Loading Poll...Running With Romney
Dr. Michael P. Riccards is Executive Director of the Hall Institute of Public Policy – New Jersey. Riccards is a former college president and a presidential scholar who has authored 15 books.
With all due respect to my friends who support Ron Paul, it is clear that Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee for the presidency in 2012. His first important decision will be the selection of a running mate who can add some clout to the party’s appeal. Some of the names being mentioned run the gambit. First is our governor Chris Christie who has worked long and hard on Romney’s behalf. The rank and file of the party loves him, and he appeals to their desire to hit around the liberal pretensions—state wide and nationally. He is quick, articulate, brusque, and cruel—a perfect combination for the new right. He is a devout Roman Catholic who would run with a former Mormon bishop.
A second governor being mentioned is Mitch Daniels of Indiana, who was the head of CBO under George W. Bush. He is informed and clear minded, especially on economics. Daniels’ major problems are he is incredibly boring, even by the standards of the Midwest. But he won’t say anything stupid or inflammatory during the long campaign.
A third governor is the little known Susana Martinez, a former elected District Attorney in New Mexico, whose father was a famed amateur boxer. She is a Palin supporter, now a Perry supporter, anti abortion, and pro private education. She will appeal to some Hispanic groups (but not all) and to some more conservative women. She has only been in office for a year though.
In terms of the growing Hispanic population, attention must be paid to the young, handsome Mario Rubio of Florida. He is an appealing, articulate, conservative campaigner, and novice senator, but has misled people about his family’s Hispanic roots. He insisted that they left Cuba after Castro’s ascendancy; in fact, they came before. How could Rubio not know that? Also a member of his family has a criminal record, but how many people should be blamed for their relatives’ past?
Another name being bandied about is Bob McDonnell, a vanilla flavored Virginia governor who cannot run for election under the commonwealth’s constitution. He is an arch conservative, with a rigid right wing record as state Attorney General. It would be a great boom to Obama fund raisers, for his background would made the party’s ideological divisions appear stronger.
One can assume that economic policy and employment are going to be the major concerns of the electorate in November. But the president is the nation’s spokesman in forge policy. The Republicans might look well at Condoleezza Rice, the former Secretary of State under George W. Bush. An African American women she would have some appear to groups that the GOP needs to draw a larger share from. But her record as Bush’s confidant has enormous drawbacks, especially in the conduct of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. It would dampen the appeal of Romney which is the economy and Obama’s indifferent first term.
Generally vice presidential candidates do not add to a ticket’s appeal (expect for the Democrats in 1960), but they can take away some votes. In McGovern’s convention in 1972, his choice of Thomas Eagleton was a disaster, as was John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin.
Some liberal Democrats have urged President Obama to replace Vice President Joe Biden with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to strength the ticket. She has a very good job, and would boost his appeal with women and traditional liberals. But Obama is too loyal and too stubborn to make the change. So the election will be a judgment on his record and the Republicans’ ability to provide a real attractive alternative.
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