It’s looking more an more likely that Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum will be the eventual GOP nominee for President. As these types of things begin to shape up, it’s easy to begin to wonder just what a Santorum or Romney presidency and administration would look like. One of the easiest (and most fun, for junkies like me) ways to start this process is to predict who exactly each man would choose to serve in his cabinet. I’ve chosen a few of the more important or interesting cabinet positions and who I think each would choose below:
Vice President
Mitt Romney: The first Presidential decision a candidate ever makes is that of his running mate. In Romney’s case, I don’t expect him to go too far out of the box unless the base refuses to jump on board before the convention. Sen. Rob Portman would be a good fit for Romney given his budget experience, Midwest background and time in Washington. Oh, and he’s from Ohio.
Rick Santorum: If Santorum pulls this off, he’ll need someone to level out the ticket some but also appeal to the ‘establishment.’ He should go with someone like Condoleeza Rice or Tim Pawlenty or even Sen. Marco Rubio, if he’ll accept it.
Secretary of State
Mitt Romney: The guy with the most obvious experience to be Secretary of State (and he even seems to be pining for the job) is Jon Huntsman. The two men seem to share the same disposition and he’d be easily approved by the Senate, marking a good start for a Romney White House.
Rick Santorum: I feel like Santorum wouldn’t want to cut any corners early and would come out swinging, nominating Ambassador John Bolton for the spot. Whether he accepts or is even approved at all remains to be seen.
Attorney General
Mitt Romney: If not just for the treat it is for my eyes, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi would make an exciting choice for Romney and she gave him a key endorsement in the state.
Rick Santorum: If he doesn’t win Ben Nelson’s Senate seat in 2012, Nebraska’s Jon Bruning seems to fit Santorum well, and he has the experience of serving in that position in his state.
Secretary of Education
Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum: This one is almost too obvious. If he would take it, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who made huge improvements in his state when it came to education and is still pushing the issue nationwide would serve the position well (until it was hopefully ended).
Secretary of Defense
While he may wish to still serve at the CIA after his Army retirement (and he should be allowed to remain there, if that’s the case), Gen. David Petraeus has proven he’s the Eisenhower of our time. If he won’t run for President himself, it should be made certain he at least stays close to the man in the Oval Office. Both Santorum and Romney should tap Petraeus for the position.
Secretary of Homeland Security
Mitt Romney: Only somewhat well known, Cofer Black would make an excellent choice. Black was Director of the CIA Counter-Terrorism Center from 1999 to 2002 and is regarded as a counter-terrorism expert. He’s one of Romney’s national security advisers as well.
Rick Santorum: Rep. Peter King is currently the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security and always has his eye on radical Islam and terror. He would make a good, experienced pick for a Santorum cabinet and would ease a base that isn’t a big fan of the department to begin with.
