Genuine political wisdom for Republicans is to ignore the Drive-By Media's suggestions and go the opposite way, so that's what I'm about to recommend. So here comes some real, solid recommendations (and non-recommendations) for Romney's #2, categorized as Good Ideas, Bad Ideas, and Wild Cards (essentially good ideas that are unlikely to happen). Today we'll start with part three, Wild Cards. These three names I consider unlikely at this point, but still wins if Romney goes that way:
Wild Cards
1. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul: Think about it, friends...what better way to get the Ron Paul supporters on your side than to have Rand as your VP? Not to mention the fact that Rand is as conservative as his father on economic issues and is more realistic when it comes to foreign policy. Moreover, I think most people expect Rand to take up his father's mantle when it comes to being a Libertarian crusader in the Republican Party, so he's likely to be a Presidential candidate next time around anyway, and one who has a better chance than his father to succeed. I don't think Mitt will pick him or Rand will accept, but if the stars aligned this would be a home run.
2. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: Condoleezza Rice served in two past Presidential administrations in the Defense Department including being George W. Bush's National Security Advisor before becoming the Secretary of State in Bush's second term. She is well spoken and also has terrific fiscal conservative roots. For example, as the Provost of Stanford University, she took the school from a $20 million deficit to a balanced budget. She also has the ability to pick up both female voters and minority voters. While she wouldn't be the home run that Senator Rand Paul would be, she would be a big win for Romney.
3. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley: Governor Haley is a Tea Party darling. She's fiscally conservative, pro-life, and a solid communicator of conservatism. Again, she's a huge win. Like Marco Rubio and Bobby Jindall, she's the child of legal immigrants. Really a great option for Romney. I'd consider Governor Haley the most likely of the Wild Cards if only because of her endorsement of Mitt early on...surprising to many in the Tea Party.
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Any one of these three would make a great running mate for Mitt Romney, although I wouldn't expect any of them to happen. If they did, however, they could each bring in key groups that Romney needs to have to win, whether it's Ron Paul libertarians, women, or the Tea Party.
At any rate, we need to push Governor Romney to pick a top notch running mate. You know, not a moderate wimp.
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These three names I consider unlikely at this point, but still wins if Romney goes that way:
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Any one of these three would make a great running mate for Mitt Romney, although I wouldn't expect any of them to happen. If they did, however, they could each bring in key groups that Romney needs to have to win, whether it's Ron Paul libertarians, women, or the Tea Party.
At any rate, we need to push Governor Romney to pick a top notch running mate. You know, not a moderate wimp.
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These three names I consider unlikely at this point, but still wins if Romney goes that way:
