The GOP 2012 Presidential Ticket Will Be....

[Yavin4]

Former Gov. Mitt Romney and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and unless the economy dramatically improves between now and then, the Republicans will take back the White House. This ticket will win the nomination for these reasons:

1. Romney, unlike all other Republicans, is playing it smart by keeping a low profile. He's not like Huckabee nor Palin nor Guiliani. He's not in the media every day slamming Obama. By 2012, he will seem fresh whereas the other Republicans will be over-exposed.

2. Putting Rubio on the ticket kills two birds with one stone. One, Rubio allows the Republicans to make in-roads into the Hispanic vote, and two, Rubio appeases the Teabaggers. And yes, I am giving Rubio the Florida senate seat in 2010.

[CBR]

1. I could see this. I still hold some skepticism on Romney

winning due to his religion but I think it depends on their primary schedule. There is some talk of changes in the GOP primary/caucus schedule.

[elocs]

2. Right, don't underestimate what Evangelicals think of Mormonism

regardless of its family values: to them it's a CULT. Plain and simple. I just don't see a lot of the Christian right pulling the lever to vote for Romney in a national election.

[CBR]

3. Exactly. I grew up in the Southern Baptist church and the "Mormonism

is a cult" message was strongly stated and reinforced. This will be part of the message on Sundays in many churches if Romney looks strong.

[Yavin4]

6. But The Counter Argument To His Religion Will Be

"Well, Obama is a Muslim, so why not a Mormon". I know that it's stupid, but it will work.

[elocs]

8. The difference is to the Christian right that Islam is not a perversion of Christianity,

and Ishmael was a son of Abraham, the same as Jacob. Just not the son of promise.

[Cosmocat]

14. There is one perfversion greater than all others ...

in MODERN "fundamental" christianity, and that is a democrat ...

Given the choice between an openly gay, devil worshipping, communist gun hater cr a true christian veteran marine who single handedly parachuted into Pakistan and drug OBL back to the states by swimming the Atlantic ocean with him in one arm, they will support the devil worshipper ...

IF they think Romney is the best bet to get BO out of there, they will get behind him ...

[Yavin4]

16. Yep

They will rally behind him. In their eyes, Mormons are still better than Black people.

[elocs]

35. From personal experience I absolutely disagree.

Religion trumps politics. These people believe they are answerable to God.

[CBR]

9. In the General, maybe but in the primary, a "Christian" candidate will

be a viable and preferable option. If Romney got the GOP nomination, they would all turn out to vote for him.

[elocs]

36. Very many simply would not, they just wouldn't.

They certainly may not vote for the Democrat, but there is no way they are going to vote for a Mormon.

[madinmaryland]

4. I agree with you about Romney.

He definitely is keeping a low profile. He would also never choose Palin/Huckabee/9ui11iani.

Doesn't Rubio have to win the primary against Crist? I think Crist might be a better pick, or for the Hispanic vote, Martinez who just left office.

[Cosmocat]

18. Terrrorist attack is their best shot ...

I generally agree that Romney is the odds on favorite and agree with the OPs reasoning, too ...

There are two ins for the Rs to take down BO in 2012

1) a true domestic terrorist strike by Islamic extremists, at which point the R who manages to scream the loudest about how horrible BO is at "keeping us safe" will win, and it likely will be the foulest piece of garbage they have to offer, be it Ghouliani, Palin or whoever ...

2) the only other in is the econcmy, and again, it is going to have to take even more of a downturn, frankly. There is almost no way that there is not going to be some positive growth by then, 3 years is enough time to see some small gains. If unemployment is even in the 8 percent range, BO can point to lowering it ...

I don't think he wins, again, without another substancial downturn. But, Romney was their best shot this last time, frankly. BO likley would have won, but outside of McCain being an idiot, and picking Palin who DID drag his ticket down, BO caught a break that it wasn't Romney he was running against when the market tanked ...

People can get snarky about it all they want, but Romney is great "economy" candidate for president - governor, family background, his success with the olympics, it also is his comfort zone vs the security/terror BS or social issues ...

[izquierdista]

5. Clueless and confused at the top

Paired with stupid and unqualified as a running mate.

[Tony_FLADEM]

7. Bob Corker will be the Republican Nominee for President in 2012.

[AlinPA]

10. The republican base will not accept a ticket without Palin on it. nt

[Yavin4]

12. She Won't Run

Like Guiliani, Palin is all about making money off of her fame, and she does not want to campaign and lose out on any money that could make.

[davidwparker]

20. Agreed. She wants the fame, not the politics. When I heard she will be on

FAUX, I knew that would be ideal for her. And, it proves the fame versus politics angle.

[sallyseven]

11. Romney is dumb

Just like Brown running for Ted's seat. They are so good looking they can't stand it. GQ Queens.He is a mess and worse than Bush
I dislike both of them.

[Yavin4]

13. Being Stupid Is A GOP Tradition

Reagan, Quayle, Bush II, Palin.

[rasputin1952]

33. I have always thought GOP candidates as being "picked out of ...

the vegetable bin" scenario. Find the least rotten, to somewhat rotten bit of produce, and toss it on the stage.

Stupid is "in", and even better if one can tack on a college degree to the stupid...like an MBA.

[earthside]

15. Thune-Hutchison

South Dakota U.S. Senator John Thune to top the GOP ticket; Kay Baily Hutchison as the Veep nominee.

A very 'conventional' ticket ... because all that will be left of the Republican Party by 2012 will be establishment, D.C. insiders, and elitists.

The nominees of the national Tea Party? Palin-Guiliani? Barber-Pawlenty? Hannity-Bachmann? Who knows?

And, yes, unless President Obama screws up even more, he will be re-elected if he runs for a second term. But if Obama doesn't start fighting Goldman Sachs and the Wall Street establishment, then he will have screwed-up and will probably be too unpopular to run again.

[AlinPA]

23. Thune: yes, but Palin has to be on the ticket or the base will revolt at the convention.

[SuperTrouper]

43. Totally agree, Thune-Hutchison will be our opponent.

[bigwillq]

17. Ensign/Vitter

Bank it.

[davidwparker]

19. Huckabee. The south will not go for Romney.

[anakie]

45. Huckabee/Palin

the Fox ticket


Peace

[Vicar In A Tutu]

21. A decent, noticeable improvement will be enough to guarantee a win and...

...likely ensure that people like Romney decide to hold off another four years for their big run. Regardless of whether it's a 'dramatic' improvement or not, if the US economy is showing a consistent upward trend it'll be Obama in a landslide. For the campaign ads think something along the lines of "It's morning in America" 2012 edition. I suspect that the 2012 GOP nominee will be an old timer like Gingrich.

[Fire1]

22. The "Bible Belt" will never go for Romney. n/t

[secondwind]

24. Romney will never be accepted by Conservatives.......

[depakid]

26. Better hope not...

[SheilaT]

25. It is two years or so too soon

to have any real handle on who will be on the 2012 GOP ticket.

Go back, if you have the patience (I don't, but I recall the various threads here) in 2001 about who would be our nominee in 2004, and in 2005 about who would be our nominee in 2008. NO ONE guessed Barack Obama in 2005, and practically no one, except for the odd lucky guess, suspected that John Kerry would head the ticket. And as late as 1991 no one would have seriously suggested the Governor of Arkansas would be the next President of the United States.

Why not just sit back and enjoy watching the Republicans all self-destruct?

[Yavin4]

28. It's Different for the Republicans

The candidate that finishes 2nd always get the nomination the next go around.

Bush I finished 2nd to Reagan in 1980. He was the nominee in 1988.

Dole finished 2nd to Bush in 1988. He was the nominee in 1996.

McCain finished 2nd to Bush II in 2000. He was the nominee in 2008.

Romney finished 2nd to McCain in 2008. He will be the nominee in 2012. (I know that Huckabee actually finished higher than Romney, but Mitt withdrew.)

[Ter]

32. Always?

I don't remember W coming in second in 1996.

[AlinPA]

27. We've seen about a dozen new blue "Palin" yard signs lately. (W.PA).

[GreenArrow]

29. Jeb Bush and Mitch Daniels.

Seriously, who knows. Depends on the state of the nation. I wouldn't entirely rule out Palin. A country that could elect Ronald Reagan twice could certainly find room in its heart for her.

[seattle_blue]

30. awful

I just went to Rubio's site to check his stance on the issues....All I can say is that he is a nut that would destroy the U.S.

[Ter]

31. Rand Paul (son of Ron) will be on the ticket

Mark my words.

[rasputin1952]

34. Satan/Reagan's ghost...

best thing they have...:hi:

[Perky]

37. Not a chance.

Romney can's win a southern primary with the exception of possibly Florida. But he is going to have to look inevitable by Super Tuesday. And that means Winning Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina and look like a juggernaut.

The problem is Iowa. Toy win there based on organization and enthusiasm AND the endorsement of the Right to Life/Christian Coalition groups. That is nt going to happen with Romney.

[Hawaii Hiker]

38. Interesting about Rubio - That's why during the next campaign

President Obama needs to hammer home that he's the one who appointed the first Hispanic (Sotomayor) to the Supreme Court....Furthermore, i would bet that Obama has a very high approval rating amongst Hispanics....

Rubio is a far right kook, who worships Reagan, & has extreme far right social views...(in a post last week, i attached a NYT article about him)..

As far as Romney, talk about a flip-flopper....In 1994 he attended a Planned Parenthood fundrasier, & remember the ad run against him during the primary season last year where he said back in the 1990's that "abortion should remain safe & legal".....There are 2 totally different Romney's; as the one who was governor of MA. was almost a centrist compared to the Romney that sought the Republcian nomination last year....

[dgibby]

39. My worst nightmare: Jim DeMint

Radical right, Tea Baggers, conservatives all love him, and he will have no trouble carrying the South.

[Hawaii Hiker]

41. Yeah, that's about all DeMint would carry - the south

He'd get absolutely crushed in the northeast, west, interior west....DeMint would be a terrible (or for the Democrats a dream come true) general election candiate...

[golfguru]

40. It is very simple who will be the winner in 2012

If economy is good and unemployment is below 8% president Obama will be easily re-elected.
If between 8 and 10%, it will be a squeaker for the president. Anything below 8% is a landslide.
If between 10% and 11% republicons have a chance.
If above 11%, whoever is the republicon nominee will win.

[DevonRex]

42. Nut and Nuttier. That's all they've got. Nuttier is always on the ballot

to bring in Nuttiest vote.

[Dinger]

44. And Who Will The Dem 2012 Presidential Ticket Be?

Sorry, couldn't help my self.:evilgrin: