative as Sanford is, I just don't see him joining the campaign of a guy who signed socialized medicine into law as governor and then bragged about it. Sanford will be President one day and very well could be the VP on the '08 ticket... but I doubt it will be on a Romney ticket (not to mention that Romney stands no chance of winning the nomination if Fred Thompson enters the race).
If Mitt Romney also picked either Fred Thompson, Michael Steele, or Duncan Hunter as his possible V.P. choices, then he would probably be seen by conservatives in a better light. Mitt is already seen as another flip-flopper on many issues from Massachusetts. I prefer either a Duncan Hunter/Fred Thompson ticket, a Duncan Hunter/Michael Steele ticket, a Fred Thompson/Michael Steele ticket, or a Fred Thompson/Duncan Hunter ticket for the GOP in '08.
that's the ticket
A little arrogant of Romney, considering that Newt usually beats Romney in straw polls (and Newt's not even in the race yet).
that a candidate polling at around 3% would be floating VP names. Anything to move the needle, I guess.
My top choices (in order) for any Presidential candidate are Jeb Bush (R-FL), Mark Sanford (R-SC), and Tim Pawlenty (R-MN). Depending on the candidate, the order may vary. A Southerner like Thompson may prefer the Midwesterner Pawlenty. Someone who already has FL sown up (i.e. Guiliani) may skip the association with a Bush and go with Sanford... etc, etc.
But if any of those 3 is chosen, it will be a good choice by the Presidential candidate. Of course, failed top-ticket players should be considered as well (i.e. Thompson, Romney, Brownback) but I think the 3 above are still preferable as VPs.
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