COMMENTARY | Personally, I've always wanted to be the vice president of the United States. Good pay, excellent benefits, a great book deal and guaranteed lecture circuit dollars upon leaving the Naval Observatory after your four- or eight-year stay. Plus: Free travel, meeting celebrities and world leaders, and Secret Service protection. So, who is on deck for the upcoming 2012 Republican vice presidential nomination? With Mitt Romney's big lead in South Carolina ahead of its Saturday primary, reports the Washington Post, the former governor of Massachusetts might be ready to think about who he wants to fill out the GOP ticket.
The Week lists their seven contenders, each of whom has a shot to stand at Romney's side as he battles the Democrats this fall: Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, Rob Portman, Rick Santorum, Tim Pawlenty, Nikki Haley and Susan Martinez.
Unfortunately, the two women on the list may be the first two cut. After the 2008 debacle with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican bigwigs might dissuade Romney from nominating a woman as his vice president. While Haley and Martinez might be stellar leaders and politicians, conservatives might be wary of appearing to pander to women voters like in '08, when Palin got favorable press initially but soon proved to be a controversial and divisive figure.
Santorum is also out. While the former senator from Pennsylvania has evangelical support, according to Businessweek, he is not a good complement for Romney. First of all, it's rarely a good idea to nominate a vice presidential candidate who has performed so successfully against you in the primaries. There are enough news clips and quotes of the battle between you to make you both look foolish. In 2008, for instance, Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden's early comments against presidential nominee Barack Obama were used by Republicans in the general election.
Additionally, as a Mormon, Romney might want to keep religion at arm's length during the general election and Santorum attracts religion like a magnet.
Also unlikely is Christie, whose outspoken ways might not mesh well with the staid, cautious Romney.
Begin the vetting.
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