Summary
• Doesn’t think think that Palin would do the veep thing again.
• Obviously Romney will run in 2012.
• Romney has a good shot at getting the nomination.
Side note: You are an awesome Mitt fan if you recognize, in the background, a book that he has written.
~Luke
Real Estate Enthusiast, Unapologetic Mitt Romney Fan, Sandwich Guru, DMB Lover, Hulu Junkie, Smart Cookie
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The.duo.may or may not work. I think I’d Christine ODonnel wins, and Palin is amenable to VP, yes. Still concerned she is too disliked by Independents. But it would redeem Romnsey right of center-right.
Ps: this was my idea circa December 2008!
Turnaround.
Also, there’s no way Sarah Palin would run if she weren’t prepared for the VP spot on the ticket. So, either she runs and wins, she loses to Romney and accepts his invitation, he never makes the invitation, or he loses, too. Or one or both of them decides not to run. With all those possibilities, the probability of a Romney-Palin (or a Palin-Romney?) ticket is rather low.
Stephen Monteith, I disagree. With apologies in advance for the draft nature of what follows:
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Palin has become a national force in a way no other “para-politician” (she currently holds no office) has (the closest analogy was Ross Perot–yuck).
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At the same time, I suspect even Palin realizes that in 2011-2012, she remains too “radioactive” (perceived as too conservative, too inexperienced, flakey), with too thin a perceived resume to win a general election–too many Democrats and Independents will never vote for her.
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But as VP? A VP Palin would, obviously electrify everyone on the right. Would Palin turn off more voters left of center than Palin would turn on right of center? I don’t think so.
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Romney is *seen* as super smart and moderate. Romney has a religion problem of some size (hopefully small size). Romney is perceived as too moderate by many. Palin complements these perceived weaknesses perfectly: she’s seen as Christian, conservative, down-to-earth.
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Essentially, unless Sarah Palin becomes governor of a major state, her ONLY path to the Presidency is via VP. As abn active VP, say as Secretary of Energy or Interior (or both!), Palin could show her talents and be de-fanged in the eyes of many.
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Since no other GOP candidate will be perceived as moderate as Romney, Palin’s best chance of getting to the Presidency is as Romney’s VP. Of course, Romney’s biggest challenge is/will be winning the GOP primary; not the general election.
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By the way, just as Obama has lowered* the on Presidential eligibility, Biden has lowered the bar for the VPresidency, thereby making Palin more eligible.
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In 2008-2009, I proposed a Romney-Palin ticket as a kind of hail Mary pass because Obama’s popularity seemed like it would last. Now that Obama is very mortal, Romney-Palin seems less necessary, but what’s happened is that Palin’s stature has risen significantly.
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As a barometer, if Christine O’Donnell wins DE, Romney-Palin seems golden. If she does not, it’s still a promising idea, but perhaps one that would benefit Palin more than Romney.
As a Palinite, I for one do not want Mrs. Palin to be Mr. Romney’s VP. I would not be totally against the two camps forming a coalition as long as there is some give and take and Mrs. Palin can demonstrate how this would benefit the country. I would not mind Mrs. Palin serving in a Romney cabinet if that is the scenario, but it would be even better if Mr. Romney cannot offer Mrs. Palin a cabinet spot because he gets rid of some unneeded Departments.
Ohio Joe, yes, and active VPresidency with/for Palin, that’s what I was speaking of, above. Mitt Romney is confident enough, and low-ego enough to go with that: appoint/delegate to talented people. Romney is the anti-Obama in some many ways, including this one.