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VP sweepstakes, McDonnell makes the most sense.

By: halsted (Diary)  |  June 23rd, 2012 at 06:05 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

One thing I never see mentioned among all the pundits regarding the potential VP nominees is that taking control of the Senate is also a huge issue. These two considerations of candidate and taking the Senate intersect at the potential VP pick. If you have a popular sitting Republican Senator, such as Marco Rubio, Kelly Ayotte, or Rob Portman  selected to be the Vice Presidential candidate, the Republicans better have a slam dunk replacement candidate for the Senate seat or it becomes a potential loss. On the other hand, there are other valuable potential candidates that won’t affect the Senate races. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell cannot run again and Tim Pawlenty doesn’t affect the Senate. Paul Ryan is much more powerful as House Budget Committee chairman than he would be as the Vice President and can accomplish much more in his current position. The argument for someone like Ryan to be Vice President is if you are trying to set him up as a successor to Mitt Romney. Florida is likely going to Romney, anyway, without Marco Rubio on the ticket. Despite the fact that a Marco Rubio/Joe Biden debate would look like an Albert Einstein/Ernest P. Worrell discussion of quantum physics, Rubio won’t pull enough Hispanic votes to change New Mexico or Colorado. Additionally, Rubio has enough name recognition that he doesn’t need to be Vice President to have a shot at future presidential successor status. North Carolina and Ohio appear to be heading Romney’s way. The President’s gay marriage stand pretty much gave away North Carolina. Rob Portman isn’t well known enough to change states other than Ohio and should stay where he is and campaign in state for Romney. Indiana is almost certainly Republican. Therefore, Mitch Daniels (who just took another job) makes no sense. Minnesota elected Al Franken. The fact that Franken was even considered as a serious candidate means Tim Pawlenty won’t swing the state. As much as I love hearing Chris Christie, New Jersey will go Republican for President when Oregon does (don’t hold your breath). There may even be backlash at the Republicans for being “mean” enough to put Chris Christie on the same stage as Joe Biden (picture a match between Muhammad Ali in his prime/the chess club President in your junior high class). The election could very well hinge on Virginia. Bob McDonnell is very popular and fiscally successful in the Commonwealth of Virginia. McDonnell seems to be the best choice.

COMMENTS

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  • http://www.gop2112.com qstarweb

    but I predict both New Jersey and Oregon will go RED and vote for Romney in November. Also, Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico is a great candidate for VP.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    This an illegible ball of nonsense.

  • http://libertynews.com/ mbecker908

    There is [o]ne thing I never see mentioned among all by the pundits regarding the potential VP nominees, [T]aking control of the Senate is also a huge issue.

    There is a dichotomy in picking a VP candidate.These two considerations of candidate and taking the Senate intersect at the potential VP pick. If you have a popular sitting Republican Senator, such as Marco Rubio, Kelly Ayotte, or Rob Portman selected to be the Vice Presidential candidate, the Republicans better have a slam dunk replacement candidate for the Senate seator it becomes a potential loss.

    On the other hand, there are other valuable potential plausible candidates that won

    • http://libertynews.com/ mbecker908

      Aargh, tags.

    • halsted

      In an election year and with stakes of this magnitude, I find myself very surprised that users of this blog would want to drive conservative people away. Stupid? You don’t know me. I can guarantee you with no fear of contradiction that you have less formal education than I have. I will grant you that mine is not in liberal arts. It is vastly more useful. In re-reading the post, I realize that the post was a “flight of ideas” hodgepodge. That is because it was written in a hurry due to other pressing issues. I generally take much more time to edit context. Does that really justify denigration on your part? Is this blog about conservative enthusiasm or editorial arrogance? Denigration is standard operating procedure for liberals. I did not expect it here..

      • gekster

        “Paragraphs!
        This an illegible ball of nonsense”.

        And that would seam to back up becker.
        (I’m sure becker will have his own words for you later)
        Not taking sides, but I think you’re on the bottom end.

        • halsted

          Given the apparent consensus, I sincerely apologize for posting. It won’t happen again.

          • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

            Well, it’s up to you.

            Taking a strong political stance puts you on the line. But if you’re not enjoying it, well, your call.

          • gekster

            Just pointing out why.
            Take it more or less as constuctive critisism.
            And becker is an entity in his own self.
            Don’t let it keep you from posting.
            If that was the case,
            I would’ve quit posting four years ago. ;)

            (and halsted is one of my grandaughters last name, so I have an affinity for it)

      • http://libertynews.com/ mbecker908

        Conservatives should value ideas and action. If you can’t communicate your ideas the only action you get is being on the business end of being laughed at.

        Your post, frankly, was a run of the mill hooha for a candidate. You brought up all the standard points one would expect to find in that sort of post.

        The problem with it is not the content, it’s your absolute inability to communicate effectively. Based on both the presentation and the content of this post I wouldn’t be bragging about my “education”. You appear to have wasted a lot of time and money.

        I look forward to your next attempt.

        • http://libertynews.com/ mbecker908

          article promoting a potential Vice Presidential candidate looks like, click HERE.

        • http://libertynews.com/ mbecker908

          Here’s a great diary at Redstate promoting a Governor for Vice President. Very well written, easy to read and understand and the author makes his points directly and powerfully.

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  • trimulchio

    Romney needs help with the Tea Party, hence Rubio. Jindal also seems like a good choice. McDonnell did fairly well in VA, but with the money Obama brought to NOVA, I think he will take VA by a narrow amount.

  • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

    Article from LifeNews.

    I’m not a fan of Christie on other issues, and I don’t agree with the exceptions of rape/incest, but many who are considered pro life carve out those exceptions. An interview with Christie on abortion is here.

    According to some posters here who live in Virginia, McDonnell has lost favor with conservatives, especially after he bailed on the ultrasound bill. Article from redstate.

  • halsted

    Setting semantics and punctuation aside, the original point was that no matter what your opinion might be on specific individuals when selecting a potential Republican Vice President, conservatives have to consider winning control of the Senate as a co-equal priority. It would be unacceptable to have the future Supreme Court with a political make up similar to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Therefore, risking a safe seat in the Senate to field a particular Vice Presidential candidate should be carefully considered before taking that risk.

  • acat

    Also, you *do* know Romney doesn’t need to win VA if he can be competitive in the northwoods, right?

    Mew

  • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

    and other areas from a whole host of tea parties who are working together – just like we did for Wisconsin. We’re just not disclosing the details of our initiatives because the other side doesn’t need to know.

    Also, the AL State GOP Chairman announced at our annual dinner last Friday night that we have launched an initiative called “Battleground Patriots.” It is designed to help Romney in Florida, Virginia and North Carolina since we’re pretty sure Romney’s gonna carry Alabama without any problem. BattlegroundPatriots

    It really doesn’t matter where you live. There are opportunities to help with the campaign. If you’re concerned about Florida and Virginia, why don’t you find an opportunity and help?

  • tnfriendofcoal101368

    is assuming he moves the needle any way in Virginia. Virginia will basically come down to turnout between the heavily Democratic DC suburbs and large African-American population in the Hampton Roads area vs. the large anti-Obama vote (just ask Rick Boucher) in Southern Virginia combined with the large Republican leaning military vote in Hampton Roads. There is a large college population as well that went big for Obama in 2008 (I hold out hope the pending 50% unemployment among college graduates might swing some votes Romney’s way).

  • trimulchio

    are no longer a national party, so I expect that will be contested.

    As for Florida:

    http://www.opposingviews.com/i/politics/2012-election/new-polls-show-obama-topping-romney-key-battleground-states

  • acat

    he’s not a “favorite son”… unlike Rubio, who seems to hold that mantle in Florida.

    The trouble with Rubio, though, is that he makes sense only if Florida isn’t already moving toward Team Romney … something trimulchio asserts but does not back up.

    Mew

  • mikeymike143

    and the 2010 election results in florida proved our strength. our candidates won in both the primary and the general.

    of course, a conservative choice as VP would mean all the difference as far as our enthusiasm and energy level is concerned. i am praying that he doesnt self destruct by picking an establishment moderate from the northeast. a southern conservative would be the best choice as far as us tea partiers are concerned.