The ghost of Sarah Palin is hanging over Mitt Romney’s Boston campaign headquarters as he begins searching for an eventual running mate. One thing’s for sure: much more than Sen. John McCain in 2008, Romney is expected to heed the political maxim of “first, do no harm.”
That’s where the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball team of Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley come in. They’ve drawn up the pros and cons of 23 leading contenders, placing Ohio Sen. Rob Portman at the top followed by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan in the top tier. The pro on Portman: he’s a budget guy from a big state. The con: it makes the ticket a “white bread sandwich.”
Kondik, Skelley and Sabato in their Crystal Ball list few Palin-esque long shots, though they do have a killer potential ticket–Romney-Tebow. But, poor Romney, Tebow is too young to be veep. He’s 24 but can’t take the office until he’s 35.
The rush to avoid doing a Palin has hung over the GOP since the last election, despite her popularity. The goal is to find a running mate that won’t come with baggage–or surprises–and who will bolster areas Romney is weak in.
Secrets got a sneak peak at Thursday’s Crystal Ball veep list, which we’ll link to as soon as it’s live. Here’s their VP list.
First Tier
1. Sen. Rob Portman, Ohio. Pro: his economic message. Con: George W. Bush’s budget chief.
2. Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida. Pro: Hispanic. Con: too fresh.
3. Gov. Bobby Jindal, Louisiana. Pro: brings diversity, success. Con: not nationally vetted.
4. Rep. Paul Ryan, Wisconsin. Pro: young, articulate. Con: controversial.
Second Tier
5. Gov. Chris Christie, New Jersey. Pro: Dynamic. Con: loose cannon.
6. Jeb Bush, former Florida governor. Pro: Bush organization, Hispanic ties. Con: last name.
7. Tim Pawlenty, former Minnesota governor. Pro: vetted, safe. Con: boring.
8. Gov. Bob McDonnell, Virginia. Pro: polished, available. Con: too socially conservative.
9. Gov. Mitch Daniels, Indiana. Pro: experience, real guy. Con: uncharismatic.
10. Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor. Pro: conservative, blue collar. Con: too right.
Third Tier
11. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire. Pro: woman. Con: unvetted.
12. Gov. Brian Sandoval, Nevada. Pro: Hispanic. Con: too moderate.
13. Gov. Susana Martinez, New Mexico. Pro: Hispanic woman. Con: family issues.
14. Sen. Bob Corker, Tennessee. Pro: save, substantive. Con: unexciting.
15. Condi Rice, former secretary of state. Pro: black, foreign policy expert. Con: Bush ties.
Fourth Tier
16. Sen. Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania. Pro: Tea Party links. Con: too conservative.
17. Sen. John Thune, South Dakota. Pro: rising star. Con: unexciting.
18. Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky. Pro: Tea Party, Ron Paul’s son. Con: Ron Paul’s son.
19. Gov. Louis Fortuno, Puerto Rico. Pro: Hispanic, young. Con: unvetted.
20. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington. Pro: young, female. Con: House member.
21. Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolina. Pro: experienced. Con: not exciting enough.
22. David Petraeus, CIA director. Pro: military hero, thinker. Con: war general.
23. J.C. Watts, former House member. Pro: black, popular. Con: long gone from politics.
