What’s the deal with Rob Portman? I wouldn’t recognize him if he knocked on my door with a big “Vote for Mitt” button on. Has he EVER been on TV?
I’m thinking, of the “mentioned ones,” only Ryan or Rubio will work to help the base, possibly Jindal...maybe Ayotte, though I don’t know enough. She looked good on TV.
Portman was my congressman in the 2d Ohio, and he’s now my senator. He was a solid conservative vote as a representative with about an 88.5% conservative record. Now as a senator he’s down to about 75% which is still far better than Romney’s conservative credentials.
But that isn’t the issue with Portman.
First, he isn’t dynamic, he isn’t a hatchet man, he brings no constituency, and as Cincy radio announcer said to Frank Luntz and Sean Hannity, he won’t carry Ohio for Romney.
He’s liked, but he’s no hero or anything.
His strength is keeping to the grindstone.
Who would be better? Well, first I’d dump Mitt, but I know that’s a pipedream.
I think there is only one way to get conservative even to give him a 2d look, and that would be to pick someone with the visibility and conservative credentials of a Sarah Palin.
I don’t know who that would be. Sarah, of course, but I’m pretty confident SHE would say no. Ollie North has always been a favorite of mine, and so has Duncan Hunter.
They will NEVER happen.