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What Advantages Come With Vice President Romney?

So Mitt Romney is apparently at the top of McCain's VP list. Reasons, according to Republican insiders who spoke to the Politico:

(1) Romney's ability to raise money from former business associates and the Mormon community. McCain's camp apparently believes Romney can raise $50 million in 60 days.

(2) He's been vetted.

(3) He is an established campaigner who can be trusted to stay on message.

(4) His roots in Michigan, where his father was a governor, may help deliver a crucial swing state.

Okay, basically this comes down to money. Reasons 2 through 4 are silly. He was vetted, yes, and the media found nothing but flip-flops and inconsistencies. He is a experienced campaigner, but he wasn't very good in the role. I saw Romney speak a bunch of times, and his speaking skills and small-group skills don't match his presidential looks. There's a reason why he only won a handful of states.

And speaking of winning states, it isn't very likely that Michigan, a state that prefers Obama by seven points, is going to vote for McCain just because his VP's dad was governor 40 years ago.

So like I said, this is all about money. Here's the tricky thing. McCain is committed to the public financing system — he was hammering Obama for opting out, remember? What that means is that McCain has 84 million government-supplied dollars to spend from the convention until election day. He can only use the money Romney would raise before the convention. So if he chooses Romney in early August, which would be relatively standard, he would have just 30 days or so to take advantage of Romney's fundraising abilities. Is that an opportunity so great it could sway McCain's choice? I'm doubtful.

Alternatively, McCain could choose Romney and then, with a sigh, say that Obama's decision to opt out of the public financing system has broken the system forever and that now, he too will have to opt out. No amount of sighing is going to keep that from being a PR disaster.

Here's another complication: According to the Politico, McCain intends to pick his VP right after Obama makes his selection, in what is being called a "bounce-mitigation strategy." If the Obama campaign wants to negate Romney's fundraising power, it can just wait until the convention to make its pick.

Or — and this would be super crafty — if it thinks Romney is a terrible pick that will help Obama win the election, it can name Obama's pick early, adding incentive for McCain to go ahead and give Romney the nod. Democrats haven't really been convinced of Romney's seriousness as a national candidate.

Listen, if you made it through this much horse race speculation, I hope you at least took a moment to check out our debate on the future of America's Iran policy.

Update: David found me in meatspace and pointed out that because McCain has a joint fundraising operation set up with the Republican National Committee, the RNC has what is essentially a giant slush fund that Romney can direct money into. That money would then be used by the RNC on the presidential race and on congressional races. So McCain can remain within the public financing system while indirectly taking advantage of Romney's fundraising prowess.

Comments

If McCain has already accepted public financing...how can Romney's ability to fund raise help?

Posted by: AnPhlbn on 06/30/08 at 12:11 PM Respond

Romney understands the economy, and has actually made a contribution to it through financing great companies like Staples. He can debate and deliver a speech as well as anyone (and actually has some accomplishments that would suggest that he could successfully implement "change"). As one of the most successful individuals ever to run for President, Romney solidifies the contrast between Democrat style and Republican substance.

Posted by: George Roberts on 06/30/08 at 12:32 PM Respond

AnPhlbn --

McCain can opt out of the public financing system.

Posted by: Jonathan Stein on 06/30/08 at 12:43 PM Respond

This article is silly. Romney's speaking skills and debating skills are not in question. He experienced spikes in the polls after almost every debate. His fatal flaw was that he was unknown until late in the game, and he changed position on abortion, a key issue to many Republican voters. Plus, he also brings economic credibility to McCain's campaign, which is McCain's biggest weakness, and most American's primary concern.

Posted by: Ryan on 06/30/08 at 1:08 PM Respond

I agree with Ryan. This article is stupid. There are so many positives to adding Romney to the ticket it's sick. Certainly Romney adds to the McCain ticket but, is it enough to beat out Obama? I hope so.

Posted by: Val on 06/30/08 at 1:20 PM Respond

Mitt is the Man! May God help us if Obama reins.

Posted by: beebe on 06/30/08 at 6:28 PM Respond

That's a nice picture of the two boys there in the article.

I believe that was caught right after one of the debates as they were ridiculing Ron Paul's statement that our foreign policy can have consequences here at home...
That whole "blowback" thing that Rudy had never heard of.

Posted by: GVC on 07/01/08 at 8:49 AM Respond

WHATEVER! This article is obviously written by a liberal. Romney is definitely the best choice for VP, not only for the obvious reasons such as his skills in economic and business affairs, but also his personal responsibilities. He definitely has his priorities set. I hope McCain chooses Romney, as we need a stronger Administration then an Obama Admin. Cheers :) joey

Posted by: Joey on 07/01/08 at 10:06 AM Respond

It appears that it’s all down to Alaska Gov Sarah Palin or Mitt Romney, and team Romney fears Palin now has the best shot, so Romney camp is mounting a blogosphere-wide assault via Politico.

The tip-off that Politico is just a “promote Romney” piece is that it mentions EVERY NAME in the next two tiers of Veep prospects EXCEPT SARAH PALIN!!! — even names far more unlikely than Palin (since Romney camp knows Palin is the ONLY ONE who tops — I’ll say tops by far — Romney as McCain’s best pick).

Bottom line, Romney and Politico fear Palin most — as do the Dems and the MSM. (By the way, the Dems and MSM do not fear Romney the most — which says a lot.)

AOL, a main on-line pro-Obama/pro-Dem player, is now carrying the Politico piece promoting Romney buzz.

Clearly AOL wants McCain and the GOP to lose the general elction — hence they gladly promote Romney (no mention of Palin).

Also, CNN had Romney — kind of out of the blue — attacking Obama. Again, CNN, wanting McCain and the GOP to lose, gladly promotes Romney (to attempt to avert the Palin threat).

All the media frenzy which will surround the remarkable Palin “story” — essentially free to McCain — will be worth millions and millions of dollars of coverage and PR (more money than Romney would provide anyway).

Posted by: Ted on 07/01/08 at 6:04 PM Respond

Romney is a nice guy, but boring and will assist McCain in losing the election.

Sarah Palin is an extraordinary woman with an extraordinary story.

SHE CANNOT BE IGNORED ANYMORE AND SHE IS THE ONLY SELECTION THAT WILL HELP MCCAIN TO WIN IN NOVEMBER.

A good person, a great leader, a tough man's woman who will be an inspiration to American women and earn the respect of the men.

She reminds me of Joan of Arc. My 25% French lineage is now acting up and telling me to mount up and get ready to kick the English out of Orleans.

Dude...snap out of it!

Sarah Fever! Catch it!

Posted by: Tom on 07/05/08 at 1:35 PM Respond

John do not wait name Romney now.Not only is Romney a great campaigner but a fund raiser as well.Iam waiting to donate and I usally do not.John do not wait any longer.
Ted from Michigan

Posted by: ted bertrand on 07/16/08 at 8:32 PM Respond