Mitt and the Veep

Just me and my 2 cents on the VP-stakes

Now that we know it will be Mitt Romney on the November ballot, let's start talking about vice presidential options.
Over the weekend I had an interesting chat with some well-informed and educated family members about who we each thought might be possible VPs. I was very surprised that the men all picked white men. I am personally of the belief it will be anyone but a white male. The ticket has to be more interesting than that. The media already holds a grudge against Romney for being a well-educated, upper class, white male. (Although I've yet to figure out how being in the largest majority demographic in the country is such a bad thing.) I think Romney will get the rank and file Republicans, but it is the independent moderates that don't know where to go yet. It is that demographic in the middle that will be swayed by a "competitive," "attractive," or "historic" VP ticket. And that ticket probably won't include a white male.

So the contenders (as generally suggested by the media and armchair pundits)-

Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey
Pros- Unique brand of charisma, smart, somewhat crass style provides enjoyable/needed contrast to clean cut Romney.
Cons-  Also from northeast, doesn't bring in a needed demographic, possibly too crass, also a white guy, he has stated his obesity may be an issue.

Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana
Pros- Not a white guy, from the much needed South.
Cons- Louisiana politicians have a cloud of corruption about them, but then, so do Chicago politicians and Obama got elected anyway. He only delivers 8 electoral votes, which is practically nothing. Not enough name recognition. 

Marco Rubio, Senator from Florida
Pros- Hispanic, well-liked, very conservative, 29 electorates, battleground state. Tea party loves him.
Cons- Tea party loves him. He's needed in the Senate. He's made it clear he's not interested. While he is Catholic now, he had Mormon ties as a child, and evangelicals will not be uniting behind a Catholic-Mormon anytime ever. 

Bob McDonnell, Governor of Virginia
Pros- Very well-liked within the party, big on jobs and the economy, delivers Virginia and its 13 electorates and a swing state.
Cons- White guy, lack of name recognition outside of party insiders and home state. Lots of other white guy, Republican, governors just like him. Romney is already big on jobs and economy. He needs someone who brings more to the table.

John Thune, Senator from South Dakota
Pros- Another Republican elected something from somewhere.
Cons- Just another white guy Republican from somewhere (JAWGRFS). No real name recognition. 3 electoral votes? Total joke.

Tim Pawlenty, former Governor of Minnesota
Pros- Tea Party loves him, conservative, from a "blue state," decent name recognition thanks to the Tea Party, has "paid his dues," so to speak.
Cons- Boring! And yet again, JAWGRFS.

Paul Ryan, Senator from Wisconsin
Pros- Currently has good name recognition thanks to his current budget bill. Popular in the party and out of the party.
Cons- Must I say it again? JAWGRFS, but at least his somewhere is a swing state. Again, he's big and popular on the same things Romney is already big on.

Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina
Pros- Female, non-Caucasian, South, conservative, good name recognition.
Cons- She didn't deliver SC for Romney in the primaries, in spite of her major endorsement. Already a red state, not many electoral votes. 

Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, tv host
Pros- Huge name recognition, conservative, brings the evangelical vote.
Cons- JAWGFS, serious bad blood between him and Romney in last election.

Susana Martinez, Governor of New Mexico
Pros- Female, non-Caucasian.
Cons- no name recognition. In fact, I know nothing to say about her.

Rick Santorum, former Senator of Pennsylvania, recent competition
Don't make me go there. It is always possible, but highly unlikely. Although he does deliver something besides jobs and economy I guess.

Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, current competition
You have to be kidding me, right?

If it were up to me, I'd pick Nikki Haley in a heartbeat. She's pretty, well-spoken, conservative, and a double threat minority. She's qualified and she's interesting. She brings something to the ticket. 

Who do I expect it will be? No clue.