Free Republic

Who will Romney pick as his running mate? Ryan Rubio Christie Portman Someone else

Some 20 million Americans in primaries and caucuses will take part in selecting the Republican presidential nominee. One person will choose the vice presidential nominee. This has long struck me as absurd: One person choosing someone who, as a result, might become president for as long as 10 years. But just about everyone in politics says it's the only proper way. Over the last 25 years, presidential nominees of both parties have engaged in conscientious consultation and have mostly made pretty good choices. No more picks at five o'clock in the morning to meet a convention deadline. For even longer,...

RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell met with Republican members of the General Assembly more than 60 times in the past month — from formal meetings to glitzy social gatherings at the Executive Mansion — and he often cautioned them to exercise restraint. McDonnell warned his fellow Republicans to limit their socially conservative legislation and focus on job creation and the state budget, according to legislators. Otherwise, he said, they risked miring the session in needless disputes that would not benefit the GOP. He even signaled which bills he would support, a departure from previous practice. .....But apparently not...

It's about 40 minutes to his second hour. Says if Romney loses Michigan, no one gets 50% of delegates. Says Jeb Bush will be in the room when McConnell/Christie team is picked ...

From Quinnipiac this morning, news that my governor ranks among the most popular in the nation: Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has a strong 55 – 26 percent job approval rating, as many more voters like him personally than back his policies, according to the inaugural Quinnipiac University Virginia poll released today. “Gov. Bob McDonnell’s overall support levels are among the highest when compared to other governors around the country,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “And they are far better than those of his GOP counterparts in Florida, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Even...

Several 2012 presidential hopefuls will address House Republican lawmakers at their annual retreat this weekend. President Obama wasn't invited. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) are among a handful of Republicans set to address House GOP lawmakers at their annual retreat this weekend. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Texas Gov. Rick Perry also are included on the list of speakers scheduled for the three-day retreat in Baltimore, Md., set to begin Jan. 13. Gingrich, Barbour and Perry have all been mentioned as a possible 2012 presidential candidates.

Politico ran a story Monday morning about newly elected Republicans from swing states who may get a look for the GOP's national ticket in two years. What caught our eye wasn't who made the list, but who it omitted. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a subject of some national speculation since taking office early this year, didn't merit a mention in the article even though his counterpart in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie, did. The 2009 elections of McDonnell and Christie are viewed by many as the beginning of the Republican resurgence -- following several cycles of Democratic dominance -- evident...

November 8 Megan Whittemore McDonnell's Winning Strategy Virginia Governor-elect Bob McDonnell seems to have found a winning formula for unifying his party and delivering a clear message. During the campaign McDonnell focused on jobs, the economy, transportation and education while staying positive. "We kept it overwhelmingly positive, giving people an uplifting alternative for the future," McDonnell told Chris Wallace on FOX News Sunday. "We, I think, tapped into some of the sentiment at the national level on the issues of card check, cap and trade, and some under-funded mandates and things like that that were not resonating well with Virginia...

Why won't we nominate one of the most conservative leaders with proven electability on the GOP ticket in 2012? Sure, it will only be an year and a half in the Governor's chair. But, who cares. Obama was only in the Senate an year and a half before he ran. Bob McDonnell gave Obama (and his puppet) a thumping in a key state. He is a social conservative as well and has shown the road to win key elections.