I guess they think if Nixon could pick Henry Cabot Lodge, anyone else could run with MA Mittens. Wonder who gave Nixon the idea of Lodge in the first place; he had actually though of Ford in 1960.
But Lodge didn't campaign very hard and wouldn't forgo his afternoon naps, at least according to some sources. And Kennedy had already beaten him for the Senate in 1952.
Wikipedia says that Nixon hoped having Lodge on the ticket would force Kennedy to shore up his Massachusetts base and divert time and resources from the battleground states. If that's true, it was a horrible misjudgment: the Lodges' days were over in Massachusetts, even if Lodge's grandfather beat Kennedy's a half-century before. If it was just about focusing on foreign policy the mistake wasn't as bad.
Perry and Romney? Not likely to set either the Rio Grande or the Charles on fire. Romney's already been around the block and outstayed his welcome. Perry giving him the number two spot would make both men look bad.
Also, they're both a little too "suit-y." Too corporate and movie star to attract a wider public. Better go with a fresh face, somebody who doesn't look so much like Josh Brolin or Aaron Eckhart.