The new and improved, fight-free Romney vs. Obama thread!

[cjericho]

Wanted to jump in here and say that despite the polls showing this as a dead-heat, the only things that matter ahead of this election are 1.) Who Romney chooses as his VP. If he picks someone who can energize his base and sway some of the independents who aren't too keen on how the past four years have played out, he can build some momentum and put Obama on his heels and 2.) The debates. Romney is going to have to bring it when he's face-to-face with Obama or he's going to get slaughtered in November. Right now, this race is essentially Obama vs. Anyone but Obama. If Romney stands a chance in heck of winning, it's going to have to come courtesy of people voting FOR him and not simply AGAINST Obama.

That being said, I can't imagine Obama doesn't have this wrapped up by 9 p.m. on election night.

Problem there is anyone he picks to energize the base will turn off independents. The base has gone round the bend. Batshirt crazy tends to turn off indies.

Therein lies the whole problem with the entire campaign. The base and the swing voters are so many miles apart that no human being can stretch so far as to entice both. Whatever the issue: gay marriage, immigration, taxes, health care, etc., the more you pander to one side, the more you alienate the other.

Not sure how true that is, but if it's true isn't the simple solution just pander to the swing voters. Is there going to be a Tea Party candidate that enough would really pick over Romney.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Wanted to jump in here and say that despite the polls showing this as a dead-heat, the only things that matter ahead of this election are 1.) Who Romney chooses as his VP. If he picks someone who can energize his base and sway some of the independents who aren't too keen on how the past four years have played out, he can build some momentum and put Obama on his heels and 2.) The debates. Romney is going to have to bring it when he's face-to-face with Obama or he's going to get slaughtered in November. Right now, this race is essentially Obama vs. Anyone but Obama. If Romney stands a chance in heck of winning, it's going to have to come courtesy of people voting FOR him and not simply AGAINST Obama.

That being said, I can't imagine Obama doesn't have this wrapped up by 9 p.m. on election night.

Problem there is anyone he picks to energize the base will turn off independents. The base has gone round the bend. Batshirt crazy tends to turn off indies.

Therein lies the whole problem with the entire campaign. The base and the swing voters are so many miles apart that no human being can stretch so far as to entice both. Whatever the issue: gay marriage, immigration, taxes, health care, etc., the more you pander to one side, the more you alienate the other.

Not sure how true that is, but if it's true isn't the simple solution just pander to the swing voters. Is there going to be a Tea Party candidate that enough would really pick over Romney.

Not in a general . . . for which we are most-grateful.

 

[Gehrig]

Not sure if it's been posted before, but, Rob Portman might be Romney' running mate.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/rob-portman-lets-slip-that-hes-being-vetted-for-romneys-veep/

 

[Mizzougrad96]

So, we know Portman, Ryan, Rubio and Ayotte are being vetted. I don't remember hearing if Christie, Jindal or Pawlenty or anyone else is being vetted as well...

I will be very surprised if it's not Rubio or Portman. I don't know if either of those guys can deliver their home states, but the possibility that they can, coupled with both of them being well-respected within the party should make them the leading contenders.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Not sure if it's been posted before, but, Rob Portman might be Romney' running mate.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/rob-portman-lets-slip-that-hes-being-vetted-for-romneys-veep/

He was a dark horse back when this thread was active:

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/90139/

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I think Rubio was the overwhelming frontrunner until the immigration issue became such a hot button topic. I think it's pretty clear that he and Romney have different (although not extremely) opinions on the topic, but more importantly, Romney doesn't want immigration to be main talking point throughout the rest of the campaign, and fairly or unfairly, it would be if he picked Rubio.

I still would be very happy if Rubio is the pick. I don't know a ton about Portman, but I know he was mentioned as a dark horse in 2008. He wouldn't be as exciting as Rubio would be, but it's probably the safer and maybe the smarter pick.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

She looks excited.

 

[TigerVols]

Portman? I guess Ed Rollins has no sway in the party anymore.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/ed-rollins-republican-party-old-white-guys_n_1663304.html

Edit: Yes, I know, Portman's not fat.

 

[Zeke12]

You have to give Romney credit. He showed up and spoke to the NAACP convention today.

He's been loudly booed several times, but at least he showed up.

 

[Zeke12]

Nah, I think they have a one-douchebag-per-day rule.

They're all full up, today.

 

[The Big Ragu]

It's a no lose appearance for him.

He ain't getting their vote. And he knows it. But by showing up, maybe it gets a little coverage and he's no longer the rich guy who represents corporations (the paint-by-numbers story of him). For a day he's the guy who is willing to reach out to everyone.

He doesn't need to win over the typical Republican special interests. And he isn't going to win over the typical Democratic special interests, including the NAACP.

But there are people who fancy themselves independents and this was aimed more at them. For a day, he gets to appear to be the "reasonable" candidate who is reaching out to everyone, even if he knows they already have themselves vested with the other guy.

 

[Zeke12]

There's probably something to that.

I tend to think it's simply Mitt's inherent faith in his pandering. There is no group he can't tell what they want to hear, just groups he hasn't gotten around to, yet. Who among us does not love sport?

That aside, he did show up. I don't think Bush did either time he was running.