# Handicapping the GOP Veepstakes **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 6, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017 "2012-04-06T17:42:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/141 "2012-05-11T20:30:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **RTFirefly** : > > There was the time she referred to GWB as her husband. I’m glad _someone_ got the joke. I was afraid I was going to have to explain it myself. Well, except that I’d pretty much forgotten it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/142 "2012-05-25T03:26:22Z")
[Romney praises Cheney’s “Wisdom and judgment.”](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/15/romney-praises-cheneys-wisdom-and-judgment/) So . . . where can he find another like him? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/143 "2012-05-25T03:40:54Z")
Hell? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/144 "2012-05-25T03:43:06Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > They’re so good at polling… I’m still waiting for one that analyses the political beliefs of their staff. That would not be a cite for a Democrat-NYT alliance. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/145 "2012-05-25T05:08:30Z")
> [@furt](#): > > No, it isn’t, unless you operate under the assumption that a large number of conservatives are racists. > > I mean, it’s like “reporting” that 10% New Yorkers asked for their opinions of Appalachia brought up the topic of snake-handling, that some fraction of those 10% were intolerant of traditional Appalachian religious practice, and that somehow this is supposed to be revealing about the attitudes of ten million New Yorkers. I’d be more impressed that that many city people were broadminded. You go looking for stupidity anywhere, sooner or later you find it. > > I’d be willing to wager that 10% of liberals would bring up race unbidden in discussing Obama; it’s a bleeding obvious topic. It made headlines all over the world. > > When your only interest is in other people’s biases, you reveal your own. You’ve apparently missed an important word. It’s not just bringing up race, it’s bringing it up “as a negative factor.” Saying that one of the reasons you won’t vote for Obama is his race is pretty blatant racism. The only argument you could make would be to argue that they did not bring it up as a negative, but merely mentioned it. And that is definitely not the case with Romney’s Mormonism. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2012, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/146 "2012-05-25T06:07:19Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Final Assessment: Bob McDonnell, Richard Burr (2nd choice), Nikki Haley (if polling poorly and need a despirate pick and religion is not an issue) I would say any chance Burr had of being Veep went out the window with the anti-gay marriage vote in NC. The Romney team has been trying to stay away from that issue like crazy the last few weeks and trying to keep the conversation on economic issues. If they choose him it could very well put the spotlight back on a topic they seem scared to address head on. IOW, he would be more of a distraction than a boost. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/147 "2012-06-08T13:02:10Z")
O the joy of being vetted as a potential running mate!: [http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/08/politics/vp-process/index.html?hpt=hp\_t2](http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/08/politics/vp-process/index.html?hpt=hp_t2) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/148 "2012-06-09T04:24:58Z")
After the Wisconsin recall, might Romney consider Scott Walker? That could bring the Teahadist wing of the party out to vote for Romney/Walker. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/149 "2012-06-09T05:34:20Z")
Well, he’s exiting, dynamic and controversial. Which is why it will be Portman. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/150 "2012-06-09T06:59:06Z")
I know Suzanna Martinez and Marco Rubio have said they’re not interested. Any other Hispanic GOP candidates have the chops? Specifically targeted ads about deportations under Obama may be effective in winning over some of the Hispanic vote. A nice suit and tie would probably temper the anti-immigrant contingent somewhat. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/151 "2012-06-09T19:10:44Z")
[CPAC straw poll favors Rubio.](http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/0609/Marco-Rubio-gets-VP-nod-in-conservative-straw-poll) I wonder why he’s not interested? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/152 "2012-06-10T04:10:40Z")
Somebody mentioned he’s rumored to have some extramarital skeletons in his closet. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/153 "2012-06-10T04:30:31Z")
So long as its women, they’ll get over it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/154 "2012-06-10T04:44:37Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Somebody mentioned he’s rumored to have some extramarital skeletons in his closet. If they’re literal skeletons, that is going to be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/155 "2012-06-10T05:18:12Z")
Oh, you mean the plot between Fidel and Obama to bring him down? Freepers will see right through that. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/156 "2012-06-10T07:33:53Z")
I see Romney as a play-it-safe kinda guy, so I’m betting on McDonnell. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/157 "2012-06-10T10:31:00Z")
I didn’t read the entire thread so I apologize if this was brought up… This year the GOP didn’t bring the A-Gamers to the table for the Presidential nod and it seems pretty obvious why: Their chances of unseating an incumbent are exponentially worse than competing for an open seat in 2016. Sure, the bestest and brightest of the 2010 Midterm Tea Party takeover need more than a couple years seasoning before getting involved, but there were numerous established possible candidates who were content to sit this one out and let a litany of flawed suitors from the fallen (Gingrich, Santorum) to the insane (Paul, Bachman) to the sublime (Perry) to the unbelievably silly (Cain) make for some amazing fodder for Obama’s TV ads in the general election, all as a precursor to the inevitable nomination of Romney. I bring this up because it wouldn’t surprise me if during the vetting process, a lot of the top-tiered veep candidates send along a thanks-but-no-thanks to the offer, thinking that they would be better off not having a failed run at second in command on their resume, and waiting another four years for a better chance (or maybe a shot at the top spot at that point). This is a lot more likely if Obama stays atop the polls in battleground states, but barring getting caught in bed with a live woman (or a dead man) scenario, Romney is still an underdog in this race. Don’t be shocked if a bunch of qualified folks that might do a good job balancing the ticket politely decline the invitation. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/158 "2012-06-10T20:31:39Z")
[Rand Paul denies any “secret deal” with Romney to get him the Veep slot.](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/06/10/rand-paul-denies-secret-deal-to-be-on-romney-ticket/) > [@](#): > > In February, Rick Santorum accused Ron Paul of having a backroom, running-mate deal with Romney to see his son on the 2012 ticket. An analysis by Think Progress found that Ron Paul never attacked Romney during the 20 televised debates and the Washington Post reported that Romney’s aides have quietly been in touch with Ron Paul during the campaign. > > Rand endorsed Romney for president on Saturday. But he denied there was any deal between his father, who is still technically running for the GOP nomination, and Romney. > > No, no real secret deal,” he said. “I always tell people, if there’s a secret deal, it’s so secret that I don’t know about it. But I would say that my dad’s supporters are very, very independent. Many conservatives and libertarians are independent people. And I don’t pretend to speak for them. They make up their own minds. Some of them might be influenced to hear the governor out, listen to the areas of common interest. They’re not going to agree with everything Governor Romney stands for." Okaaaay . . . ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/159 "2012-06-12T17:32:15Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Okaaaay . . . Does this okaaaay imply that you think there is a secret deal? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017/160 "2012-06-19T14:16:50Z")
If there was any question about Marco Rubio, it is gone now: [Marco Rubio says he would come to the U.S. illegally if he had to](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/marco-rubio-says-come-u-illegally-had-111859436.html) > [@](#): > > “Many people who come here illegally are doing exactly what we would do if we lived in a country where we couldn’t feed our families,” Rubio writes in his book, which went on sale Tuesday. “If my kids went to sleep hungry every night and my country didn’t give me an opportunity to feed them, there isn’t a law, no matter how restrictive, that would prevent me from coming here.” I don’t see how he could be on the same ticket as Mitt “Go to the back of the line!” Romney. He is just too moderate on immigration to co-exist with Romney’s severely conservative statements on immigration. This may also affect his entire political carreer outside of Florida, marking him as RINO unwilling to toe the line on the dogma of the extreme right. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-gop-veepstakes/618017.md?page=9)