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Ranking GOP VP Options

By: chrysostom15 (Diary)  |  August 17th, 2011 at 05:37 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Let’s face it.  Rick Perry is now as much of a prohibitive front runner as Clinton was this time 4 years ago.  In other words, he looks to have a strong lead, but there is much time to go.  With that in mind, it is time to talk about possible VP candidates.

1.  Bob McDonnell — Virginia’s governor is will be in the mind of whomever as a possible choice.  He remains highly popular in a swing state where Obama won and were there will be a compeditive Senate seat up for graps.  Virginia closed a budget shortfall without raising taxes, and is now in surplus.  It has been rated multiple years in a row as the most friendly state for business.  McDonnell faced harsh attacks for being a conservative during his election and won in a landslide without backing down.  His message on the economy and his campaign were solid.  He remains the most likely VP choice for any presidential nominee.  As Chair of the Republican Governor’s Association, McDonnell will be well possitioned to raise money and more. 

2.  Sam Brownback — He has not been mentioned by anyone (but me) as a possible VP choice, which is a large party of what makes him sound increasingly appealing.  He is serving as a conservative governor and served as a Senator prior to that.  The mix of executive/governor and senate experience are a strong plus.  He also has foreign policy experience and it helps that he is from a conservative state that is also progrowth and whose unemployment rate is a seasonally adjusted 6.6%, as compared to the US rate of just over 9%. 

3.  Barbour – A solid pick, low risk.  Would help with fundraising.  Governor.

4.  Daniels – Another solid, low risk pick.  Governor.

5.  Marco Rubio — He was not on my prior VP.  However, the electorial math may make FL importaint.  If that is the case, Rubio would help in that state.

6.  Jindal — He is a smart guy with governor experience.  A solid conservative. 

Note listed:

-Bachmann, Romney, or Perry:  They are running for president.

-Santorum – He will be considered, and is a solid conservative.  But, he lacks governor experience and would not win any additional states for the nominee.

- Palin – Been there, done that.  Frankly, I think she would decline if offered.  There is no benefit for her to run as VP, and no benefit to selecting her for that possition.

-Gov. Nikki Haley – While she is a governor, I don’t see where she adds to a ticket more than the governors listed above.  I think if she was selected it would appear that she was selected just because she is female and that would hurt; not help the ticket. 

NOTE:  these are generic picks for a generic GOP nominee.  At this point, although I think Perry most likely to win the GOP nomination, followed by Romney, followed by Bachmann, It could be any of those 3 or someone else.  So, my VP discussion is based generically.

COMMENTS

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  • gregorysstewart

    Minnesota Nice did not work out for Tpaw, but I really think that his problem was looking like a beta in a field of Alphas.

    A good VP is a beta. Alpha’s clash and you never really want the VP to suck all the oxygen out of the room. Pawlenty has executive experience and he is right on all the issues (He apologized for the cap and trade stance).

    In the last debate Tpaw showed that he can be an effective tail gunner in his exchange with Bachmann, and most importantly, As a popular ex-governor he can bring the slightly purplish state of Minnesota and its 10 electoral votes into the red column. He may even help drag Iowa and its 6 votes over as well.

  • Gandalf

    If the GOP is serious about forming a new winning coalition, Luis Fortu?o would not only be on this list but would be considered the top contender for any of the current front runners.

  • gawken

    That is, someone who has no aspirations for the WH later on, and who thus has the complete confidence and trust of the president.

    We face two monumental challengese..our economy, and the wars overseas. The next president must focus on the economy, the debt, jobs. The VP should be able to oversee the War or Terror strategy, oversee the big picture, and also have the complete confidence of the military.

    There is one such candidate:

    David Petraeus

  • steve010

    the GOP has to be careful about being too white male. I think that the only reason McCain won 22 states and 47% of the vote was because of Sarah Palin. 28% of the people in CA only speak Spanish.

    Rubio grew up partially in NV and has alot of contacts there. He would also be a force in CO and NM and could lock up FL. A lot of strategic advantage with Marco Rubio.

  • Toby Calvert-Lee

    if Perry gets the nod, which I beleive/hope he will he will choose Bobby Jindal. He wouldn’t be my choice, and it would probably create a bit too much of a regional ticket, but if you’ll notice, Perry talks favorably about him constantly. My personal choice would be Martinez.

  • gregorysstewart

    Rubio is an incredibly charismatic politician, who can seriously make inroads with the Hispanic population. He has the very rare talent of making complex ideas sound easy, and I, for one, see him as a future US president.

    That said, he is one year into his six year term as senator. If he were pulled out of that slot and made VP, with the responsibility of going to funerals and heading up blue ribbon committees, he would seriously handicap his own future. Few VP become president without their boss dying in office.

    Rubio would be well advised to decline taking the VP spot, and continue to mature politically in the senate.

    He should also accept the job of keynote speaker at the convention.

  • steve010

    Said one Humphrey man hopefully, “No one has turned down the Vice Presidency, I don’t think, in the history of the United States.

    But, he just buried his brother who was in a savage primary contest with Humphrey. A lot of bad blood.

    So other than Ted, no one has ever turned down the job. Marco would be the first (R).

  • gregorysstewart

    William F. Johnston for the Whig Party

    James A. Beaver in 1880

    William Sproul in 1920

    Daniel Webster who proclaimed “I do not choose to be buried until I am already dead.” or

    Bobby Jindal who politely declined being put on the short list by John McCain just the last election.

    The truth is that the modern search for a vice president is more of a dance than a selection. Rubio would look at his own career trajectory and may very well steer the selection committee in another direction.

  • acat

    Cain, for instance, would be an interesting choice.

    Petraeus, we do not know enough about. Yet.

    The downside to it, though, is that .. come 2020, who do we run?

    Mew

  • steve010

    The Whig ticket won the election; Taylor died 16 months later. This was the second time a President who offered Webster the chance to be Vice President died. Even though he kept running for President he was never elected, but could have been President twice.