Will Romney's VP Pick Excite the GOP?

The biggest question looming over Mitt Romney during the combative Republican primary was whether he would be able to unite the party. How could the former governor of true-blue Massachusetts and a onetime supporter of abortion rights, gay rights, and health insurance mandates excite the Republican faithful?

Yet what is known about Romney's vice presidential search suggests that he doesn't think his ability to excite voters is a problem. The names at the top of the presumed short list--Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal--are solid Republicans more likely to let the establishment rest easy than to make the rank-and-file stand up. None of these would overshadow Romney, nor would they make voters like him any more or less than they already do.

Republicans who can stir an audience, such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, appear to have dropped out of contention. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who raised the roof at Romney's donor retreat in Utah and led a Fox News poll of potential running mates, also seems to have fallen off the map.

One thing about Romney's top choices: All of them are palatable. The same could be said of the conservative movement's view of Romney. The segment of the party that put him through the ringer during the primary before finally accepting him as inevitable is largely deferring to his discretion in the vice presidential search. Read more

--Beth Reinhard??

NATIONAL JOURNAL?S PRESIDENTIAL RACE REPORT

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Campaigns Pause Following Colorado Shooting NEW!
[National Journal, 7/20/12] The campaigns for both President Obama and Mitt Romney suspended activity Friday following a massacre at a Colorado movie theater that left 12 dead and dozens wounded. After delivering remarks, Obama cancelled a second appearance in Florida and headed back to Washington, and Romney?s planned stump speech in New Hampshire was altered to address the shooting. Both campaigns pulled negative ads in Colorado.

Romney: The Man Without a Past?
[National Journal, 7/20/12] Romney has not only renounced many of his previous positions, he also refuses to divulge many details about what is his main qualification for the White House: his successful career in private equity. National Journal?s Michael Hirsh delves into Romney?s shrouded past.

Both Candidates Trying to Leverage the Big Divide Over Bain
[National Journal, 7/20/12] To Wall Street insiders, the world of private equity isn?t hard to understand. But to the average Joe, it can seem downright suspicious. The Obama campaign has merrily exploited this divide, and Romney can?t seem to escape the attack.

Romney?s Secrecy Becomes Focus of Obama?s Attack Strategy
[Reuters, 7/20/12] Team Obama is casting Romney as a mysterious figure who is guarding important secrets about his wealth and work history ? a similar line of attack to the one Obama overcame in 2008.?

Legal Battles Erupt Over Tough Voter ID Laws
[New York Times, 7/19/12] Out of the 33 states have passed laws requiring identification for voting, five have ?strict? requirements, meaning voters must present specific kinds of photo IDs before voting. Whether true or not, the focus on what opponents call ?suppression? of minority voters in particular is accelerating as the election looms.

Ad Spending Speaks Louder Than Words
[National Journal, 7/20/12] Even though Romney says he?s making a play for Wisconsin, Republicans and their allies aren?t putting their money where their mouth is: Romney and his allies have spent more than $186 million on TV advertising across 13 states, but they?ve spent just $2.7 million on Wisconsin.?

Obama Faces Uphill Battle to Win Repeat Victory in Florida
[The Hill, 7/20/12] While voters in Florida bought into ?hope and change? in 2008, they seem more skeptical now. On a two-day swing through the Sunshine State, which has seen high unemployment and an underwater housing market, Obama is confronting an increasingly-disappointed electorate.

Why Mitt Romney Invests Overseas
[The Daily Beast, 7/20/12] Romney is taking a beating from Team Obama for taking advantage of attractive -- and legal -- tax laws abroad, but experts say he would be foolish not to do so.?

Romney?s London Visit Takes Him to the Heart of Plagued Banking Industry
[Washington Post, 7/19/12] By appearing at high-dollar fundraisers in London on the eve of the Olympics? Opening Ceremonies, Romney risks associating his campaign with the unfolding scandal over banks that manipulated the London interbank offered rate (Libor). One event co-chair is Patrick Durkin, a Washington-based lobbyist for Barclays, which is involved in the scandal.

Are Obama and Romney Targeting the Swing Vote? Maybe Not
[Los Angeles Times, 7/20/12] Recent ads accusing Obama of dissing private enterprise or insinuating that Romney is hiding something in his tax records may be aimed not at persuading swing voters, but at revving up each candidate?s base.

Marco Rubio: Nine Things You Didn't Know About Him
[ABC News, 7/20/12] Did you know that Florida Senator Marco Rubio's wife was a former Miami Dolphins cheerleader, or that his first job was to build cages for exotic birds? ABC has more interesting facts about the top contender for Romney's veep pick.

Presidential Campaign Fundraising Surpasses $1 Billion
[USA Today, 7/19/12] Four months before Election day, the battle for the White House has already crossed the $1 billion mark ? and the biggest spending is yet to come.

Rich Candidates Play Hide-and-Seek With Taxes
[Politico, 7/20/12] While some uber-rich candidates have opted to release full tax returns during their campaigns, many more have played it Romney?s way and released limited or no information. From Ross Perot?s presidential run in 1992 to Linda McMahon?s 2010 Senate campaign, Politico takes a look at a few of the wealthiest candidates to run for elected office.

Syria Unrest Will Shadow Romney?s Israel Trip
[BuzzFeed, 7/19/12] Violence in Syria escalated this week ahead of Romney?s visit to Israel, driving a wedge between many American conservatives and their allies in Israel. Romney is pushing for more direct support of the Syrian rebels, while the Obama administration is focused on diplomatic international pressure.

To Journalists? Chagrin, More News Reports Showing up in Political Ads
[New York Times, 7/20/12] More and more this election year, campaign ads include footage from TV news programs, further blurring the fading lines separating modern journalism and politics.?

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/romneys-vp-pick-excite-gop-085137251.html

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