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This goes back to what I said in a thread here on the day Romney suspended his campaign. One motive for packing it in early, as soon as he could reasonably divine that it wasn't going to work out with him as nominee, could have been to take the heat off of McCain, and by so doing earn some gratitude from McCain for it. He made McCain's life much easier by taking the heat off in that way. By now padding McCain's massive lead over Huckabee even more, he further ingratiates himself to McCain. If Romney can help McCain end the nomination process much earlier, rather than later, McCain will owe Romney bigtime for the favor.

I believe that Romney may well be angling for the VP slot. And it doesn't even really matter whether McCain and Romney are personal friends or not. This is politics - if they can scratch each other's backs somehow, personal like or dislike won't stop them from doing so.

What does Romney bring to a McCain candidacy? Well, for that portion of the Republican party who considered Romney more conservative than McCain, it brings a flavor of increased conservativeness to the ticket. Romney himself did well in a few states, and that might draw more votes toward that ticket. Romney has name recognition now - who else in the Republican party would add so much name recognition to the ticket right now?

I've got ten bucks saying McCain taps Romney for VP. Anyone wanna go?

Sethbag wrote:I've got ten bucks saying McCain taps Romney for VP. Anyone wanna go?

Only if Condoleezza says no.

I won't bet against you. I think you are spot on.

It's a good strategy. If you're a moderate republican, select a conservative running mate and vice versa. Either Romney or Huckabee would be a logical VP selection for McCain (a McCain/Guiliani ticket would turn off conservatives). By bowing out early, while Huckabee keeps fighting, Romney has given himself a headstart in the VP race.

I think McCain is too worried about courting EVs in the south. Huckabee is better for that. Mitt would help in the western states, but I think he might be a handicap in the south.

But is the South really all that big a deal for McCain? In the deep Southern states where EVs strongly prefer Huck over Mitt, is there much chance, going into the election, that they will rather vote for Barack or Hillary rather than McCain because Romney's his VP?

There will be so-called battleground states, which could go either way, and I can't recall any of the likely battleground states having preferred Huck over Mitt.

But is the South really all that big a deal for McCain? In the deep Southern states where EVs strongly prefer Huck over Mitt, is there much chance, going into the election, that they will rather vote for Barack or Hillary rather than McCain because Romney's his VP?

There will be so-called battleground states, which could go either way, and I can't recall any of the likely battleground states having preferred Huck over Mitt.

I think it will be very difficult for McCain to win without winning the southern states that have traditionally gone republican in the past. EVs are already very uncomfortable with McCain. Picking Romney will magnify that discomfort. I do not believe these people would ever vote democrat - but I think they could easily just stay home.

Many of the southern states, for years now (really ever since civil rights) have been comfortably in the republican fold. They can't afford to lose that.

I could be wrong, because McCain can sometimes be unpredictable, but I really think you're wrong.

beastie wrote:

But is the South really all that big a deal for McCain? In the deep Southern states where EVs strongly prefer Huck over Mitt, is there much chance, going into the election, that they will rather vote for Barack or Hillary rather than McCain because Romney's his VP?

There will be so-called battleground states, which could go either way, and I can't recall any of the likely battleground states having preferred Huck over Mitt.

I think it will be very difficult for McCain to win without winning the southern states that have traditionally gone republican in the past. EVs are already very uncomfortable with McCain. Picking Romney will magnify that discomfort. I do not believe these people would ever vote democrat - but I think they could easily just stay home.

Many of the southern states, for years now (really ever since civil rights) have been comfortably in the republican fold. They can't afford to lose that.

I could be wrong, because McCain can sometimes be unpredictable, but I really think you're wrong.

I don't think Romney is a good VP candidate either - the same issues that have now quietly died down would only get brought up again, soiling McCain in the process. And not just the religion issue (but those same folks who wouldn't vote for a Mormon for president aren't going to want to vote for on for VP with a presidential candidate as old as McCain), but also his bona fides as a conservative. That was already in question - if McCain can't claim the conservative vote, Romney isn't going to help.

Maybe Romney is hoping for a cabinet post.

I am torn on this one. I think a Romney for VP move would be bad. The Huckabee tap would be a much wiser move. How many recent presidents have failed to carry the South in the election?

On the other hand, this may be the sop that the establishment conservatives demand of McCain for a kiss and make up. In this case I think it would still be a mistake to go with Romney. Better to have the conservative with a populist flair in a VP slot if you are running against either Hillary or Obama.

Trevor wrote:Better to have the conservative with a populist flair in a VP slot if you are running against either Hillary or Obama.

Or against BOTH Hillary and Obama (keeping my fingers crossed).