Veepstakes

Chart 1: Republican vice presidential possibilities
•Former OMB director •From key swing state •Safest of the safe picks || •Bush connection •Ticket = white bread sandwich •Held responsible for budget problems || •From most valuable swing state •Rising star •Charismatic •Popular with Tea Party || •Vetting issues regarding family •Seems unenthusiastic about Romney •Too fresh a fresh face? || •Diversity for GOP ticket •State/Fed. experience || •Not nationally vetted •Unremarkable SOTU response •LA not competitive || Rep., WI || •Articulate •Young & energetic •Fiscal focus •Swing state || •House member -- has never even run statewide •Has touched 3rd rail of politics too many times || Governor, NJ || •Dynamic speaker •(Might) put NJ in play •Excite and energize GOP base || •Could overshadow top of the ticket •Loose cannon •High probability of controversy •No regional, ideological, ethnic diversity || Fmr. Governor, FL || •Strong gubernatorial resume •Hispanic connections •Key swing state •National Bush money & organization || •Wrong last name (Bush dynasty) || •Gov. experience •Vetted || •White bread sandwich •Probably can't carry home state •Bombed as POTUS candidate || •From important swing state •Polished •Wouldn't overshadow pres. candidate || •Transvaginal ultrasounds •White bread sandwich + mayo •Ties to Pat Robertson || Governor, IN || •Fed. & state experience •From ostensible swing state •"Real guy" persona •Safe choice || •Relatively uncharismatic •IN accounting problems undermine budget expertise •White bread sandwich •Bush connection || •Vetted •Blue collar appeal, unlike Romney •Appeals to Santorum voters || •Too far right on social issues •From safe GOP state •Moving on from politics? || •Woman •Compatible with Romney •Ran strong 2010 race || •No regional diversity •Unvetted •Shades of Palin? || •Swing state •Fmr. federal judge •Judicial temperament || •1st term gov. •Small state •Unexciting •Too moderate for GOP base? || •Swing state •NRA appeal: great shot || •1st term gov. •Shades of Palin? •Immigration issue w/ grandparents •Because of family responsibility for a disabled sister, Martinez has sworn she isn't interested. || •Substantive || •White bread sandwich •Unexciting •TN = automatic GOP || Fmr. Sec. of State || •Foreign policy experience •Vetted •Instills confidence •Minority and woman || •Bush administration burdens •Unlikely to run •No electoral experience || •Shores up Mitt's right flank •Tea Party favorite || •Too conservative •Uncharismatic •Probably wouldn't help ticket carry PA || •Seen as rising star || •From small state •White bread sandwich •Unexciting •SD = automatic GOP || Senator, KY || •Tea Party favorite •Would attract Ron Paul supporters •Excites base || •Too libertarian? •Held to account for father's positions •Inexperience || •Would be unprecedented choice •Young & energetic || •Totally unvetted •PR has no electoral votes || Rep., WA || •Woman •Young & energetic •Experienced || •Can't carry home state •House member || •Substantive •Long Fed. experience || •White bread sandwich •Unexciting || Dir. of CIA || •Military hero •Substantive & smart •Foreign policy experience || •Publicly apolitical -- Obama appointee •Party preference uncertain •Reminder of GOP-led wars || Fmr. Rep., OK || •African-American •Fed. experience •Popular with base || •Not from swing state •Out of politics for awhile •Was a House member ||
 * **First Tier** ||
 * ~ Candidate ||~ Key Advantages ||~ Key Disadvantages ||
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/portman.png align="center"]] || Rob Portman Senator, OH || •Reinforces economic message
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/rubio.png align="center"]] || Marco Rubio Senator, FL || •Hispanic
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/jindal.png align="center"]] || Bobby Jindal Governor, LA || •Sterling gubernatorial resume
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/ryan.png align="center"]] || Paul Ryan
 * **Second Tier** ||
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/christie.png align="center"]] || Chris Christie
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/bush.png align="center"]] || Jeb Bush
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/pawlenty.png align="center"]] || Tim Pawlenty Fmr. Governor, MN || •Safe
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/mcdonnell.png align="center"]] || Bob McDonnell Governor, VA || •Willing and very available
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/daniels.png align="center"]] || Mitch Daniels
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/huckabee.png align="center"]] || Mike Huckabee Fmr. Governor, AR || •Gov. experience
 * **Third Tier** ||
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/ayotte.png align="center"]] || Kelly Ayotte Senator, NH || •Swing state
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/sandoval.png align="center"]] || Brian Sandoval Governor, NV || •Hispanic
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/martinez.png align="center"]] || Susana Martinez Governor, NM || •Hispanic female
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/corker.png align="center"]] || Bob Corker Senator, TN || •Safe
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/rice.png align="center"]] || Condoleezza Rice
 * **Fourth Tier** ||
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/toomey.png align="center"]] || Pat Toomey Senator, PA || •Possible swing state
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/thune.png align="center"]] || John Thune Senator, SD || •Über-safe
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/paulrand.png align="center"]] || Rand Paul
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/fortuno.png align="center"]] || Luis Fortuño Governor, PR || •Hispanic
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/mcmorris-rodgers.png align="center"]] || Cathy McMorris Rodgers
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/burr.png align="center"]] || Richard Burr Senator, NC || •Swing state
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/petraeus.png align="center"]] || David Petraeus
 * [[image:http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/content/images/watts.png align="center"]] || J.C. Watts