From Examiner.com: Sarah Palin fiasco casts a long shadow over Mitt Romney's VP selection
Senator John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008 cost John McCain his dream of being President of the United States.
No question about it.
The reasons are many, including the fact that Sarah Palin was not ready to take over as President of the United States. Mitt Romney could not help but notice the flub. Mitt Romney does not want to make that same mistake as John McCain, or Romney's dream of being President of the United States will also die. Romney's team wants someone that would not overshadow Romney and prefers to have someone at least as dull as Romney on the ticket.
The conventional political wisdom is that a VP pick should "do no harm."
The model is Barack Obama's brilliant selection of Joe Biden as VP. Biden is obviously ready to take over as Commander-in-Chief at any moment. Knowledgeable about the issues. National security a real strength of Biden's. And he knows his way around Washington. And he reads the New York Times.
However, Sarah Palin's selection did plenty of harm and did McCain no good.
So many names have emerged during the vetting process, but Romney's vetting process has not gone without its share of controversy. It took an entire day for Mitt Romney to deny a report that Marco Rubio is not being vetted by the campaign.
Rubio could be important on a couple of levels, including with Latinos and winning the key state of Florida.
Mitt Romney had to go out of his way to tell reporters that his vice presidential search team is indeed vetting Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.).
“Marco Rubio is being thoroughly vetted as part of our process,” Romney said after gathering a press pool for an unannounced campaign stop in Michigan.
“I can’t imagine who such people are,” Romney told reporters. “But I can tell you this: They know nothing about the vice presidential selection or evaluation process. There are only two people in this country who know who are being vetted and who are not, and that’s Beth Myers and myself. And I know Beth well. She doesn’t talk to anybody. The story was entirely false.”
Mitt Romney’s comments came after ABC News reported that his search team had not asked Marco Rubio to complete a questionnaire or submit any personal financial documents. One outside Romney adviser confirmed that report to The Washington Post.
Among the other names being bandied and possibly vetted as possible running mates for Mitt Romney are Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ), Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) had been considered the front-runner because of his low-key style. Rob Portman is also important because of Romney's need to win Ohio. Of late, the name of former Governor Tim Pawlenty has been coming up.
Now comes the word that Tim Pawlenty doesn't want to be considered for the nomination. It is noted that Pawlenty meets the Romney criteria of dullness. But Pawlenty says publicly he isn't sure he wants it, telling Bob Schieffer on Sunday's Face the Nation he can serve Mitt Romney in other ways. "I think I can best serve Governor Romney in other ways, particularly as a volunteer and surrogate speaker in places he can't go."
Pawlenty gave a sort of "aw shucks" response. "I have encouraged people who asked this question in the campaign to look at other prospects," he said. "I think I can help him best in other ways." Pawlenty acknowledged, however, that him running alongside Romney isn't completely out of the question. "Anybody who would be asked to serve in a position like that would be honored to be asked."
One thing is certain about Tim Pawlenty: he is no Sarah Palin. He would "do no harm." Pawlenty has the added bonus of having someone on the ticket that would not overshadow Mitt Romney and have someone as dull as Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney winning the presidency with or without Pawlenty on the ticket, that is quite another matter.
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