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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Okay, so I missed it by one

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  August 22nd, 2008 at 09:39 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Tim Kaine appears to be out.

Evan Bayh, who was my fall back choice, just might be it.

Oh, and MITT ROMNEY looks to be the GOP pick. That’s what Mark Halperin says.

The URL is now empty though, but the blurb still exists on the front page of Halperin’s site, along with a note that the New York Times reports people close to the campaign are suggesting General Petraeus as the Veep.

Consider this an open thread.

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  • RedFox84

    Unless the VP for either candidate is actually declared, can we designate that this weekend will be “VP-Speculation Free” here on RedState and declare a moratorium on such?

  • Oz

    With nothing going on politically right now, we have nothing better to do….

  • speciallist

    n/p

  • chemjeff2

    Hmm. I’m not sure I’m liking this pick. We already have someone with solid credentials on national security and foreign policy. I don’t know what more Petraeus would bring. I still think it should be a governor.

  • simpson316

    I’ve started a different kind of speculation over at The Minority Report:

    Who would replace McCain in the Senate should he win?

    Anybody with any good guesses would be much appreciated.

  • CincoSolas_del_Bronx

    Rasmussen Reports’ Electoral College Update has been updated for the first time in a month, and shows movement in 10 states, all by one level in the direction of the GOP.

    Sweet.

  • NotSoBlueStater

    Is a Democrat a conservative can respect (if not agree with). I’d admire that pick.

  • speciallist

    n/p

  • paulseale

    McCain just blew what ever momentum he had. No ifs and or buts.

    I dont care what Rove (or even the great maharushie) says – mark my words – Romney as a VP candidate is a bad, bad, bad, VERY bad choice.

    Remember all of Barry’s flip-flopping? Heh, nothing compared to many of Romney’s positions – abortion, health care and gun control included.

    In the end, I am guessing all those folk up in the North East corridor really dont care about what happens or how those of us in fly over country think.

    Trust me when I say that it should be a big, red flag when Huckabee swept the south (sans florida) – and we know the type of candidate he is. (no offense Huck fans)

    If Romney is selected (and Bayh), look for Democrats to make significant inroads in the south.

  • aaronbg

    …Wouldn’t it be great if Sheriff Joe Arpaio was the pick!!!

    I mean could you even imagine what he would be like in the Senate!!

  • E_Pluribus_Unum

    because it SO BETTER not be Romney.

  • Dafyd

    To borrow from a much loved television show from the 90′s. thwacks Halperin with a frying pan Not the Romney!

  • Swamp_Yankee

    Claiming Copyrights on Bayh Bayh Barack n/t

  • Swamp_Yankee

    Democratic pro-choicer Joe L
    Bush retread and pro-choicer Tom R
    Sleepy not ready for primetime Tim P
    Single moot issue David P

    would be sooo much better

  • chemjeff2

    I’m kinda ambivalent about Romney. Yes he’s flip-flopped on a couple of things. And his Massachusetts socialized health care plan is a disaster. But his flip-flops seem somewhat sincere to me. Nevertheless, there are probably better choices out there. I don’t know much about Pawlenty, does anybody know if he is still being seriously considered? From a purely strategic POV he would be a good pick.

  • von

    Bayh would be a strong choice for Obama. He knows how to win in a red state (Indiana), is regarded as a moderate, and should have good pull with Hillary voters. He’s also relatively young, which complements Obama’s new v. old, change v. same rhetoric. (Nevermind that Bayh has been in the Senate forever.)

    Romney would be an absolutely terrible choice from McCain. Aside from an ability to fundraise, what does he bring? He’s perceived strong on economic issues, but that’s based on being a CEO. The mood of the country is a lot more populist than it once was; Romney’s wealth may backfire. Romney barely won MI despite having every advantage and pandering to the upmost. Aside from K-Lo, I don’t seem him helping at all with social conservatives. And he’s flip-flopped out the wazoo.

    Huckabee is the guy in the race with whom I have the greatest disagreements, but he would be a much stronger alternative. Ditto Jindal. In fact, I prefer Jindal: Some of his views are nuts (IMHO), but he has a strong record of competency, counters Obama’s change strength, and, unlike the good Pastor, knows something about economics.

  • von

    FiveThirtyEight notes that Romney helps in Colorado, http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/08/romney-demographics-over-narrative.html, which is probably correct. I’ll revise my remarks to “Romney is a [strike 'absolutely'] terrible choice.”

  • hazard

    hostile territory to Romney. It seems Romney can do nothing right and appears to be the thorn in many redsater’s sides. It’s a shame becasue aside from this site there’s a lot of enthusiasm out there from him. I hope the directors will treat the Romney haters the same way they treated the McCain haters when Mitt becomes the VP.

  • ronalddaniels

    While I don’t doubt Romney’s ability to fulfill the job, I honestly think him being tacked on would violate Mr. Rove’s one rule: “Do no harm.”

    I don’t dislike Romney that much myself, but some of the more rural folk I know are vehemently aganist him.

  • jimmuy8

    Throw out the name “Romney” and rabidness ensues.

    Really? Flip-flopping? You think anyone is buying that’s the true rational? The self-same “I hate flip-floppers” want everyone to believe that they are going to vote for McCain? McCain of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, McCain of Gang of 14, McCain the Maverick whose harshest words have been reserved for Republicans? This guy is now “Party-line Pure?”

    Flip-flops are worse than Poke-the-Party-in-the-Eye?

    Yeah, I’m not buying it–if one can swallow McCain, then Romney is a mere teaspoonful.

  • youthgrunt

    I wouldn’t be opposed to Romney at VP–certainly higher on my list than Liberman! But what about putting Romney in charge of the RNC?

  • simpson316

    and take some healthy shots at government involvement in general

  • Mark_Kilmer

    John McCain was Gang of 14, immigration reform, campaign finance reform, because they were things in which he believed.

    Romney’s problem is entirely different. He expressed support for one side of an issue then switched when it became convenient to do so. Some people cannot trust someone like that.

    And Romney is the only candidate for the GOP Presidential nomination of whom I can think who has opently attacked Ronald Reagan since the 1980 primaries.

    Romney’s problems are manifest.

  • Swamp_Yankee

    McCain and off shore drilling
    McCain and Bush tax cuts
    McCain and the border fence

    How about the thousand Obama flip flops.

    No one is going to attack a veep for old flip flops, especially not Obama. It would be good if he did because it would open up a pandora’s box of Republican attacks.

  • rjd27

    Petraeus in 2012 with Cantor, Jindal or Palin as VP…

    Any insights into Petraeus’ views?

  • justatron

    I remember thinking after he dropped out that Romney, although I wasn’t a big fan of him, would make a good RNC Chairman. I’d love to watch Romney take on Dean. That’d be hilarious.

    I have no problem personally with Romney as VP, but I do know a number of McCain-leaning independents who would. Whether their dislike of Romney would overcome their dislike of Obama in the end remains to be seen, but Mitt might be a (minor, perhaps) issue with indys.

  • kllyhlls

    I’m not a HUGE Romney fan and, like a lot of conservatives, I’m not a HUGE McCain fan. But to stop/slow Socialism, I’ll be supporting McCain no matter his VP choice.

    With that said, I think adding Romney to the ticket will be a good thing. I don’t see him hurting the ticket much and I see benefits to adding a very articulate speaker and businessman.

    I think we have to remember that many people came to see Romney as a flip-flopper during the primaries. During the General election things will be a little bit different.

    During the primaries Romney’s opponents said he wasn’t conservative enough and used the more liberal actions he took in Massachusetts to paint him as a flip-flopper. The democrats can’t attack Romney for being too liberal. To them, that’s a good thing.

    Also, during the primaries, Romney had his share of questions from the leftist in the media. They painted him as a flip-flopper for sliding to the right while in office in MA. Attacking him for being conservative might play well with the Leftists, but not most Americans.

    I might be getting fooled or might be overly optimistic, but his speech at CPAC made me believe that he really is a conservative.

    K