A few weeks ago, a spate of articles suggested that Mitt Romney was on the top of McCain’s list of potential VP picks. At the time it seemed like idle beltway gossip. But instead of subsiding, the talk is gaining momentum. In fact as I was writing this, the Drudge Report made it tonight’s headline (that or its a slow news night).
I didn’t think it was seriously possible, as McCain seemed to especially dislike Romney during the Primaries and there has been the constant concern that a Mormon on the ticket would futher alienate McCain from Evangelicals with whom he’s always had a lukewarm relationship.
Despite the obvious Romney negatives, there has been some interesting speculation and chatter that make it sound not only possible, but a good idea:
At a fundraiser in New Mexico last night, McCain cracked this joke at Romney’s expense: “I’m appreciative every time I see Mitt on television on my behalf. He does a better job for me than he did for himself as a matter of fact.” Bada bing. If McCain can start joking about someone, you know they’ve made it into his mental inner circle. Romney may very well be higher on the short list than anyone realizes. The biggest roadblock for many in picturing a McCain-Romney ticket is McCain getting over his personal reservations about him. But joking about him is a start.
Interestingly, Marc Ambinder reports that even McCain’s people aren’t downplaying the Romney momentum:
In any event, people around McCain do not discourage speculation that Romney’s stock is rising.
Tags: John McCain, Mitt Romney
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For McCain to tap Romney instead of Sarah Palin as his Veep woud be a gigantic blunder. Unbelievable!!! Team McCain CAN’T BE THAT STUPID!!!
[not so subtle profanity edited]
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At least there’s hope! Romney would be a brilliant pick for anything in Washington.
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Well, that would pretty much seal things for *my* party, then… [insert evil grin here]
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I believe the plan is to select someone else, but make LDS voters think Romney was a close second choice. That helps in Nevada and Colorado and only costs a little flirting. Time will tell.
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I agree with plvmetz. I think that’s the plan. Make all the LDS and other Romney supporters think Mitt is really up there, use his organizational, fund-raising, economic and personal talents and use his support–and in the end, pick someone else.
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I do not thing they are doing a bait and switch here. Most of Romney’s donors are tapped out already.
He will likely pick Romney, because Romney is one of the few people desperate to get a spot on the ticket, despite the appearance of it being a sinking ship. In other words, Romney gets to be Jack Kemp (though I think that Kemp is much cooler).
I think that Romney could help secure the core on the GOP, but also allienate the center. He also would not help in any particular state that McCain will not win anyways (maybe Colorado, though I do not think he will matter in Michigan or Ohio).
As a member of the other team, I am in favor of McCain tapping Romney. The only downside is that it was increase the likelihood of violence to my Obama stickered vehicle here in my LDS town.
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Sorry, that was not supposed to be anonymous.
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Do you REALLY think that the McCain team even thinks about the LDS vote? I think that’s probably assuming to much to think that it’s somehow part of their big scheme to flirt the “LDS vote” (as if all LDS supported Romney).
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Just ran across this poll-like item on Slate, where people get to vote on what characteristics would be best in Obama or McCain VP candidates. As of this moment, Mitt Romney is second (behind Ron Paul, which ain’t gonna happen, and Condoleeza Rice, which is almost certainly not gonna happen).
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(Sorry for the typo–should have said Romney is just behind Paul, just *ahead* of Rice right now.)
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I doubt the LDS vote counts for much in anyone’s electoral calculations. Utah will go red no matter what.
But some of the points above combined with McCain’s lackluster performance have overcome my fear that Romney will become the new “Kemp” to McCain’s “Dole” (you beat me to that Chris).
If anything, I wonder if McCain fears that Romney would overshadow him and would rather have him more on the sidelines.
Although I like Romney and think he’s the “right” choice, I’m still unsure he’s the best political choice. The media sure didn’t like him.
The CBS story that Drudge links to headlines the interview with him as a strong contender due to his “Combative Style.” Huh?? I didn’t see that. He was an aggressive campaigner, but if anyone seemed combative it was McCain and Huckabee teaming up against Romney.
But now I’m rehashing sour grapes.
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Ron Paul always wins on the internet polls.
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Hum, … what if McCain were to pick Romney and Obama were to pick Harry Reid. Then people would have to decide which Mormon is the lesser of the two evils.
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Reid vs. Romney. Hmm. That’s a landslide in favor of Romney. Reid is not well liked amond LDS members or even his own party. What a failure as majority leader.
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Yeah, you’re right–if Obama picked Reid, it might even throw Utah to the Republicans.
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Romney in my opinion would be the very best pick he could do! Then my support would be there. The radio commentators I think would get behind him as they just were slow to get on the “bandwagon” which I think he could have won if they’d been a little quicker in their support. Now all we have are two people running who are just senators - who haven’t run anything big - who haven’t made big change happen which Romney has done both. Who cares what religion he is. It doesn’t matter! He’s the best man for President and to be VP would be a plus. Any help he could give this country would be so needed.
I will only get excited about this campaign again if Romney is in as I just believe in him helping us out and do we need alot of help with this economy - let alone building up families and credibility. -
Romney would make an excellent choice for v.p. if you like the idea of having a genious in the whitehouse.
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Yeah, but could you kick back and have a beer with him?
(Yeah, i know, i *should* resist these urges, but…)
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Who cares about drinking. He could have a sprite and laugh and have as good a time as without the booze (but keep his senses). I have fun and I don’t drink. For many, drinking and habitual things “run” their lives. I want someone (Mitt) who just has a “thirst” for fixing things and making things happen - like making our America better. I’d rather have someone in who hasn’t “burned out any brain cells.”
Everyone has a right to their opinion & beliefs. I just know in MY HEART that he would be the best man to help us out. He worked “miracles” for the olympics which I didn’t even want in the beginning. He took nothing for doing it for us. He really wants to serve! He doesn’t “need” the job. It was the most incredible olympics we ever had.
He also worked “miracles” in his state overturning billions of dollars in deficits and in his own life. I just want someone in there who is actually “working” and getting it done! You go party all you want while he’s working hard for you and everyone. But their family seems like alot of fun too. We’d sure like hanging out with them.
I hope he’s VP since that’s the only choice we have for him at the moment. Have a good day! -
No, really, the beer comment was a *joke*–a reference to the ubiquitous poll questions about who you’d rather have a beer with (according to polls back in 2004, for example, Bush came out well ahead of Kerry on the having a beer question: http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/benedetto/2004-09-17-benedetto_x.htm).
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I’d have a beer with Romney, means more beer for me! I’d vote for him, but seriously, doesn’t he just seem like he’d be your boss?
“Hello Mr. Romney, how was your weekend?”
“Oh, it was fine, did you get that report in?”
“Sure did Mr. Romney”
“Swell”
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