Has ABC Figured Out the Top Three Romney VP Contenders?
- Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:05pm by
Mytheos Holt
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When it comes to the choice of who will stand alongside GOP Presidential nominee Mitt Romney as his Vice President, precisely two people might know – namely, Mitt Romney and Romney campaign manager Beth Myers. However, that hasn’t stopped every pundit within miles from speculating as to who the choice will be. This speculation has centered on everyone from plausibility-straining dark horses (Condi Rice) to safe but uninspiring choices (Tim Pawlenty) to people whose names have never even come up in connection with the process, but who seem to be propelled along by sheer wishful thinking anyway (Allen West).
However, now that the process is widely agreed to be in its closing phase, that punditry has finally begun to crystallize into serious short lists. And one of the more certain of the people compiling those lists is ABC’s Jonathan Karl, who has stated with some certainty that he knows who the top three contenders are for Romney’s VP. Read Karl’s predictions below (emphasis added):
As for whom the pick will be, I believe the short list comes down to three names: Rob Portman, Tim Pawlenty and Paul Ryan.
Ryan is the dark horse here, dismissed by many as relatively inexperienced and tainted by his controversial “Path to Prosperity” budget, but Romney confidants tell me Romney thinks highly of Ryan and sees his budget plan as a positive, despite the predictable attacks that would come from Democrats. After all, those attacks will come anyway (Democrats already speak of the “Romney-Ryan Budget”). Picking Ryan for VP would put on the ticket the person best able to respond to those attacks.
And get this: Some of Romney’s political advisers believe Ryan could put Wisconsin in play, giving a Romney-Ryan ticket a chance of winning a state that hasn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan beat Walter Mondale in 1984. They point to a recent PPP poll that showed putting Ryan on the ticket cuts President Obama’s lead in Wisconsin to a single point.
Karl’s choices are fairly conventional wisdom in two cases – Portman and Pawlenty (who, as of now, lead the Intrade VP prediction market). However, his Ryan pick deviates from Intrade substantially, which lists Florida Senator Marco Rubio as the third most likely candidate to be Romney’s Veep.
What do you think? Has Karl got it right? Weigh in below.





















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Comments (120)
quete
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:58pmRodney does not need a vice president.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:23pm@quete
Yep, a precedent set up by Obama by having Joe (Biden his time away) as VP.
Report Post »doomytram
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:30pmABC knows nothing but commie leftist Obamunist lies, intolerance, indignant, ridiculousness. The pick will be Condi Rice. ABC is distracting.
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:37pmRUBIO !~ He has the pulse of the people! I love his Bill today to not charge TAX (for Heaven’s sake) on the winnings of the Olympic Participants! IF they get big endorsements there will be plenty of taxes; if they don’t, then Lord knows they’ve devoted their young lives to winning for America. GOOD CALL RUBIO!!! Pawlenty ? NO…RYAN? Great but his time can come, McDonald, good man but the real excitement comes from RUBIO (even tho’ I know we need RUBIO in the SENATE) !!!
Report Post »Too_Far_Gone
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:41pmABC Couldn’t find their a.h’s with a funnel ..
Report Post »KidCharlemagne
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:34pmPATTY HENRY
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:37pm
RUBIO !~ He has the pulse of the people!
======================
Rubio is ineligible:
“Mario and Oriales Rubio became naturalized U.S. citizens on Nov. 5, 1975 – four years after Marco Rubio was born. That’s really all you have to know. That simple fact, one not in dispute, disqualifies him legally, barring an amendment to the Constitution, or a complete and deliberate misinterpretation of the Constitution, from being president or vice president. Those are the only two offices in the U.S. that have such a requirement.
The definition of natural-born citizen approved by the first U.S. Congress can be seen in the Naturalization Act of 1790, which regarded it as a child born of two American parents. The law, specifying that a natural-born citizen need not be born on U.S. soil, stated: “The children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond sea, or out of the limits of the United States shall be considered as natural born citizens: Provided, that the right of citizenship shall not descend to persons whose fathers have never been resident in the United States.”
Report Post »Trollkiller68
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 1:33amMitt Romney is a very wise candidate who will cut many heads in the style of Andrew Jackson. Hence his purpose in looking for a “President” in case he loses his life to an assassin as Jackson nearly did. Wake up people, the federal government is gonna lose many agencies resulting in thousands of people losing their jobs. Too many unnecessary agencies have encroached and swallowed up smaller ones leaving little or no oversight. Some heads are gonna roll in 2013.
It‘s even possible Obama’s presidency will be declared illegal, null and void which will give the new administration authority to unravel and discard obamacare and all executive orders. This is their greatest fear.
Report Post »Roberto G. Vasquez
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 8:13amRomney doesn’t need left-wing ABC know-nothings picking his VP! He might as well let “ole wooden head” (Biden) pick the Republican VP as ABC!!!
As for Rubio not being eligible, if he’s not, Obama’s not eligible either.
Report Post »TeaDestroyer
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:39pmI dunno about ABC but I have figured out the GOP plan: Establishment Progressive RINO A or Establishment Progressive RINO B or Establishment Progressive RINO D. Where did the coverage of the Tea Party go? Where did the Tea Party go? I’m still voting for Constitutional Conservative Principles ONLY, how about you?
Report Post »dkin
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:54pmDon’t you ever get tired of being a troll for the neuron? Nobody is going to vote for that phfuktard – a vote for him is a vote for uncle barry. Go back to infowars.com, dude.
Report Post »BloodSweatandTears
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:59pmNot only -check out Portman’s latest authored bill throwing America under the Globalist Agenda 21 bus:
S. 3356: Global Conservation Act of 2012
They are going to have to change the words to the U.S National Anthem after this one.
Report Post »KC1
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:22pmIm with you I cant for the life of me figure out why this GB crowd will at the drop of the hat sacrifice their principals and vote for who ever the talking heads deem acceptable. Is it really that hard to tell that Obama and Romney are both progressives and neither are willing to defend the Constitution?
Luckily for the Liberty movement these folks do not represent the Tea Party, they may think they do but their lack of principal make them no better than the RINOs the Tea Party is trying to replace. There are more constitutionalist than they realize and the Liberty/Tea movement will win out in the end despite Beck Hannity and Levin trying to co opt the movement. What this crowd and the establishment do not understand is we are principled voters and will no longer fall in line for traitors to the constitution like West, Santorum, Newt and especially Romney.
If the Republicans expect any true grass roots Tea Party support they will need to earn our vote and not expect it. If they think they can scare Constitutionalist into voting for progressives based on fear of the other candidate they have another thing coming.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:31pm@TeaDestroyer
I guess you missed the news about Ted Cruz (Tea Party) winning the Republican nomination for the US Senate in Texas over a Texas RINO? You did see that, right?
Also, your name is an oxymoron; the Boston Tea Party destroyed the Tea to protest taxes. Your posts seem to lay claim to destroying Tea Party members. A true Tea Destroyer would be destroying Tea and protesting Government taxes and not acting like a Media Matters troll. Once again, you lose.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:51pmThat Tea Party was created by establishment Republicans who wanted to mobilize the base to swing a midterm election. Once it had served that purpose and the next goal was a Presidential election which would depend on the center, they withdrew their funding and organizational skills and allowed it to wither away,
Report Post »DEFCON4
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:17pm@CHET – The Tea Party was created by establishment Republicans who wanted to lose in their own Primaries ??? Guess again,sir.
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 4:53amChet, The Tea Party was started by Ron Paul and his grassroots supporters for Liberty. Research a little will you? The MSM just keeps ignoring the facts and report as though Romney is the nominee. That is just a blatant lie. Paul is still in the race, he WILL have his name entered on the ballot for the nomination, there is still that miracle chance that he will win, since the delegates will not be bound to vote for Mitt on the first round.
All the things the RNC, Establishment GOP and Romney‘s campaign did to to hurt Paul’s chances and pull the wool over the Americans eyes, including criminal violations of federal law: http://jaretglenn.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/how-the-republican-party-stole-the-nomination-from-ron-paul/
Report Post »Did all of you know about George Romeny and his relationship with Saul Alinsky? http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/01/24/mitt-romneys-dad-was-an-alinsky-follower/
http://sago.com/2012/01/24/when-liberal-governor-george-romney-met-saul-alinsky/
Funny how you really do not know some very well when they are good at lying.
Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:38pmJan Brewer……VP.
Report Post »TeaDestroyer
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:43pmShes‘ too ’radical’ for the RINOs
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 7:53amI like Jeff Sessions R Alabama.
Report Post »dkin
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:37pmyeah…im excited about tim pawlenZZZzzz…ZZZzzz…ZZZzzz…
Report Post »Look4DBigPicture
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:29pmMy thoughts exactly, DKIN … Pawlenty seems genuine, but he puts me to sleep.
Report Post »oinia
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:56pmRomney’s already not the most electrifying personality figure. He’s safe, even-keeled, fairly dry. Picturing Pawlenty + Romney walking into the White House together is like – “After you…No, I insist …Oh, I couldn’t…Please, you go right ahead…”
Report Post »trinklefinder
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 10:54pmlol @ oinia!
Report Post »LOJ
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:37pmRomney has done a great job of concealing his choice…its still speculation on the Medias part.
Report Post »TeaDestroyer
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:41pm…not to mention concealing his Core Values…what are they?
Report Post »hawkeyez
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:36pmAny one of these 3 would be a looser. What is he thinking ?
Report Post »TeaDestroyer
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:42pmHe does what he is told, just like Limbaugh and Beck…where did their support of Tea Party Principles go? Romzoms get Obama elected in ‘12 without true Tea support. It’s not too late, people!
Report Post »BloodSweatandTears
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:46pmAllen West for VP.
Report Post »retiredLEO
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:35pmJust to add to my last, Ryan would make a great “Speaker of the House”. We need to get rid of the GOP mindset of Boehner.
Report Post »MAX0O1
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 5:24amI AM with you
Report Post »retiredLEO
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:34pmI was hoping for Rubio, Pawlenty and Portman are losers and will keep me away from the polls. Romney appears to want Obama to walk off with this election, he is a loser like McCain was, after all he did lost to McCain in the primaries in 2008. Romney cannot win this thing on his own, he will need help that Pawlenty and Portman will not provide. He needs someone who loves this country, and speaks about his love for country and that man is Rubio.
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:33pmIf I find out my fiance is a prostitute… would a virgin maid of honor make a marriage any better?
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:39pmHey Brother,
A prostitute would, at least, bother to vote on a Bill that included her “earmarks”.
Report Post »conard3
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:45pmNo! That’s why Obama picked Biden. They’re both whores.
Report Post »Inlightofthings
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:12pmBROTHER:
Report Post »You never share your LIST candidate choices…why is that? In answer to your stupid question, I guess it depends on how you plan to spend your wedding night. You seem the type that would invite your wifes’ previous Johns for a good time then be found in the next room with the virgin bridesmaid. What a baffoon…
OlefromMN
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:58pmBrother, I‘ll show you mine if you show me your’s.
My dream ticket as of late….
POTUS- Mitt Romney (be real, he is the best shot at this point)
Veep- Scott Walker (not taking out valuable members of the Senate or House and has a proven track record)
SOS- John Bolton
SOT- (drum roll please…) Ron Paul
SOD- Allen West
AG- Ken Cuccinelli
Now are you willing to share something other than negative?
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:13pm@OlefromMN
Report Post »u Virginian? No on Cuccinelli, we need him to stick around to be GOVERNOR! That is about the only thing i look forward to next year – he is going to kick some butt around here
OlefromMN
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:31pmSorry soybomb315,
Just trying to recruit the best. I will say that Pawlenty is the worst thing Romney could attach himself to. I live in the state he claims as a “success”.
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:29pmI had Gov. Scott Walker on my show today; he shoud be V.P. Then, president!
Oh, and ABC….“ALL BUT CAPOOT”….
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:16pmI could vote for a Romney / Chuck Norris ticket
Report Post »lwillis59
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:05pmI really really like Walker too…. Haven’t heard his name thrown around much.. or at all actually. which I find amazing… Romney really dosen’t seem to embrace the true concervatives.. we will know soon , if he goes Portman or Pawlinty.. then you will know the apple doesn’t fall too far from the RINO tree. I sure hope he will prove me wrong.
Report Post »Seth Patriot
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:27pmNeed somebody with “fire in the belly”. It’s not Ryan, Portman or Pawlenty.
Report Post »circleDwagons
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 12:16amRomney does not believe in fire. I don’t think that the v.p. will make a huge difference. Palin did not win it for mccain.
Report Post »TexGirl
Posted on August 2, 2012 at 10:53amHave you ever heard Ryan make a speech? The guy is fiery and passionate – definitely not boring!
Report Post »Ogilthorpe
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:26pmRyan is the man!! Nobody can take on the critics and show them for the idealogical fools that they are like he can. I’ve watched him march right into the lions den on Morning Joe many times and just destroy those idiots, especially that self appointed ice queen Mika. I just love her look of indignation as he dismantles their recitations from the communist manifesto.
Report Post »Actually, the ticket should be turned around…………President Ryan has a nice ring to it.
soybomb315
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:34pmno way Romney will pick paul ryan….They are floating paul ryan in order to make conservaties happy. Romney cannot have a VP more boring than himself.
Nothing wrong with Paul Ryan – he has done a great job….But he is not going to fire up a crowd
Report Post »Inlightofthings
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:25pmSOY: Interesting you say that about boring. One of the early statements was that they wanted a “do no damage” candidate in terms of controversial press. Ryan would have issues with the budget, yet only a few morons in the country (Krugman) argue debt is not an issue. For others, he is not near aggressive enough on debt reduction. Could be a a solid pick in my opinion as it would drive the debt conversation…
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:31pmI agree with others that Paul Ryan’s plan is not nearly aggressive enough. Rand Paul’s plan is light years ahead.
My point was purely political, I dont think Romney is even considering it because Paul Ryan‘s personality is too much like Romney’s
Report Post »justangry
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:23pmI can’t think of anyone that Romney could pick that would get me to vote for him, but you‘d think he’d go with someone like Demint or something to shore up his base.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:28pmDemint, Amash, or Rand Paul….to at least show that Romney recognizes the importance of the tea party
Romney doesnt. All he cares about is becoming president of the most powerful country in the world. This has been his goal for at least the last 10 years
Report Post »justangry
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:32pmShhh… I want the liberty movement folks to have their hands clean. Romney‘s surrounded himself with Bush’s foreign advisors. We don’t want our guys to look guilty by association.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:32pmall three suck more than Obama.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:16pm@indi
Report Post »Was that a typo? You are sounding very suspicious. I got no beef with you, but you shouldnt be pretending to be something you arent
Tri-ox
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:22pmRyan is the only good choice on this list – Portman or Pawlenty would be a disaster – a HUGE mistake.
WEST / PALIN / JINDAL / RYAN or SANTORUM would add PASSION and FIRE and excite conservatives – AND put Romney WAY AHEAD.
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:30pmPaul Ryan:
CISPA
TARP (which ignited the Tea Party AGAINST HIM)
Auto Bailouts
Economic Stimulus 2008
ADDITIONAL Economic Stimulus 2009
Debt ceiling hikes
Comprehensive immigration reform without amnesty (AMNESTY)
Socialized employment (extending UC)
Socialized education (No Child Left Behind)
Socialized medicine (Medicare Prescription Drug “benefits”)
Socialized housing (Section 8 vouchers)
Head Start
4th shattering “Patriot” Act
NDAA
Nation-building
MORE nation-building
H.R. 347 (protest chilling)
Might as well be Lindsey Graham.
Report Post »Inlightofthings
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:16pmBRO:
Report Post »You must walk into jewelry stores just to whine about the customers that have money to actually BUY something.
soybomb315
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:21pmTim Pawlenty…….But I thought you guys were going to “hold Romney’s feet to the fire”?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:29pmThey’re doing a wonderful job holding the 2010 Tea Party Candidates feet to the fire, ya know?
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:20pmMy wish is that he’d pick Sarah Palin. I know there isn’t a remote possibility but it would be a great combo. I know that she would dig in and work hard for the American people. Also, the Liberal press would go nuts…. that would be fun to watch.
(Liberals, please do not give me the dishonest argument – she quit as governor blah blah blah, we all know why she took the high road so just STOP it.)
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:44pm“we all know why she took the high road”
Ye$, $i$ter $arah took her $weet $elf out of office entirely out of her $en$e of $ervice.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:19pm…
Report Post »I’d rather see Michael Reagan, Rick Santorum, or Rand Paul.
kaydeebeau
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:17pmIs this another one of those “google as research” stories from the crack team of investigative reporters at ABC?
Report Post »john vincent
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:13pmwhy would anybody care what ABC thinks?? i sure do not
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:13pmAny speculation on republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul’s picks?
Report Post »2smart
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:20pmWhy would we?
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:24pmlol
Judge Napolitano, Rand Paul, Peter Schiff, or Lew Rockwell
Report Post »Brother Winston Smith
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:27pmWell, 2smart, Romney is not the nominee, he is NOT a favorite of anyone, he is a LEFTIST, SOCIALIST, PROGRESSIVE and IF he is CHEAT-nominated, Obama IS INSTANTLY REELECTED.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:40pmHe mentioned the Judge. I would have like to see Rand as VP, the Judge as AG, and Peter Schiff as treasury sec.
Report Post »michael48
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:40pmhe!!..bro…i’d vote for a tree stump before chairman ocommie..nope that’s a lie…I would never vote for the twit…
Report Post »Inlightofthings
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:13pm$10 bucks on the LEFT nostril…geeeezzzz.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:20pmHi Justangry,
I’ve got a question for you. Seriously. Do you think Marco Rubio is disqualified from the VP position based on his birth and his parents births? I’ve read reports that go both ways. What do you think? TIA
Any opinions from others here? I would like to have Soybomb315 weigh in also. Thanks. : )
Report Post »2smart
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:31pmBrother, your right, but given that the Empty Suit is about as appealing as a pimples on my bhut and is even more leftist I would vote for an empty beer can over him. Romney isn‘t my favorite either but I’m smart enough to know that one election will not alter and drastically change the direction of the country. It will take a few as long as we don’t elect another radical marxist, throughly vet the nominees and ignore cute phrases like hope & change. The key is to educate and show that the Democratic party is not what they seem and demonstrate that low taxes, small Government and the Constitution is the path to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Or something like that!
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:39pm@the-monk
I have no idea about the complexities of that. “Natural born citizen” has been twisted and muddied to the point where nobody really knows
I do know that birthplace citizenship was started in order to solve the problem of incorporating black folks as citizens in the post-civil war era. Today, i dont think it should be based on birthplace (obviously has created other problems, like ‘anchor babies’). I would like to see it based on parentage with more flexible naturalization process (for people who have worked here and want to stay here).
Report Post »justangry
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:48pmThe_Monk, I’ve always thought being born in the US made one a natural born citizen, but I’m certainly no expert.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:15pmThank you both; Soybomb315 and Justangry, for your replies.
Report Post »Georgiaboy54
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:12pmI’d say Portman. Ryan is a wonk.
Report Post »libwhacker
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:12pmABC wishes they are pukes.
Report Post »fixer
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:12pmshould be Allen West.will probably be rubio. either one is good.pawlenty isn’t conservative enough.
Report Post »bobefann
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:11pmRomney, do you want to get my vote? Then you must pick true conservative. This TIm Pawlenty crap is a no-no. Why would conservatives want a Minnesota Conservativ?. WE DON”T!
Report Post »k8ti
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:08pmI like those guys…but not good choices
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