Who's the worst person Mitt Romney could pick to be his running mate?
By CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's possible that Mitt Romney could do worse than Sarah Palin.
In a piece on the Daily Beast, Michelle Cottle writes that picking a "dull white guy" for vice president could damage Romney big-time.
She definitely has a point. After the debacle that Palin was for John McCain in 2008, camp Romney has vowed to pick the anti-Palin. Cottle describes this as someone who is "safe, steady, hyperqualified and without a roguish bone in his - yes, definitely his - body.”
It's why folks such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley seem to have lost favor in the veepstakes while others, such as U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota seem more likely to get the nod.
But as time ticks down on Romney's choice, some Republicans are getting nervous about what will happen if Romney goes with a safe pick - a buttoned-down, cautious, boring white guy … sort of like himself.
Some conservatives are now calling on Romney to "go bold," urging him to pick U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Rubio or Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
By selecting a vanilla-flavored vice president, Romney risks confirming the worries of many in the Republican Party that he lacks enthusiasm and vision.
Cottle writes that after all this time worrying about another Palin, a greater danger to the GOP might be a VP who is "so dull that no one even cares what he says to Katie Couric."
But Romney just might be headed in that direction. Two of these less-than-thrilling VP contenders, Portman and Pawlenty, will hit the campaign trail for him in key battleground states this week. Yawn ...
Here's my question to you: Who's the worst person Mitt Romney could pick to be his running mate?
Tune in to "The Situation Room" at 5 p.m. ET to see if Jack reads your answer on the air.
And we'd love to know where you're writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Sarah Palin. This should be a poll on the Situation Room Facebook page.
It does not matter. Half the media will shred them, the other half will carry their torch. Palin or Rick Perry. Good times for all with those picks.
The worse person has to to Rep Bachmann the drag queen!
A message to Romney, don't pick any woman (Black or White) as a VP. It would be a kiss of death.
Exception would be Hillarry. I'm not sure if that would be wise. Anyway, that would blow the Democrats mind.
Obviously that would not happen, being a hard core Democrat she would never accept. .
Arizona Governor Brewer. She would make Biden look llike a roads scolar.
Michelle Bachman – 2012's Sarah Palin.
1–Michelle Bachmann
2-sarah Palin
Well living in Florida I can tell you Rubio is scum the others bring to much religion to the table and since Mitt is a robot I say NONE of his choices The GOP needs to cut the teaparty loose then we can start looking at them as viable again
Sarah Palin or Paul Ryan. Either of these wouldbes would seal his fate with independents. Is there a moderate somewhere? The most common expression heard in Arkansas is " anyone is better than what we have" .
what a great outlook.
Let's play a little fill in the blank, I'll give you the first name, you do the rest. SARAH ?
Sarah, Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Rick Scott, Virginia Fox, Gingrich, Cain, Perry, Santorum, Cantor, and any other tea party candidates which will help reelect President Obama. Frances, Escondido, CA
Donald Trump without a doubt Jack.
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
You mean besides Sarah Palin? How about Dick Chaney?
Let's see there's so many to choose from, Sarah Palin, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann or Paul Ryan. Oops I forgot Rick Perry.
The worst choice would be anyone who is just another partisan hack; one who says one thing then does another. The best possible choice would be for Romney to reach across the aisle and pick Hillary Clinton as VP. This would bring a divided nation back together and offer a ticket that both sides could get behind. Just imagine the message of hope that would send to the country and the world. It would say our nation, our people, our future is more important than party bickering and one-upsmanship. We can put aside our petty differences for the sake of our children and that the American Dream will live on.
How can we pick a "worse running mate" when the worse candidate is already heading up the ticket. At this stage of the game, any choice, including the real bat-crap crazies, are an improvement.
Someone who is of the nepotism class. Someone who doesn't want to release their tax returns. A corporate buzzard living well off the bones of the middle class. Someone who is a chicken-hawk while keeping his five able bodied sons out of military service. And someone who thinks charitable giving is handing millions of dollars to his tax exempt filthy rich church.
The worst person Mitt Romney could pick to be his running mate would come from any northeastern state. His pick has to be a good ole boy from one of the Red States. That is where his majority of votes will come from. There are some in that part of the country who will stay home if someone like that Jersey guy is picked. Romney himself from Massachusetts, is hard to swallow in those crimson states, but they are stuck with him.
Anyone that ran against him in the primary this time......or.....if you need a name, Grover Norquist, since he seems to be calling all the shots.....
Not sure there's a GOOD pick.
As long as Romney doesn't release his tax returns, anything else, including a VP pick, is going to be overshadowed. I mean, as soon as Romney announces his VP pick, the first question is going to be, "How many years of tax returns did you show to Mitt Romney? And why will Mitt Romney only show the American people 1 year of his returns?"
Romney has the perfect chance to prove Harry Reed a liar and publicly embarrass the Democrats... why won't he take it and release his tax returns? Is it because Harry Reed is really telling the truth, and the tax returns would prove THAT?
Until he releases his returns, you have to assume that whatever they show is worse than whatever people are saying they show.
The worst choice would be Michelle Bachmann, a woman with the brains of a peppermint. It would be like the reincarnation of Sarah Palin.
Jack, I'm not too worried on who would be the worst pick. I am hoping he makes the best pick so that we can change the direction of this country.
The worst VP Romney could pick is Sarah Palin but then again she may not know he is running for President since she doesn't read papers.
I'm not even sure if anyone can even quantify that, Jack – That field of characters is pretty large, but than again Slick Mitt is no prize either.
I have no idea, but I sure wish he’d pick Sarah Palin.
I think Sarah Palin would be an excellent choice. Herman Cain would be a good choice, too, if Sarah declines.
Romney's team are just dishonest as he is so it does'nt matter,he will never be President anyway,putting Romney in the white house is like giving a house key to a thief,what's he hidding?he should release his taxes
My opinion is that Romney can't afford to pick a nobody, and all the names that are featured in the news as possible running mates are just that. Take your pick from Mr. Rogers Portman, Good and Palenty of nothing, Cartoon voice Ryan, Thune who?, Condolisa are you kidding me Rice, Scarface Junior the third, and so on, and the result is Obama 55%, Romney 45%. Romneys Hee Haw Campaign Team didn't even have the tactical sense to confer with the Republican Speaker of the House for recomendations for VP. Romneys campaign had a chance to close the gap after the Supreme Clowns decision to hand the Obama Care Legislation right back to Congress. But Romney left that ball in the middle of the field, and hasn't done anything since except insult the British. Romney needs a player that the Republican Establishment can rally around. Maybe not Lindsey Graham himself, but someone like him, if there is someone else like him. Doug, Pepperell, MA.
Is this a trick question? ANYBODY would be a better choice than the candidate himself; just ask John McCain – he chose Sarah Palin rather than Romney for his running mate.
Maybe someone who tells the truth. Is there such a thing in the political world these days? And Jack, have you ever seen such a liar as Mitt Romney? What gives with him, and what gives with a media that is trying to pretend he doesn't parse the President's words and throw them back out there with a whole new meaning?
Paul Ryan. He would just remind the voters of the GOP attack on Medicare and Social Security.
Wow Jack you make it sound like the man might actually have a chance at winning the election if he were to choose the right VP. I don't think it maters who he picks. The last round of republicans thrust us into two needless wars and cost us trillions of dollars and thousands of lives. What fool would actually want to elect another republican and have it happen all over again?
Any woman would be the worst he could pick for a candidate-America isin't ready for a woman VP or Pres yet. UK has had Thatcher-Israel has had Golda-but we have no prospective possibles who will not scare the voter off.
Here's hoping Mitt brings Sarah Palin back for a re-run. The country needs the belly laughs!!!! So the answer is.........Palin would be the least helpful for Mitt's chances.
Jack-Anyone!!!!!! That is like asking which "clown" has the best face at a circus!!
after the sarah palin connection AGAIN are you jack? Ii say HARRY WEID but he has a job as a senator.....oops wrong party.
Gee, Jack, there's so many to choose from! This is a hard 1. But let me see. My answer, none of the above. To clarify, the supposed candidates are a joke! But I do not care, because I voting for the President, again!
Iowa, the worst he could pick in my view would be someone that is overwhelming, like Christie. However, he would lose a lot of votes if he picked ryan, because a lot of elderly know what Ryan's budget will do to their benefits. he would do better with "yawn" Pawlent"yawn" y because he would outshine them. Or neither would outshine each other. but a farm state would be good, because he needs the Midwesterners.
The worst person he could pick would be Rick Santorum, but that ain't gonna happen. Of the two you mentioned, they are as exciting as watching paint dry. Maybe he should ask Ann Coulter.
Joi
West Palm Beach, FL
Sarah Palin. America is over her and would rather she'd go away.
Sarah Palin. You said the worst didn't you?
Who's the worst person Mitt Romney could pick to be his running mate?
Must I only choose one? That is too difficult.
Here is my list:
Sarah Palin
Michelle Bachmann
Nikki Haley
Eric Cantor
Paul Ryan
Reinhold Reince Priebus
Piyush " Bobby" Jindal
Scott Walker
Dick "Shooter" Cheney
Grover Norquist
Joe Wilson
Rand Paul
Rick Santorum
Rush Limbaugh
Glenn Beck
Jeb Bush
Above in no particular order and the list goes on and on..
Jenna
Roseville CA
Michelle Bachman would be a nightmare, so I hope Romney picks her. Sue Brown, Spring Hill, FL
WELL, less see; this is a long list of who not to pick. The GOP better ask Mrs. Romney as it seems that she is the person who will make the final decision. Mr. Etch-A-Sketch will probably change his mind two or three times after the convention and after each debate.
Any tea party member!
Michelle Bachman, for starts. Jack, it doesn't matter who he picks....he's not going to win. America is sick of how Boehner, Cantor along with McConnell.....has not helped the American middle-class on bit. Where are the jobs? Where is our prosperity? Where is our piece of the pie? Answer......in Willard Romney's, and I'm sure the Koch brothers offshore bank account's, that's where.
The worst possible running mate that Mitt Romney could choose would be Ed Lavendera who seems like a poster child for the Democratic Agenda. The way he reports news of the Southern U.S. is pointedly dismissive of the traditional underlying GOP political formula that "the South will rise again". Ed's too cool to buy that and is just a regular guy who has no reason to support Romney's class structure trickle down theories which have proven not to work and would probably decline the VP invitation anyway. Right, Ed?
For me, it doesn't matter WHO he picks. I could never vote for Obama, who I believe to be a Marxist, and is destroying the United States on purpose.
I would vote for a drunken goat (Turlingua, TX) before ever voting for Obama.
Portman would be the worst. Boring , Boring and yes Boring... zzzzz Romney could really use someone like Chris Christie.
Pick Sarah Palin. She is the most well known.
Jack, didn't you learn anything four yearss ago. Ath answer is Sarah Palin.
I would relish the thought of being Mitt Romney's worst nightmare so my answer is me. Fat chance so I will have to go with Ted Nugent, no wait Rush Limbaugh, Dan Quail, or Bobby "Brady Bunch" Jindal? Perhaps Lindsey Graham or Marcus Bachman! On the female side there's Ann Coulter and Nikky Haley, they can play dirty pool with the best of them. Now I've got it, it would most definitely have to be either Larry Craig or Donald Trump. Gosh I just cannot make up my mind. After careful consideration it boils down to a toss up between Ralph Reed and every other wing nut in contention for Mitts veep spot. No, I gotta stick with me. All of Romneys' potential candidates for VP are either career politicians, liars, or blowhards which is much to this countries chagrin.
I think Paul Ryan is the Democrate's "dream VP" for Mitt Romney to select because his "Ryan Plan" budget has more holes than a swiss cheese. it's classic "reverse Robinhood" (aka "Romneyhood") that not only kills Medicare but blows a even BIGGER hole in the Federal budget.
Ryan is definately NOT the kind of "lightning rod" Romney want's on his ticket.
Jack,
There is nobody Romney could pick that would put him in the winner's circle in November. Your question really devolves into what pick would add the least to the GOP damage being caused by Romney. Viewed in this light, a bland white male could, indeed, make sense.
Jim
Reno, Nevada
Jack,
Does it really matter? Mitt is doing a fine job loosing this race all by himself. He may be a smart business man, but he is also one dumb politician.
Jack, you hit the nail on the head. The best pick would be someone with true international credentials and would appear to be above the fray, making Condoleeza Rice a great pick. As a boring old white guy, I think that Romney would be making the mistake of the century to pick his clone. President Obama has made continuous mistakes during his Presidency and this campaign, and while he will continue to attract a block of voters who are unwilling to actually look at his record to see how it has benefited his campaign benefactors and how few of his campaign promises have truly been kept, Romney can do us all a favor and pick someone who offers more to his campaign than just more of the same.
Donald Trump. I also thought about you, Jack since you tell it like it is.
David, Las Vegas
The best and worst VP candidate rolled into one for Romney is Bobby Jindal. Worst is an understatement describing Jindal's inept leadership and lack of sensitivity for the citizens of his state. We are worst off in Louisiana under his governorship and nonsensical policies of austerity. He's led our state to the top of the worst categories and to the bottom of the best categories. He's the best for Romney because if he's selected as VP running mate they will both go away after losing in the 2012 Election this fall!
The infamous author of 9 9 9 concept.
I think Plain Pawlenty would be worst than Pack-it-In Portman.
Sarah Palin's husband would be a pretty damaging pick for Romney...
Bloomberg. He is even more arrogant than Romney.
If it is Rob Portman, then Mitt has certainly lost my vote and I will not even consider voting for the GOP ticket. Portman is only interested in helping the rich and gaining more personal power. He does not care for anyone he considers "beneath" himself.
The list of terrible choices is so long it's impossible to name a worst. Any name on that list will only make a failing campaign look worse to independent swing state voters. It's a moot point, Jack. Mitt Romney will never be president and neither will whomever he chooses to lose along side him.
Palin would be the worst...for everyone. If selected, Romney wouldn't win. If by some fluke she won, we would all lose.
Hmmm, come to think of it Michelle Bachman's husband Marcus would be hands down the worst pick for Romney. But he could pray the Democrats away and Mitt would be a shoe-in.
Jack when I read your piece I was eating a turkey sandwich and almost passed the entire thing through my nose laughing so hard. For starters The daily Beast writer apparently has no idea that Obama picked Biden as VP and there is no one on the planet more white and boring then Biden. The man puts himself to sleep when he talks. It certainly did not stop Obama from getting elected either. I think Romney's VP pick is the furthest from his problems. His first hurdle is getting enough people to like him.
Mike Huckabee! Nothing like having a Mormon Bishop and a Protestant Minister on the same ticket to put a stake in the heart of separation of church and state!
Absolutely the worst? That would have to be Michelle Bachman. That dame could not even hold a candle next to rogue "ex-everything" Sarah Palin. Certainly not without both of them griping & whining to the world about the flaming thing's outrageous heat.
Governor Jindahl and Governor from South carolina, the first one failed miserable in demanding that b.p. fix the national contingeny plan and the second one financed Boeing abuse of state of washington as 1 state gets played against another while repressing both states with subsidies and tax breaks that impoverish those who dont work for boeing.
I sincerely believe that the worse VP candidate that Mitt Romney could chose would be anyone other than Marco Rubio!
Worst for his chances= would agree with the article, someone safe/boring will do more damage than good. Worst for America= someone who energizes the GOP and Tea Party.
Donald Trump – because (1) He would alienate the most Independents and Democrats and (2) The campaign would be all about him!
Jack, I believe Romney should err on the side of caution and pick someone who as you alluded to would be so boring no one would care what he or she said. This scenario contrasted to picking someone who is prone to saying things that constantly have to be re-spun by his PR staff. Picking glib extroverted people might be seen as a contrast to himself but if elected president, he will have enough problems to handle without having to wince every time his vice-president is less than diplomatic when the situation calls for tact.
Glenn Beck, or Rush Limpbough.
Two words! Ron Paul! He is the worst presidential candidate ever! He is old, crazy, and just insane! He wants to make America the country that wants to be by itself and not reach out to other countries! He is as bad as Joe Biden!
Christie appears to be the worst one to have sitting at your table, do I need to explain?
Barrack Obama. No, seriously, Sarah Palin or Tim Pawlenty. The best pick would be Hillary Clinton. (yes, seriously)
The worse person Romney can chose is Marco Rubio, he's no better prepared to be Vice President than Barrack Obama was to be President n 2008. These are both very talented people, but like Obama, Rubio needs to mature before being placed one heartbeat from being the leader of the free world.
Consider, had Hilary Clinton became President in 2008 she could have had an easy eight year run, then comes along the seasoned Obama ready to take over, another easy eight years for a total of sixteen years for the democrats controlling the White House... now, they are lucky to see four more come November.
Rubio is a star, but to throw him in to the picture now would be no better for the republicans than shoving Obama on the world stage early was for the democrats, they won, but at what price for the party?
Since Mitt is one step above milk toast, it is hard to find a worst...but to add color to his ticket I'd choose "Go ahead make my day" Cllint Eastwood...
Worst for whom? You need to be more specific, Jack. Democrats might hope for someone like Conresswoman Michelle Bachman. But what if he won and Mrs. "batcrap crazy" was only a heartbeat away from becoming President.
I feel compelled to give my VP pick for Romney... I'd select Joe Lieberman, a man who can be President, a man who can work with both sides and a man who can get things done... I think it would be brilliant.
Jack,
The worst person Romney could pick for his VP candidate would be Bozo. Because it would ruin a good clown's reputation for the rest of his life...
Considering Romney's troubles with pets, the worst person he could pick is Rep. Steve King of Iowa – the Congressman who compares watching dog fighting to watching boxing.
Scott Crider
Gulf Shores, AL
I get the feeling that Romney is all about Romney, so he'll pick someone who won't outshine him, which given his complete blandness, would be easy for just about anybody to do.
Anyone from the Tea Party pot, Jack. If he goes in that direction, he will drive away moderates and Independents.
Jack, this is too easy.
Hugo Chavez.
It doesn't really matter, he has already lost he just doesn't know it yet.
Christie, Bachman, Newt or Santorum...he wont get elected anyways, unless he picks someone like Rice, which he won't
How about the "Dear Leader" of the Republican Party, Rush Limbaugh? Or the Republican visionary, and most hated man in America, Grover Norquist.
Well, Jack, you stumped me. They're all so bad I can't pick the worst. How do you decide the worst from a smorgasbord of crazy, loony, and loopy.
If he picks Ron Paul he might just win, anyone else makes a pair of morons
Newt Gingrich.
"a roads scolar" bwah hahaha
I'll give you a hint; Would kill endangered polar bears for a gas pipe line.
Jack, in my opinion, there are three people Romney could pick for VP that would be the worst. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer, and uh... um... oh yeah, Texas Governor, Rick Perry.
Mr. Cafferty:
It would take Mitt R. over a year (time he does not have) to sort out the dull, boring white guys for VP, let alone the dull boring, "insider" women and this would surely require a super computer, outsourced and no doubt made in China.The effort would be in ....Bain!
Easy peasy, Jack. The worst would have to be former President George W. Bush ("43"). But that won't happen 'cuz the Republican party doesn't want him to even appear at their own convention–for no one wants to be reminded where we were in 2008 and the beginning of the "Great Recession". Another choice would be "41", but since George's dad, former President George HW Bush is famous for saying, "Read my lips. No new taxes", and then taxes were, indeed, raised, and he lost for a 2nd term, that ain't gonna happen either. But you asked for the worst, so I told ya, Jack.
Wake me up when it is over, and I have news for everyone-it's over. No pick is going to save Romney. He might as well use a dartboard.
It doesn't matter, he's going to loose anyway.
Jack I don't know who the worst could be but I doubt anyone can be as loony as Michelle Bachmann. I hope we don't have to keep worrying about Romney's running mate because Ron Paul isn't out of this yet.
You mean, besides those already on his "hot list".
Let's see that leaves any of the remaining anti environmental, NRA puppets...so I'll go for "a deep breath of pollution never hurt anyone"...James Inhofe.
Rubio might help, but once Joe Biden eats him up it will all be over. Rubio might want to save himself for a winning ticket, because this isn't one.
Marco Rubio is probably the worst of the known field. He is the GOP ideal of a Latino candidate, the same way Palin is the female ideal. Like Palin, his inexperience negates any line that Obama is not qualified – which of course is a ridiculous charge to make against a sitting president, especially one who passed Health Care, got us out of Iraq and killed bin Laden.
actually anyone he picks will be better than he is ,He was the worst Govenor Mass. ever had and the worst candidate the GOP have ever come up with. He is the king of the distorted word, chief flip flopper and King of "promise anything if you will vote for me" A disater waiting to happen
Joe the plumber?
Charles Manson....but then looking over the whole TEA thing, I suppose he could do worse.
It's a toss up between Michelle Bachman, Rick Santorum, Paul Ryan and Sarah Palin. Yes, you get the conservative wing back in line, but in the end, they'll vote for you anyway, so why pander to them.
Well Jack as of right now, the worst person he could pick would be his tax lawyer.
Because I'm sure Mitt doesn't sit at the kitchen table doing his taxes.
Paul Ryan...would draw attention to his budget (passed by House) that would transfer another $5 Trillion to the rich over the next ten years, not reduce the budget deficit whatsoever, and has already been tried in England and Europe were it created the current recession there with 10% (England and France) to 22% (Spain) unemployment. It would destroy the middle class, period.
Leaving out the obvious answers, I'd say Portman or Pawlenty. That is, of course, assuming they are blessed by the base because he does not have the courage to stand up to his base.
He can't pick anybody that would make him look good. Any Republican schmuck would be bad.
Sarah Palin is the worst VP anybody's ever picked, so, Romney could go with that. He's in trouble, either way – anybody he picks is likely to outshine him, because the sad fact is, nobody likes Romney. Even the people who are voting for him are just willing to vote for anyone other than Obama. They want us to go from having a president half of us like to having a president nobody likes. It's a spite vote, and Romney's running mate is immaterial.
What matters is who is the BEST pick for VP. And the answer is............................................Condi Rice! She would energize conservative African Americans, women, and any man with a good set of eyes. Romney/Rice 2012!
Chris Christie has to be the best example of an overbearing, overweight, overwrought, over the top conservative who thinks he really has something to say to America. When he faces off against Joe biden, the nation's voters wil be laughing not listening to crass Chris.
There's no fixing a ticket with flip-flopping Mitt on it. No VP pick is going to win the Conservative vote for him. Romney is such a weak candidate he might actually ensure that Obama wins.
Romney must pick Dr. Condoleezza Rice for VP . She is better speaker than Obama and The Dem VP doesn't even come close to her in any way weather is knowledge, experience ( domestically and internationally) .
Alfred E. Newman,(MAD Magazine).... oh wait,... Newman would be the BEST candidate for Romney.... Although I would change the ticket the other way around and put it as the NEWMAN/ROMNEY ticket.....
Gov. Chris Christie would be the worse choive ever for Mitt. Christie would over-shadow him, whenever they would be together.
Dick Cheney. Hands down.
Anyone with the last name "Bush"
Dick Cheney.
The worst possible candidate for the job would be Barack H Obama. This man has not shown the skills necessary to even be a vp candidate
In the grand scheme of everything political, recent history will tell you that it really doesn't matter. Come on Jack ... Dick Cheney? ... Al Gore? ... Dan Quayle? ... Joe Biden? Again, Joe Biden ... Really??? The vast voting majority of the American people have been so dumbed-down that they're drawn more toward the celebrity stature of politicians rather than searching out talent and substance. The blind sheep will amble all the way to the voting booth to keep the status quo ... Whoever Romney picks won't make a difference.
Romney needs a VP candidate who has filed tax returns for the past 10 years, is willing to share what is on those tax returns, and has had a large share of income go towards paying taxes.
Worst? Anyone on the "short lists" we have seen lately.
Best? He should pick Condi Rice and tell the extreme right he respects them but he is the nominee and he is making the best pick for the nation. That way he gets a good pick and some backbone at the same time.
After 8 years of Bush/Cheney and another 4 of Obama/Biden, I don't possibly see how Gov. Romney could pick anyone worse. We've already had the absolute worst of both parties, so hey, here's a novel idea, let Romney pick someone who he would work well with and who would be qualified to ascend to the presidency if necessary, be it man or woman, black, white, or purple.
Jeff Colby
Tucson, AZ
The worst person Romney could pick is himself. He isn't Presidential material NOR VP material. If you want a second person? Rubio. Rubio just screams "I'm choosing him because I need help in the Latino vote area".
I'm a liberal so I'm gonna give the worst pick for me, the best for him. Condoleeza Rice
I didn't think Sarah could be piked this time around.
The VP choice can only hurt, not help, the presidential candidate. It doesn't much matter who Romney chooses as long as that person is reasonably intelligent and somewhat experienced. That said, Bachmann would be the disaster VP candidate because the focus in the campaign would be on her and the next stupid thing to come out of her mouth. Let Biden make the stupid quotes.
He should choose one of the Kock brother's. He's pandering to them anyway.
America really wants to see Mr. Romney nominate Sarah Palin for his VP. Puhleez let it be so!!
Rob Portman is from Ohio, not Oregon.
joe biden, oh wait that one is already taken
My advice to Romney is not to go with stupid even if the alternative is boring vanilla flavor as Cafferty put it. Anyhow, answering the question, Michel Beckman type of choice would be the worst VP selection. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton type of choice would be a great VP selection. The question is, does the GOP party have anyone equivalent to Hillary Clinton in its ranks?
Definitely Joe Biden.
Ha, a Dem hack asking his brain-dead readers about the Republican VP pick. This just made my day.
The worst pick would be someone like Jared Lee Loughner or James Holmes. The gun tottin', NRA lovin', base would be fired up, but he would definitely not gain any ground with Independents, Dems, or any decent voting human being.
If this article says don't pick Palin-esque then Romney better pick Palin-esque.
And the VP nominee is......Jack Cafferty!!!!!
Any potential VP candidate with half a brain is running in the other direction right now. This could be difficult for Romney . . .
Does anyone really care at this point? with Harry Reid spewing out unbased/unfounded allegations and the other distortions and nonsense going on –
If I had to pick one to "not pick" - I guess Paul Ryan (nice guy but needs to stay where he is)....
Need to pick someone good in foreign affairs, someone who knows how to talk to the "world", someone who doesn't stick foot in mouth at every opportunity. Someone who has bat sense (which we've not seen in current vp)
O.K. Jack here's the problem; if Mitt picks a boring guy, they will look and sound the same! If he picks an exciting guy, then we'll say who's the candidate; he'll be out shinned!!! I think he should go with CNN contributor Roland Martin!! and angry guy with color!! The GOP can pull it off!! I can see the first add!! "The real Romney HOOD!" just kidding I love You, Wolf, Martin, Anderson the whole CNN gang, you know real reporting!!! Go Romney Hood 2012!!
Senator Tom Coburn would be a great choice for VP. He is actually a good guy.
Bachmann would be HILARIOUS. Palin part deux.
That's easy. The answer would be you Jack.
Mitt could run stand alone and should / would carry the election. Enough of the Obama regime and shreding the American middle class.
Have you lost your mind? All of you, the answer is staring you in the face.
The worst person that Romney could pick for VP is Obama himself.
Why does anyone care who Mitt Romney picks for his VP running mate when the best person the Republican Party could find as their presidential candidate was Mitt Romney? There are no decent Republicans out there. I know staunch Republicans who are voting third party candidates because of the lack of a decent candidate among the Republicans. Doesn't that tell anyone in the Republican Party how low they've become?
Boehner
Anyone that couldn't possibly deliver a swing state. So that rules out Christie, Pawlenty, or Jindal. His best bet is to go with Paul Ryan, Portman, or Rubio.
Condoleezza Rice . . . she might be smart, but it wouldn't look good knowing your VP choice voted for your opponent . . however hilariously ironic it would be.
Let's go back to the old days Jack where the person with the most Electoral votes is President and the runner-up is VP. That way you'd have an Obama/Romney ticket regardless and maybe we could actually get our elected officials to work toegther for once.
This is a trick question as he is already his own worst enemy.
Yes, he should pick Rubio, the male version of Palin.
The man is a total airhead.
.
Jared Lee Loughner
Clearly Palin would be the worst. But I can't help but laugh at all the liberal mush brained writers on this page who are bent on re-electing the bird-brained socialist we now have in office. In so many words in 08 he told us he was a socialist, then for the last 3.5 years he has showed us he is a socialist, and now you liberals want him to finish us off. God help us if you elect him again. It will take 50 years to set the country back on its feet.
Jack , you deserve the same answer that Romney gave Obama-poodle Brian Williams of NBC when Williams snarkily asked if the VP would be a "boring white guy"...
"I heard you weren't available"...
Does not anyone remember that really frightening (if it hadn't been laughable) Response the Jindal gave on TV a few years back? Romney will be laughed out of the campaign if he picks Mr. Jindal.
Condi Rice worst...
Grover Norquist, no doubt about it. The most hated man in America and rightfully so. The one person more so than any other that will be responsible for the death of the republican party.
hmm...the anti-Palin? How about "Joe da Plumber"? He's probably a little smarter than Palin is.
Well, it's not as if he doesn't have a fertile field to pick from. They're ALL awful. I sincerely hope he picks the one that guarantees his loss.
Worst pick – John Boehner
This is a no brainer, Michelle Bachman. What fun it would be to see a debate between Biden & Bachman, can't wait!
John McCain?
Jack – I thought Sarah Palin was a bad choice for the McCain bid for the White House.
Michelle Bachmann on the ticket with Romney is a cocktail mix that could kill rats in a sewer (and any hope Romney has to become the next President of the USA).
Jeb Bush without a doubt. We cannot have another Bush on the ticket. Condi would be best but I think she's not interested.
I know this is weird, but what if he chose Dick Cheney...
Gee, there are so many...I can't really choose. They are all so really bad but then so is Romney. Romney, the best candidate money can buy.
Palin is the worst that he could do.
Let me see, who would be the worst choice? You didn't mention which party, so I would have to go with Barack Obama, followed by the second worst choice, which would be Jimmy Carter.
Bobby Jindal, now there's an Energizing speakerrr r r Z Z Z z z z . . .
It doesn't matter I hope," Mitt the rip" (rip-off) should lose all by himself with the way his party is splintered and almosy all of them should be ashamed of themselves for 3.7 years of a agenda of only trying to get rid of the president instead of trying to help the country. what a joke but it isn't funny anymore its becoming very scary.
This question should be asked agin in 16 years. Who was mitt romneys running mate. It will be a great triva question
Answer – who cares – Romney is guy is going down in flames – check the 1936 election – eerily similar
Any dull, rich white guy will be a perfect match
Unfortunatly for the Republicans, the list of worst-person candidate is very long. The Republican primaries showed clearly that none of the proposed candidates is an outstanding winner or a rising star that would appeal to the Party, Independents or cross-over Democrats. After 8 years of Bush and Cheney many have serious concerns about Republican rule. Grover Norquist has turned off Independent voters. Dick Cheney scares anyone with half a brain. All the competent and reasonable Republicans have been systematically "run off" by the Tea Party crazies. That leaves "The Donald." Romney and Trump with Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann as Co/ Secretaries of State – now that would be an election worth watching. Get your popcorn ready. Can't wait!
Barack Obama, that's the worst ones.
How about his wife's horse? Seriously, there's no way he's going to pick someone with passion and charisma like Rubio, though. Romney needs someone paler and blander than he is in order to look like he's got even a little pink in his political cheeks. It will be a case of the bland leading the bland.
It depends upon how you look at the pick. If you view it as an effort to win votes for the election, Palin wasn't a bad pick for McCain. Sort of like when Mondale picked Ferraro, it was a desparate throw of the dice in order to try to change the dynamics of the race. Kind of like pulling the goalie at the end of a hockey game- it hardly ever works, but heck, you've got nothing to lose. Unfortunately, if McCain had somehow won and then Palin had somehow become President, the COUNTRY would have lost. I think VPs should be picked on the basis of their fitness to become President. After all, nine Presidents have not finished their terms.
"Who's the worst person Mitt Romney could pick to be his running mate?"
The IRS agent that audited his last 10 returns and knows that Romney cheated on every single one.
Jack – you are a genius. By asking who would be the 'worst VP choice for Romney' you make us all answer the question 'who would be the best VP choice for Romney'. For most of us I think the question is hard to answer in either scenario. That's how the GOP ended up with Romney in the first place! There's noone else!!
hmmm...just think of the possible bumper sticker combos?
senators : Romney/Boozman - Romney/Crapo– Romney/Blunt -
or governors : Romney/Heineman - Romney/Otter –and my fav of course is the mix-ticket : Romney/Abercrombie
How about his wife's horse.$$$$$
Lets all hope Mitt Romeny doe not have a twin brother somewhere.
Hmmm. Paul Ryan probably. His math doesn't work and he's not qualified, and despite that he's bombastic. So yeah, probably him. Can you imagine Paul Ryan as president? Come on.
I think it'll be Pawlenty. If Romney has to withdraw rather than reveal whatever he's hiding in his taxes, the GOP would want someone with a chance to at least possibly win.
Anyone that's not been vetted any better that Romney. HA!!!
I don't think Palin or Bachmann are in the running. Pawlenty isn't really a great choice. The only reason he was elected governor is that the Democratic vote was split between the Democratic and the Independent candidate. He's not really any kind of a moderate. He was backed by a group of billionaires who wanted their taxes lowered. He responded by imposing fees on everything under the sun, so he didn't have to raise any taxes. The fees hit the middle income people hardest, of course. He and Bachmann both thrived on the religious votes from the rural parts of the state.
Jindle doesn't impress me much, either. Condi Rice would have been a good choice, but she's too smart to take the job. She already referred to one president as her husband.
Tim Pawlenty. By a long shot. He's one of the most boring of the bunch and happens to be unqualified as well. At least Portman or Rubio have only one of the qualities to claim.
Ever since Palin cost McCan the election, the choice for VP has become very important. I think Romney would prefer to go it alone, otherwise he would have chosen his running mate long ago. I get the impression that he thinks no one is good enough to run with him.
My Pick is Liz Chaney.All the way with Liz
Once again, Willard Romney can pick his nose for VP for all I care.
Any Republican
Jerry Sandusky – boring white guy with LOTS of baggage.
All of the people on that list would be bad for this country.
The worst plausible pick is Portman. Romney needs to avoid Bush and the Bush Administration at all costs. Not to mention Portman's stint as trade rep which everybody knows is ripe with potential charges of outsourcing and the like.
The worst possible choice? That million dollar dressage horse, Rafalca, of course.
Michele Bachman....she would make Sarah look good
Any arrogant GOP Republican Tea Party backer, maybe Donald Trunp
Or Herman Cain
LOL Who could be the worse??? Worser than the actual Presidential Candidate himself??? LOL How about this LET the FAMILY GUY Run for President and let Old Boring Mitt run for the Vice President seat lol
Time to bring Herman Cain out of the closet to shake things up, as he does with pizza dough?? 999–turn everything upside down-666, the number of votes they will loose in every state-county-city??
Anybody jack.
Despite all attacks from either side – Ronmey and Obama are both decent choices. The worst Romney could pick is a right-wing nut to try and secure the conservative base which increasingly has gone further to the right. The country needs to be governed from the center.
The absolute worst person Mit Romney could pick as a running mate?
NONE; he (Mit) is already running for an office...
The worst VP should be Allen West
Go rogue, Mitt, go rogue.
Christine O'Donnel is JUST WHAT YOU NEED for a vice presidential candidate.
....and I'm not saying that just because I'm an Obama supporter.
If you want a disaster, how about Allen West. It doesn't matter to me, anyway. I will vote for the devil I know.
The ideal running mate for Howdy Doody would be Phineas T. Bluster.
Simple. Mr. Burns.
Bob "Transvaginal Ultrasound" McDonnell
Worst choice would be Obama. Imagine defending that record!
I'll take boring old white guys over exciting extremists nutcases every day. For Romney reaching into the bowl offers a wide assortment of mixed nuts. Should be quite a party and convention. I think the alcohol vendors will be the real winners.
Jack–you're a very independent thinker, which I like. Anyway, been a fan for awhile.
It does not matter who the VP Pick is, Romney is a political failure and will lose no matter what
Paul Ryan would be terrible because he parts his hair the exact opposite of Romney and it would look funny on pictures...Oh yeah, and the fact that he is an elitist, and heartless idiot that is just as dull as Romney.
Marco Rubio
Bobby Jindal is the worst! He's totally driven by ambition and the next big political step. And have you listened to the guy? He talks so fast it's impossible to follow. However, Romney would be doing our state a favor.
Any republican currently holding any office, anywhere.
Warrenton, MO
The worst person in the world for Mittens to pick for VP? Two words: Donald Trump.
Probably Mitt Romney. A terrible politician who reportedly won't release his tax returns, can't connect with the average American, has flip-flopped on just about every issue, and hasn't put forth a compelling case for why he should be in office, other than boilerplate anti-Obama sentiment.
Yep, if I was Mitt Romney I'd pick just about anyone other than Mitt Romney.
How about Louie Gohmert, this numbskull seems to have all the answers!!
Jack, the worst person Mitt could pick is almost anyone!
If Romney wants to win this election he needs the Ron Paul people...and the only way he can even remotely do that is to select Rand or Ron as VP.
Good ol' Sarah Palin, If she picked her,President Obama is a shoe in for re-election.
Palin. Seriously, who could be worse? In ANY way? Jared Lee Loughner maybe...?
Dick Cheney. He was the worst VP of all time and I think someone can be VP for more than two terms. (?)
H.R. Block
He's right to pick someone "safe, steady, and hyper-qualified ". VP choices don't win elections, but they certainly can lose them. When's the last time you said, "that VP choice really pushed that guy over the top". Even Obama was smart enough to know that the safest pick is a dumb, white, boring, baby-boomer block of wood like Joe Biden.
Who's the worst person Mitt Romney could pick to be his running mate?
The person he picks.
Boise, Idaho
I'm surprised that I am the only person to mention this but Larry Craig is the worst possible choice for Romney. Maybe it's because I am from Idaho,
Donald Trump could be the worst choice in my opinion. Guaranteed loss.
Condelisa Rice...she would out class him badly!!!
pawlenty would be the biggest snooze. the best would be ryan. i'd love to see them both thoroughly thrased in November.
The worst person Romney can pick for the Vice Presidential Slot would be ANY REPUBLICAN, why?
Because there is no Republican this year qualified to be President should something happen on day one or any day.
We already know this from the GOP primary campaign.
The worst person Willard M. Romney could pick as is VP would be perennial New York mayoral candidate Jimmy McMillan because his rant "THE RENT IS TOO HIGH" goes totally against Romneys' and the Republicans view that rents clearly are not high enough!
Paul Ryan. That will really make it clear that the the intentions of the Republicans are to gut the middle class and turn them into low-wage serfs to do the bidding of large corporations and the plutocracy, while the rich, the banks and the corporations get (a lot) richer. Plutocrats like Romney refer to us middle class as the "p'or people"(Leon Helmsley said it first), we are sheep to be sheared and the chickens to be plucked.They pay us just enough to keep working for them and to buy their goods and services from them, meanwhile piling up credit card debt to the "company store", the banks. We have to keep the US government in the hands of a party that cares for the great majority of the citizens of the USA. Obama and the Democrats..
Chris Christie... need I say more?
" Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal" This is not such a bold pick and it makes since.
If he choose Judge Roy Moore of Alabama the election would become a fight over Religion and the Constitution. Wouldn't that be great?
Jack, quite simply, any member of the present-day GOP would be a bad choice for Romney. The Republican party has become a circus tent filled with clowns and jokers who have migrated so far to the right that there is no room for legitimate leadership or legislating. Romney is the ring leader, and that's all that matters. At the end of the day, any glad-handing clown will do.
Hitler...definitely Hitler but but then I remembered Santorum
It does not matter who he picks, Romney has shown again and again how disconnected he is with the average American. His no will be a carbon copy.
Kind of a catch 22 there: choose a white guy and get slammed for lack of vision. Choose a black guy and he appears to be a token. A women doesn't help since most women will be voting democratic either way. Tough choice.
Bobby Jingal would be the worst choice for VP when he was called to give the republican response to the presidential address I fell asleep. He might not be vice presidentiall material but he is a cure for sleep disorder
Don't know who the worst one would be, but I'd nominate Former Secretary of State Rice even if she is pro-choice. She's the total package and competent to be one heart beat away from the presidency.
The worst person for Romney to pick for the VP slot would be Romney. We know you can't win with a VP candidate that disagrees with everything that the Candidate on the top of the ticket believes, and that is something that Romney has done and will continue to do.
that is an easy one.....his worse pick would be to look in a mirror and pick someone just like what he is looking at!! his evil twin!!
Like with taxes, he's n a bind. Pick someone who can think and finished at least 8th grade, and you alienate the 'publican base. Pick a stupid consrvative – which includes most – and the press will shred him or her. What to do? It's tough. When you climb into bed with every kind of kook, trash, racist, conservative-talk-radio moron to get power – you've painted yourself into a corner
Ann Romney. Mitt could figure that two Romneys equals one Obama; he'd be wrong but that how he plays with numbers.
Without a doubt Sean Hannity...I believe the country would be better off if UFO's ran the country...
If the presidential election is about the economy, then why eliminate a qualified candidate such as C. Rice from the list of V.P. because she is pro-choice? When has the Vice President had anything to do with the abortion issue?
Jack, the only pick that will actually win Romney the presidency is Texas representative Ron Paul. There are nothing but re-election senarios for President Obama wilth all other potential VP nominees.
Ted Nugent. Although the NRA would love it.
Another guy with the first name Mitt?
I doubt this would pass constitutional scrutiny, but since you asked, the worst choice Mitt could make for Vice-President would be Willard Romney.
Hmmmmmm "Kim Khardashian "
Michelle Bachmann would be the worst choice for Romney. Compared to her Sarah Palin is a genious.
Sarah Palin. I would have to leave the sound muted from all news channels, her voice is worse than a screech.
Jack, Romney seems like the kind of guy who would choose HIMSELF as his Vice President running mate. THAT would be
his worse choice.
Worst possible – Sarah Palin
Best – Condoleeza Rice
I don't know who he should NOT pick. The person I would like to see as a republican VP is Allen West... my gut is telling me we need a strong VP with military experience.......
Susanna Martinez, republican governor of New Mexico. Better than Palin, because she was a prosecuter that was able to string a sentence together and make a logical arguement. But, she approaches everything from the perspective of a prosecuter. Somebody must be punished. Always punished.
No VP pick can distract the people sufficiently from the fact that Romney is afraid to release his taxes. Those of us in the middle class work hard and pay our taxes. He could put this whole thing to rest by releasing his tax records. What is he hiding? It must be pretty bad.
Romney's plan might be great for the super-rich, but he is bad news for those of us in the middle class.
Any social conservative would be a poor choice. The republican party knows that the future of the party is libertarian, they're fighting losing issues on marriage and abortion.
Clint Eastwood. He supports Romney so go ahead, make his day!
:))))
I think him and Sarah Palin is a match made in heaven......they both do not know how to come in out of the rain. They're both is all about the money
Hazel
Rochester New York
Romney cant be upstaged, so he is going to have to choose someone more boring than himself, haha.....they are all boring!.....any of the choices are about as exciting as watching paint dry......
Michelle Bachman or Sarah Palin
Worst choice? Obama.
Dick Chaney. With his new heart Chaney could live long enough to haunt us all for another 8 years and Romney wouldn't get to make any decisions. If there was a bright side, Romney could milk it and then claim he retired as POTUS retroactively when he didn't want to take responsibility for Chaney's decisions.
kinda pathetic that we're so skin deep in this country that if you're white and male you're automatically a "boring candidate" god thing goeoge washington wasnt born in today's age.
Any pick other than Rubio is foolish though.
the worst would be Bachman, he can do some good by choosing Condolisa Rice, or even John Huntsman, he can win Romney some moderates.
Marco Rubio – he supports government corruption and fraud by refusing to respond to victims' requests for assistance.
any of the above Jack.....the GOP has gotten so far of of what any reasonable person could consider reasonable, that it really does not matter.
First class losers in no particular order....
Joe Biden
Jesse Jackson (Jr or Sr)
Nancy Pelosi
Harry Reid
The Right Reverend Al Sharpton
Janet Napolitano
Timothy Geithner
Blago
John Kerry
Algore
etc.............
Joe Biden...oh yeah...oops!
Is Dan Quayle available?
Pretty much any of the GOP's tea party mascots of recent years would be a disaster: Palin, Bachmann, Trump. Anyone like that and he might as well buy his ticket for Obama's reelection party. If he's smart he'll pick someone no one has ever heard of (which worked for George HW Bush and Clinton) rather than someone with more baggage than an airport.
I'm going to have to day Bobby Jindal. He'll be better at being a funeral director.
Mitt picking a running mate named Rob Rich, Rich Steal or Robin Poor.
Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio..the two new faces of Florida's shame!!! Hard to say which would be the worst choice since they are running neck to neck in the repulsion poll here in Florida among us Democrats!!
I'm going to have to say Bobby Jindal. I think that he'll be better at being a Funeral Director.
Having read the posts associated with this blog, it doesn't matter who Romney picks–someone somewhere will believe it is the "worst choice" and find every crazy reason in the world to justify their belief.
Warren Jeffs.
.
Oh no please do not pick Rob Portman. It was really a clear decision that Mr. Pluckman will be doing a lot of plucking? Executive and Military experience is the game changer with Gov. Bob McDonnell. Hopefully Republicans get it right this time.
It doesn't matter whom he picks. They won't have my best interests at heart either way. He nor any of his potential picks care about the poor, the working poor and middle class. He thinks that people with money are better equppied to care for this nation. We only have to look back at the Bush years to see how well that worked out. Basically, we're on our own no matter whom he chooses.
It does not matter who he picks.....the Media will shred him / her and praise Biden....and we all know who a complete idiot Biden is...so what does that tell you about the Media.
Mitt Romney needs to pick Bob McDonnell if he wants to get his message back to the economy. Bob McDonnell has 60% approval rating in Virginia, he has $120+ million surplus as Governor, he's been serving in the United States Army for 20+ years and he's extremely pro-life. The vaginal-probe is his only vetting mishap but he struck it down immediately once the out-cry was huge and he can easily brush that issue to the side.
The GOP would love for the Obama-camp try to bring back the "War on Women" as they can easily point out that Obama is trying to get away from the message of the economy and jobs. A McDonnell pick works in the GOP's favor as well since Bob McDonnell is only allowed to be a one-term governor due to the laws in Virginia and if the ticket somehow loses then McDonnell can go after Mark Warner's seat in the Senate in 2014.
McDonnell shores up any weakness for Romney as he's 100% pro-life conservative who balanced a budget to add a surplus, he has foreign policy chops being a member of the U.S. Army and he gets Romney's message back on the economy plus he won't overshadow Romney at all. Add in the fact that McDonnell was one of the first to endorse Romney and that he's a governor, they can run as a "outside" the beltway ticket too. Make it happen Mitt so we can have an honest election this season for everyone about Jobs and the Economy.
A Koch brother.
How do you spell vice president? T I M P A W L E N T Y
It doesn't matter to me Jack, I'm voting for Ron Paul.
If he really wants to beat Obama...he should pick Hillary Clinton.....he would win with 70% of the vote.
A three way tie, Palin, Bachman and Perry. The Three Stooges of the Republican party. Of the ones actually being considered I'd have to go with Chris Christie mostly because he won't help get more votes. He's the safe pick but safe will loose Romney the election. On second thought Mitt, if you won't pick Larry, Moe or Curly pick Christie. We can't handle another 4 to 8 years of spending while cutting taxes, the real Bush Doctrine.
Here are some good choice for V.P.
Bozo the clown
Al Bundy
Mr. McGoo
Maxwell Smart
Dr. Who
Batman or Robin
Mr. Green Jean
Mr. Ed the talking horse
Mightly Mouse
Whoever Romney picks, Romney will be the worst running mate for him/her.
Bachman would bring back the old heart beat away from he Presidentcy ads. She could grab headlines. The problem might be that when she speaks of aliens is talking hispanics from Mexico or those from outer space. We might not know.
OBAMA or Biden would be the TOP two worst choices.
Sarah Palin, then we can get scared all over again.
Anyone currently part of a Congress that cannot even bring itself to vote on key issues because it might put them on the record before the elections.
This is a tough one. I think Trump woul d be the worst but at least Trump can walk like a normal peron. Have you noticed that Mitt takes baby steps? And between the two of them we will be in the toilet in no time.
In Actuality, Ron Paul would be a great pick, if possible. Thats your only hope, now!!!