# If Romney wins the GOP nomination, who will be his running mate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 7, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928 "2011-10-07T19:56:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/21 "2011-10-08T02:32:43Z")
> [@AbloyProtec](#): > > If Romney wins, I’d like to see Newt Gingrich as his VP purely for the ass kicking he’d deliver to Biden in their debate. You’ve seen both Gingrich and Biden debate right? I don’t think it would go the way you are predicting. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/22 "2011-10-08T02:39:39Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > In a different thread, I said Rick Santorum. I still think so. Santorum isn’t so incredibly notorious that he would hurt amongst the moderates. The religious right likes him. And most of the time, he’s not a gibbering idiot, at least not in ways most potential GOP voters seem to think makes someone a gibbering idiot. Romney/Frothy 2012. I like it. Well, I like the idea of the lawn signs actually saying that in my yard. Maybe with a nice Spreading Santorum web address. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/23 "2011-10-08T02:46:35Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > In a different thread, I said Rick Santorum. I still think so. Santorum isn’t so incredibly notorious that he would hurt amongst the moderates. The religious right likes him. And most of the time, he’s not a gibbering idiot, at least not in ways most potential GOP voters seem to think makes someone a gibbering idiot. Santorum has some merit there, he’s also a crazy that would be perfectly willing to serve under Romney, he’d do anything to be important anywhere. I think Romney is so universally hated by the others in the GOP he’ll have issues finding someone willing to serve with him. Imagine how damaging it would be for him if he offered the job to someone and they refused publicly. Romney and Huckabee made amends recently it was cold but public, I think there is potential there, Huckabee is still a well liked and isn’t universally viewed as crazy. I don’t think Romney would be wise to pick anyone on the far right, the Tea Party folks will do like Republicans always do and fall in line behind their candidate, at worst they will stay home. He needs to pull voters away from Obama in order to win, a good VP choice will help him do that. I expect someone religious with moderate views. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/24 "2011-10-08T03:03:10Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > You’ve seen both Gingrich and Biden debate right? I don’t think it would go the way you are predicting. I have seen long interviews with Biden. he is a very smart guy and knows what is happening. Newt is a bit batty and getting battier. He is old and has been around long enough that the party of Palin, Bachmann , Cain and Brewer looks at him like elder statesman instead of the self aggrandizing skirt chaser that he is. He industrialized lobbying when he had power. He put a money conveyor belt from K Street to the House. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/25 "2011-10-08T03:39:07Z")
[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/012297.htm](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/012297.htm) Newt was a real treat when he was in the house. Let him explain this away. ABLOY find a new hero. [AllPolitics - In Focus - Gingrich's Ethics](http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/gen/resources/infocus/gingrich/) And earlier he was still busy cheating. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/26 "2011-10-08T03:54:42Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Is that a Constitutional requirement for the VP? I would think that he could be VP but could not ascend to the presidency. Yes. [QUOTE=12th Amendment] But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![AbloyProtec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@AbloyProtec](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbloyProtec)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/27 "2011-10-08T10:52:20Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/012297.htm](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/012297.htm) > Newt was a real treat when he was in the house. Let him explain this away. ABLOY find a new hero. > [AllPolitics - In Focus - Gingrich's Ethics](http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/gen/resources/infocus/gingrich/) And earlier he was still busy cheating. Oh ok. And that’s any worse than attending sermons where Jeremiah Wright says “Goddamn America” or attending rallies with Malik Zulu Shabazz or Najee Muhammed? We don’t live perfect lives, Gonzo. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/28 "2011-10-08T12:05:17Z")
Can I be cheeky and suggest that Karger would be _absolutely fabulous_? 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/29 "2011-10-08T16:11:25Z")
> [@AbloyProtec](#): > > Oh ok. > > And that’s any worse than attending sermons where Jeremiah Wright says “Goddamn America” or attending rallies with Malik Zulu Shabazz or Najee Muhammed? > > We don’t live perfect lives, Gonzo. Wright was not running for president. He was a preacher in a church. You are deluding yourself about Cain. He is a terrible choice for prez. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/30 "2011-10-08T16:17:03Z")
But a fantastic choice for the nominee. Not as wonderful as Bachmann or Perry, but right up there. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/31 "2011-10-08T17:20:33Z")
How about [Paul Ryan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ryan)? He’s repeatedly said he won’t run for POTUS but never ruled out VP. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/32 "2011-10-08T17:32:33Z")
I bet the GOP is pissed that they couldn’t have the Christie/Rubio ticket, which would probably have been unstoppable. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/33 "2011-10-08T17:48:17Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > _crosses fingers_ Michele Bachmann, Michele Bachmann, Michele Bachmann… I absolutely agree with this, but I’ve got to ask…when did you turn Liberal? ---
**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:** [October 8, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/34 "2011-10-08T17:48:35Z")
It definitely won’t be Perry. He’s not going to resign the governorship of one of the biggest states in the country just to play second fiddle in Washington. Another possibility would be some generic Republican in the House (or possibly Senate, but House is more likely), with a long but unremarkable career, who hasn’t been much on the Presidential radar yet. ---
**Author:** ![AbloyProtec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@AbloyProtec](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbloyProtec)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/35 "2011-10-08T18:02:17Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Wright was not running for president. He was a preacher in a church. > You are deluding yourself about Cain. He is a terrible choice for prez. What the hell does this have to do with Herman Cain? You seriously need to keep the butthurt to a minimum - it’s now transcending threads. Stay mad liberal. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/36 "2011-10-08T18:33:00Z")
It’ll have to be someone from the south. Someone with more conservative bona fides than Romney. Someone the TPers can get behind, but not so crazy as to scare away the non-Tpers (good luck with that one). Someone who isn’t Mormon (sorry, Huntsman). I’m tempted to think Chris Christy, but he’s not from the south. Rubio seems best, and I know he’s ruled it out, but I doubt he’s REALLY ruled it out. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/37 "2011-10-08T19:00:48Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’ll have to be someone from the south. Someone with more conservative bona fides than Romney. Someone the TPers can get behind, but not so crazy as to scare away the non-Tpers (good luck with that one). Someone who isn’t Mormon (sorry, Huntsman). > > I’m tempted to think Chris Christy, but he’s not from the south. Rubio seems best, and I know he’s ruled it out, but I doubt he’s REALLY ruled it out. There’s also Mitch Daniels, who while not a Southerner is still from a conservative state close to it. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/38 "2011-10-08T19:25:20Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > Yes. Ah. Good to know. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/39 "2011-10-08T19:28:04Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Rubio seems best, and I know he’s ruled it out, but I doubt he’s REALLY ruled it out. Yeah, I would imagine Rubio will give it serious thought if it is offered. Win or lose it would be a great platform for a presidential run later on. And he would be a great VP candidate for Romney. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928/40 "2011-10-08T19:39:57Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > There’s also Mitch Daniels, who while not a Southerner is still from a conservative state close to it. How much is Indiana going to be in play? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-romney-wins-the-gop-nomination-who-will-be-his-running-mate/598928.md?page=3)