Report: Romney Has Made VP Decision

[brooklynite]

Source: Slate

Mitt Romney has made up his mind about who will join him on the GOP ticket and may make the much-anticipated announcement as soon as this week, the New York Times reports, citing those close to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

If the former governor does indeed name his VP pick this week, it would give the Republican a chance to change a political conversation that is currently focused squarely on Romney's time as head of Bain Capital.

The Times report comes only days after Romney advisers floated Condi Rice's name to the Drudge Report as a possible running mate—even though the popular former secretary of state has repeatedly said she has no interest in the job. The Drudge story, conveniently, came on the same day that the Boston Globe reported Romney remained atop Bain for three years longer than he has claimed, a story that has sparked a heated war of words between Obama and Romney.

The current leaders for the no. 2 slot on the GOP ticket are widely considered to be former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman. Others thought to be on the short-list include South Dakota Sen. John Thune, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan. (NBC News has a solid run-down on the strengths and weakness of all of those candidates, along with other possibilities like Sens. Marco Rubio and Kelly Ayotte.)

Read more: http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2012/07/16/romney_will_announce_vice_presidential_selection_soon_friends_reportedly_say.html

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The Times suggests Tim Pawlenty is in the lead, but I really find it hard to believe that someone who lost a straw poll to Michelle Bachmann is going to stir up the base.

[bigdarryl]

1. Mitt is just trying to change the subject about his taxes and Baine

[Duer 157099]

2. Probably Palin to draw fire away from him

[cosmicone]

3. When appearing together

only Pawlenty is so dull that he can make Romney appear charismatic.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

28. LOL!

[MADem]

4. Ha--PUSHED into making the decision TOO SOON! Anything to change the subject!

I said Pawlenty eons ago...but Pawlenty said he didn't want the job, so I just dunno. Maybe he got his arm twisted???

Mitt does not want ANYONE on the stage with him who is taller, better looking, more charismatic, or more of a media darling.

That kind of screws him over. Who else can he get but a wimpy, Wizard of Oz Scarecrow type, like Pawlenty? Everyone else on his short list is way too interesting!

I hope he does pick Pawlenty....we can have some fun once more with Seamus, since the guy's name begins with PAW.

[nxylas]

23. Betcha he doesn't actually announce his pick this week

He'll just keep announcing that he's about to make the announcement, and divert the bobbleheads' attention that way.

[MADem]

26. Thing is, the MSM is having more fun with this "Waaah, you better apologize!"/"No, no happening"

thing that is going on!

If Mittsy doesn't cough up a name like a hairball, they're not going to hang on his every word. They much prefer the mewling and whining that Mittsy is doing as a consequence of being scratched by a Big Cat.

[MADem]

55. Maybe he'll pick his NAACP plant, the FL LT GOV! She's in the news for another reason!

Her quotes about this latest story are just, well...incredible!

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/16/florida-lt-governor-usually-black-women-that-look-like-me-arent-lesbians/


Florida lt. governor: ‘Usually black women that look like me’ aren’t lesbians


Who knew there was an "exclusionary look?" Anyone? Anyone? ... Beuller?

[ewagner]

5. I think it will be Ryan

...he's what the GOP thinks a smart person sounds like...


they are mistaken.

[Walk away]

30. I hope it's him. He is stupid enough to trot out the end of Medicare and Social Security...

during a national election. That should go over like a lead balloon with Independents!

[turtlerescue1]

6. I still think Condi, for the sake of the photo ops.

[MrSlayer]

10. But she's pro-choice.

The fundies won't like that.

[Kelvin Mace]

39. I don't think Condi is that stupid

She knows there would be no up side to the job. She probably can't stand Romney personally, and knows she would be a "token" pick.

Plus, I think she would love nothing more that to have that whole Iraq fiasco dredged up for review.

[maddezmom]

7. I believe it

he needs to do something to knock the banegate off the presses and MSM. Will it work, not sure.

[Burma Jones]

8. Unless it's Oprah Winfrey, it will be a fart in a Hurricane

[Arugula Latte]

9. Look! There's something shiny over there!

[TrollBuster9090]

13. SQUIRREL!

(No, seriously...Pawlenty resembles a squirrel. It works.)

[Arugula Latte]

15. Look at meeeee! Pay no attention to Bain!

[TrollBuster9090]

48. "Pay no attention to the plutocratic, tax-cheating freeloaders behind me! I can FLY!"

[MADem]

54. Could it beeeeeeeeeeee.......

a dramatic chipmunk?

[TrollBuster9090]

11. Great! Announce your VP pick, let's talk about that for two day, and then we can ask you BOTH about

what you're hiding in your tax returns.

And seriously...PAWLENTY? The guy whose main claim to fame was that he INVENTED the epithet "OBOMNEYCARE" to highlight the fact that you are the real inventor of Obamacare, and then having done so had to withdraw from the race when he exposed himself as a spineless chickenshit who wouldn't repeat it to your face during a debate?

I think he'd be an excellent choice.

[daybranch]

20. more tax returns

agree entirely. But wanted to add all that money and he cannot even change the subject. How is that Citizen United decision working for him except to stir up everyone but the one percent against the rich trying to buy our elections. Not happening..

[Andy823]

12. It doesn't really matter

No matter who he picks, it isn't going to cure his problems with his taxes, time at Bain, offshore accounts, outsourcing jobs, wanting to deregulate wall street and banks, etc. These problems will still be there, and I doubt that the Obama camp is going to let Romney off the hook on all the things they have on him, and I think they have a whole more than what they have been running with lately. It might help for a couple of day, maybe even a week, but the more things they keep leaking out about his time at Bain are still going to haunt him.

[hedgehog]

14. Is this the set-up to replace Romany with a viable candidate -

he "picks" a running mate this week, then resigns to spend more time with his family next week?

[msanthrope]

29. yep. nt

[Walk away]

32. It might be Christie because Mitt can hide behind him....

when the press keeps asking about his tax returns!!!

Christie wants to be President in 2016. Does he really want to hook up with a looser with baggage like Mitt?

[Kelvin Mace]

41. I don't know that Americans are ready

to vote for a guy fatter than they are. I mean the last time they did was over a 100 years ago.

Also, Christie is supposedly smart, and you have to be incredibly stupid to take this job.

[Walk away]

47. Here in NJ many people think loud=smart

He seems to be getting bigger every day!

[ilikeitthatway]

16. Condi is popular with who? She was a disaster!

Also, I hate headlines like these. Sensationalism.

Condi = 9/11

The end.

All the others are crap.

Romney has nobody.

He's already hated by his own Party, and he's going to choose others who are just as hated, not to mention those who are not liked by the public at large?

Talk about out of touch.

[daybranch]

18. Real citizens Unite

No one will notice anything except possibly that VP candidates may release more returns making Mitt look worse. Obama has found a good horse and will ride it for as long as possible. Even with the millions made possible by Citizens United, Mitt cannot even change the subject. At least rich people are supporting jobs making ads but they will soon discover their interference in local, state, and federal elections has cost them a pretty penny both financially and in terms of the boycotts of their products.

[Journeyman]

19. So again: No ideas to move his campaign forward, so he'll trot out "doofy sidekick" . . .

and hope to quell Bain questions and tax return grief beneath gales of laughter.

I liked it better when Pat Paulson ran for President. At least then there was nothing negative to squelch the good times.

[turtlerescue1]

22. Loved Paulsen's "campaign"

Picky Picky Picky and "middle of the bird"

Thanks...am not the only one who remembers him.

[Lifelong Protester]

24. I am pretty sure I still have my Pat Paulsen button!

Yup, a few of us 'older than dirt' types here!

[turtlerescue1]

25. ENVY ENVY ENVY!

[Blue Meany]

27. Well, let's hope he has been vetted just as much as Romney n/t

[maddezmom]

31. AP : Aide says Romney could announce VP pick this week

Aide says Romney could announce VP pick this week

By STEVE PEOPLES, Associated Press – 9 minutes ago

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney could name his running mate by the end of the week, a top adviser said Monday.

The announcement, if it happens according to the adviser's timetable, would come several weeks before presidential candidates traditionally reveal their picks for the second slot on the ticket. It would also come as Romney's campaign seeks to deflect intensifying criticism from President Barack Obama, other Democrats and some Republicans over Romney's business record and refusal to release years of personal income tax filings.

Outside a Louisiana fundraiser on Monday, senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom said Romney hadn't finalized his decision but that an announcement could come within days.

more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jk4P498KuTldA0kc8PtE7GhpMdhA?docId=99b8b9d32ad344c4b80af06a19429bf6

Could they be any more obvious about trying to change the subject.

[truthisfreedom]

33. If mittens needs someone who won't steal his thunder, he's sure found that with Tim Pawlenty.

The guy is totally underwhelming.

[The Wizard]

35. John Bane-r(NT)

[Kelvin Mace]

36. I am really curious as to which clueless moron

is going to accept this job.

[tanyev]

49. I can only think of one person stupid enough to accept it, and they're not going to ask her.

[tomm2thumbs]

38. another person for the press to ask about Romney's tax returns and what he's hiding from America

Seems to me that if he was willing to share his 20+ tax returns with an enemy of his recent candidacy in John McCain, that he would be willing to share an equal helping of tax returns with America, a country he says he can lead and claims he wants to serve.

Why does he hate America so much?

Or is sharing this information with McCain just considered 'swapping money stories among the super wealthy'.

This issue will not go away because trying to hide something bad doesn't work for 11 year olds and it won't work for this sophomoric idiot-of-a-candidate.

[Mz Pip]

40. My guess is Portman from OH

He's less high profile than Ryan and Mitwit would need OH to win.

Just a guess though. I'm never right when it comes to what I think Republicans will do.

[LeftofObama]

51. We certainly are of like minds!

I'm usually wrong about these things too, and I hope I am, but I think it will be Portman because Robme needs Ohio to win.

[Angry Dragon]

42. Willard has changed his mind about the VP

He says he will release the name after the election

[kiranon]

43. Jeb Bush or Gov. Christie because

both may believe that Romney will not last as the nominee and they will step up to run for the Presidency. Perhaps Condi's name was a stalking horse for Jeb to see what the reaction would be to a major Bush insider as VP. Romney is so clueless that even a Bush insider such as Jeb might not add any more negatives to the ticket. If Jeb or Christie is the VP choice, it would say to me that someone knows something big about Romney. Perhaps it is Republican insiders who are dishing out information on Romney's financials and not Democrats.

[sad sally]

50. Suppose his recent visit with Mr. I-pick-myself-for-VP Cheney may have made his choice for him?

[maddezmom]

52. Top Romney advisor: No VP choice yet

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-top-romney-advisor-no-vp-choice-yet-20120716,0,7282466.story

[flamingdem]

53. Oops, everyone he asked said no!

[Myrina]

56. I think its going to be the dipshit Ryan ....

..... if you're gonna lose, you may as well lose spectacularly, right? ....