Romney picks his VP?

[Moonlight J]

A Christie/Rubio ticket (in either direction) would be a formidable 2016 ticket.

I'd like to see Huntsman involved on a ticket because I respect him as a politician, but doubt it happens. I'm more curious to see if the GOP breaks the cycle of giving the next nomination to the 1st loser. The thought of a Santorum 2016 campaign makes me giggle

[Erik]

I'm more curious to see if the GOP breaks the cycle of giving the next nomination to the 1st loser.

They will have to. Very few of the big moneymen are gonna want to throw a bunch of cash at Santorum.

[revo]

You could be right, but I feel just the opposite.

I don't sense the same enthusiasm with Obama that he had in 2008. Perhaps that will change in the next 3 months, but I don't see how.

Outside of newly registered voters, do you see him gaining more swing voters? With the state of the economy and the morale of this country as low as it has been in my lifetime. I can't see more people pulling the lever for Obama. He will have his base, but I don't think the turnout will be as high. I know of two Obama voters at my job who said they are not voting this year. They are disapointed in Obama, but cannot vote Elephant. I have to imagine there are many Obama supporters that feel the same way.

I also think he is facing a much better ticket than he was in 2008. McCain/Palin was probably as bad a ticket the Repulican's could have put out there. Romney/Ryan will do more to energy the base and independents.

I could be wrong, but this is how I feel.

George, I know you're older than 20!

In your lifetime, this period of "low morale" doesn't come close to the high unemployment, high inflationary periods from the Bear Market of 1973-1974 all the way up to Reagan's recession in 1981. The Ford, Carter and early Reagan years were far, far worse. And the last year of the Bush I presidency was no picnic, either.

[cardboardbox]

They will have to. Very few of the big moneymen are gonna want to throw a bunch of cash at Santorum.

that and the bench is too deep to waste time with santorum.

[cardboardbox]

George, I know you're older than 20!

In your lifetime, this period of "low morale" doesn't come close to the high unemployment, high inflationary periods from the Bear Market of 1973-1974 all the way up to Reagan's recession in 1981. The Ford, Carter and early Reagan years were far, far worse. And the last year of the Bush I presidency was no picnic, either.

maybe he means his adult lifetime?

[revo]

maybe he means his adult lifetime?

Maybe he was too busy shaking his bootie in the mid-1970s to notice what was going on around him!

[cardboardbox]

I am a huge Christie fan, but even he wouldn't have done it for me. I am glad he wasn't selected because I don't want to see him hurt his brand for 2016.
I am not in the tank for Obama at all--as I said before, he's been really mediocre on most issues IMO. The problem for me is the GOP primary field (save Huntsman) didn't have a guy I could get behind.

from what I gather here, you're more liberal than conservative but you're not blinded by party loyalty like so many others are. If thats true, then I'm not surprised you dont like many of the repub candidates. That and they really didnt bring out many of their better candidates... Newt, Santorum, Paul, Cain, Bachmann are just organizational depth although Newt did have a few smart things to say. I liked Perry until he proved speaking/thinking was a foreign concept. I think he just cant debate because I've seen him do well in public speaking here in TX. You know I'm a Huntsman fan, but the guy's campaign was idiotic at best. Its like he was trying to see just how bad he could do. I dont like Romney, but the alternative is far worse so I know how I'm voting.

[cardboardbox]

You could be right, but I feel just the opposite.

I don't sense the same enthusiasm with Obama that he had in 2008. Perhaps that will change in the next 3 months, but I don't see how.

Outside of newly registered voters, do you see him gaining more swing voters? With the state of the economy and the morale of this country as low as it has been in my lifetime. I can't see more people pulling the lever for Obama. He will have his base, but I don't think the turnout will be as high. I know of two Obama voters at my job who said they are not voting this year. They are disapointed in Obama, but cannot vote Elephant. I have to imagine there are many Obama supporters that feel the same way.

I also think he is facing a much better ticket than he was in 2008. McCain/Palin was probably as bad a ticket the Repulican's could have put out there. Romney/Ryan will do more to energy the base and independents.

I could be wrong, but this is how I feel.

I think fly already posted a good response but I think you have some good points here. Almost all the polls have a heavy D tilt, usually along the same lines as the 2008 D/R/I split rather than even as the R/D was in 2010. I'm still waiting for an explanation for this. If you simply take the midpoint between 2008 and 2010, the polls become very close.

The enthusiasm polling shows a huge advantage for the repubs. I dont think Ryan will energize the base quite as much as Palin but I dont know if there was a better pick available for that purpose this time.

McCain/Palin didnt do well in the debates, Romney/Ryan will definitely not lose them. I dont like to predict a debate win because you never know what stupidity will happen... GWB always got destroyed but somehow it never hurt him much.

If we get a couple more poor to middling jobs reports, the few remaining independents will break to Romney. I know everyone is predicting Obama will win, and it wont be terribly close, but I'm not seeing it. If the media and obama can demonize Ryan, maybe.

[frae]

If we get a couple more poor to middling jobs reports, the few remaining independents will break to Romney. I know everyone is predicting Obama will win, and it wont be terribly close, but I'm not seeing it. If the media and obama can demonize Ryan, maybe.

I know that I have never said it won't be close. I just don't like the math for Romney. I think Ohio is a very hard win for him and unless he is going to flip lean states he needs Ohio and Florida. I think the map is still set up where the 08 election is an anomaly. Obama got every purple state and flipped NC and IN. If the economy is not thriving there will always be a backlash against the incumbent. I would bet NC and IN go back. Using the current RCP map I personally like Obama in NH, Ohio, and Virginia. I guess my main reasoning in liking Obama is I see so many more ways for him to win. If he gets Florida the math becomes almost impossible. A Florida win and Obama just needs one more toss up state win. Anyway, I don't see a landslide at all, but I like the options I see for Obama to win.

[onejayhawk]

They will have to. Very few of the big moneymen are gonna want to throw a bunch of cash at Santorum.

Is Santorum the 1st loser. I think Newt takes that distinction.

However, I think they will continue the trend by nominating Ryan.

J

[Frank]

I am a huge Christie fan, but even he wouldn't have done it for me. I am glad he wasn't selected because I don't want to see him hurt his brand for 2016.
I am not in the tank for Obama at all--as I said before, he's been really mediocre on most issues IMO. The problem for me is the GOP primary field (save Huntsman) didn't have a guy I could get behind.

Interesting post -
I basically lost interest in this portion of The Pen - Often i have observed too many comments I recognize/believe as relevant become lost in nebulous re translation by partisan hacks....... LOL

Anyway - I concur with the people who wanted John Huntsman as the Alpha Dog on the ticket - he was the deal breaker for me - Huntsman was the ONLY GOP candidate I would support and Vote for President.

I have no plans to watch or listen to the GOP Convention this time.

[Moonlight J]

Is Santorum the 1st loser. I think Newt takes that distinction.

However, I think they will continue the trend by nominating Ryan.

J

Didn't Santorum have the 2nd most votes? Gingrich was just the biggest idiot for hanging on as long as he did despite the numbers.

[Lucky]

Maybe he meant first runner-up.

Huntsman was such a waste...smart guy, level headed. I think he would have had a chance to put together some coalitions to get some things done. I think the 60% in the middle might have voted for him, leaving only the 20% on the far right and the far left.

One thing is clear, though. No matter which guy wins in 2012, nothing will get done until at least 2017. Depressing.

[Judge Jude]

"One thing is clear, though. No matter which guy wins in 2012, nothing will get done until at least 2017. Depressing."

Not clear to me. Few voters have even started looking yet. It's a weird time, and I can see things swinging quite a bit in either direction still.

And yeah, I too liked Huntsman early and often, but his campaign was as bad as his resume is good.

[onejayhawk]

Maybe he meant first runner-up.

Huntsman was such a waste...smart guy, level headed. I think he would have had a chance to put together some coalitions to get some things done. I think the 60% in the middle might have voted for him, leaving only the 20% on the far right and the far left.

One thing is clear, though. No matter which guy wins in 2012, nothing will get done until at least 2017. Depressing.

Why would Romney's second term be key?



J