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The one VP choice that will begin to convince conservatives that Romney can be trusted: Jim DeMint

By: gawken (Diary)  |  April 13th, 2012 at 02:29 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Mitt Romney has all but wrapped up the GOP nomination. He can take some comfort from recent polls that show him leading Obama. However, he should be rather disconcerted by the polls that show that he is the preferred candidate of only 40% or so of GOP voters. He has a long way to go to begin to win back their trust and confidence.

Mitt was, and is NOT my preferred candidate, but it is absolutely necessary that we defeat Obama this fall; if for no other reason than the next president will get to appoint from 1-3 justices to the Supreme Court.

The reasons why conservatives have long distrusted Romney have been  documented, and debated extensively on Red State. I need not reiterate them yet again.

But if Romney is to reach out to his base, to show them that he has changed, that he will keep his campaign promises, then he needs to make the first step, with a big bold, decisive VP pick. There are several good options, but there is really only one name that in an instant would show conservatives that Mitt will keep his word.

Jim DeMint.

Again, I will not relate all of DeMint’s accomplishments in growing the conservative movement within the GOP and the country. They are well known.

But there are additional reasons whyDeMint would be the right man for the VP slot.

DeMint, has, in several interviews over the last year, indicated that this will likely be his last term in the Senate. He is not going to challenge McConnell for the leadership. Thus, DeMint, like Cheney, has no future political ambition of his own, which will enable him to be a highly effective VP. Would that he turn out to be as good in the job as Cheney was…America should be so fortunate.

The Senate will not suffer greatly from DeMint’s leaving for the VP slot. Nikki Haley will appoint another solid conservative…indeed, South Carolina’s congressional delegation has several very attractive candidates. Personally, Tim Scott would be my choice.

And as we all know, DeMint supported Romney in 2008, so there is already some history between the two men. And a Biden/DeMint debate would be enjoyable.

So go ahead Mitt. Announce that DeMint is your man. You issues with the conservative base would disappear in a second, and enthusiam, and support, for your candidacy would soar. DeMint would do for you what Palin for for McCain.

 

COMMENTS

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  • mikeymike143

    what a great diary. demint was my first choice as president and would certainly be my first choice as a VP choice, even over santorum.

    • luna

      I cannot stand that the GOP has rammed this guy down our throat for President; however, if he was SMART enough to pick someone of the stature of Jim DeMint, it would make that bad tasting medicine a whole lot easier to swallow. Haven’t voted in my primary yet and won’t vote for Romney, just because I need to be true to my own convictions. I figure he will eventually win the nomination, but he does not have my primary support. If I have to vote for him in the general, so be it…….take this advice Mitt, Jim is a good pick!

  • Viet71

    Your diary makes a whole lot of sense.

  • samcoastie

    is he’s not someone who could be president in 8 years. But as you stated, that could be a short term positive. I’ve always believed that Demint remained a Romney supporter after being so strongly in his camp in ’08.

  • d_lamar

    In my opinion, he’s one of few GOP senators that is truly conservative. It’s too bad he doesn’t have the support of the leadership (McConnell).

  • Flagstaff

    We can hope that Romney is thinking along the same lines.

    Other positives: Only 60 years old. Honest (term-limited himself). Respected by people who know him. Not a lawyer. Tennessee grad. MBA from Clemson.

    Negatives: State of health? Plays drums.

  • ken58

    I’m just afraid that Romney will do for DeMint what McCain did for Palin.

    • fdcampbell

      I assume that you are implying that DeMint will have a “baptism by fire” is he runs as VP.

      If so, bring it on. If he has the character and experience that is implied here, then he will handle it effectively and even turn the tables against his detractors.

      Sarah is a better and wiser person because of her “baptism”.

      People of wisdom and character usually end up disgracing their detractors.

      Please, no RINO VP.

  • http://nextgenerationvoters.com Bethany

    I said months ago that the only endorsement that could make me possibly rethink the candidate I was supporting would be Jim DeMint’s. He hasn’t officially endorsed, I know, but if he had endorsed someone other than my choice I would have taken another look at his choice. If Romney chose DeMint I would be soooo happy :)

  • Filibuster Keaton

    Now you’re talking. If voting for Romney would put DeMint next in line for the Presidency, I could vote for Romney.

    As it stands now, no. Still work to be done.

  • clintonformccain

    I’m assuming that Romney would carry South Carolina, even if he picked Elmer Fudd to be his running mate.

    • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

      He would energize conservatives to the point where we would actually donate to and work for the campaign (which is going to be difficult if Romney chooses another moderate). Palin is the reason we even had a shot in 2008. DeMint might not be the same star Palin was in terms of drawing a crowd and giving a speech, but conservatives are aware of his record, and we like it. A lot.

      • clintonformccain

        Specifically, I only care about electoral college votes and getting enough of them to send Barry and Michelle back home to Chicago where they belong.

        • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

          “energizing” the base to help bring in those votes. Like I said, a solid VP would get us to donate and work for the campaign, GOTV, GOTTPV, and other things that increase the number of votes. We’re not the party that just manufactures votes out of thin air, you know.

          As for Palin, you’ll pardon me if I don’t exactly buy your passive/aggressive take on the situation. More than a few analysts think McCain lost the election because he was a lousy candidate who ran a lousy campaign that hit rock bottom when he declared the economy fundamentally strong during the financial crisis yet supported the bail-out, not to mention the fact that he never really went after Obama on anything. Palin had nothing to do with any of the aforementioned failures of McCain.

          • red_oakster

            Look at Romney’s choice of a vetter. It’s not going to be DeMint. Rubio, Portman, McDonnell, Ryan-those are my guys to watch. I’d go for Rubio. He ices Florida, makes conservatives happy, and adds marginally to Nevada and Colorado.

      • clintonformccain

        I believe that, in the end, she was a net loss in terms of votes for McCain. As much as I liked her takin it to Obama, she was poison to independent women who might have been in play for McCain. It’s hard to overestimate how much non-conservative women hated her.

        • JX12

          News reports I read at the time were saying that some 20% of self-described conservatives not only didn’t vote for McCain, but they actually went out and cast their vote for Obama – presumably to send a message.

          Non-conservative women probably weren’t going to vote for McCain anyway. Why should they? If the choice is between Democrat and Democrat lite, they may as well go for the Democrat.

          Palin was the only part of the 2008 campaign who could demonstrate a true contrast between the Republicans and the Democrats, and as such, saved McCain from suffering an even more humiliating defeat than he did by galvanizing a lot of conservatives who might have otherwise gone apathetic.

          In my estimation, DeMint would do the same and then some. Palin was not especially well known outside Alaska when she was first introduced as McCain’s running mate, although she caught on extremely fast thereafter. DeMint is already well known and well respected throughout conservative circles as we sit here right now. Selecting him as a running mate has high potential to erase Romney’s negatives among the conservative base almost overnight. In any case, it would certainly give them reason to take a second look at him.

          DeMint would also be far less likely to be tripped up by the Katie Courics of the world during the campaign. In fact, he would probably be more likely to verbally rip their lips off and send them running with their tails between their legs. It would be a beautiful thing to behold.

          To top it all off, he would debate Biden. Enough said.

          Romney/DeMint. I like the sound of that.

  • barleycorn

    The fact that South Carolina is a Republican strong-hold and that DeMint is not well known or particularly attractive to independents makes him an unlikely choice in my book.

    I think Romney will either choose a Hispanic or go the route Bill Clinton did and pick someone with an image similar to his own.

    • garfieldjl

      So since he’s the “moderate” on the ticket he will have to pick a conservative or risk further alienating the base.

      Assuming Romney is the nominee.

      • clintonformccain

        conservative Republican votes in November over Bararck Hussein Obama, then he’s dead int he water and headed for a Dukakis level landslide loss.

        I do not believe that the Republican nominee will have any trouble getting unified and enthusiastic support from Republicans in November, although I suppose RedState will still have diaries pining for the Newt or some other long forgotten also-ran.

        • barleycorn

          The GOP base will be motivated by opposition to BO.

          Also given the fact that Romney has steadfastly refused to cultivate conservatives so far, leads me to believe that he will stay the course and make the choice that he believes will best help with independents.

    • Darin_H

      (or Texas until Cheney reregistered in WY). I don’t know about the choice of DeMint for the general election (just on electability, not about his conservatism).

  • http://www.AmericanThinker.com Hammer2008

    I think the better money is on Governor Bobby Jindal. He too would draw conservatives yet make this a true outsider race of two governors taking on DC. Bobby Jindal would run circles around both Obama and Biden on any jobs and energy debate. Two “executives” on the ticket would highlight the shallowness of the current 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. team.

    The manner in which Jindal stood up for his state, the Gulf region and the American worker after the BP oil spill and this Administration’s response was a succinct breakdown of all that’s wrong with the democrat party and its leader:

    Jindal finds his voice

    Jindal

    • emorg1974

      I would hate to see Louisiana lose a competant Governor.

  • http://lukos.com Ed54

    It’s a no-brainer.

    • kaheo

      The one who was against DREAM Act but is now for it. Rubio would help win Florida. He also supports the wet foot, dry foot policy. That’s gonna be a tough sell!

      DeMint would be good for Conservatives, bad for independents.

      Rob Portman would be my pick. Conservative, boring but safe!

    • emorg1974

      I don’t know how much to put into it, but WorldNetDaily.com has ran several articles noting the Naturalization of his (Rubio

      • kaheo

        He was born in the US. He is a natural-born citizen.

        I’ve seen birthers go crazy about it on freerepublic threads as well but it shouldn’t be problem. I think birthers are probably less than 1% of the entire voting population so let them have their fun with it!

        Rubio’s problems will be his achievements and where he stands on the issues!

  • gogogodzilla

    Definitely worth thinking about. De Mint was very active in the TEA party movement, so his bona fides are pretty solid.

    I don’t know if he’d entertain the idea, though.

    Rubio has been on the short list for a while, too. (Definitely help in Florida, that’s for sure.)