[nathanbedford]

Prof. Rasmussen is contrived today to make us all look like geniuses reporting in his daily tracking poll that Romney has for the first time hit the 50% mark leaving Obama down at 43%. This puts Obama in a very bad position indeed.

However, I recall reading somewhere yesterday that Rob Portman does not move the needle at all as a vice presidential choice in Ohio. If he cannot help carry the state the choice would have to move elsewhere. I am sure Romney's internals will tell him the answer to this on a precinct by precinct basis. Likewise I think his polling will do the same respecting Santorum's ability to carry Pennsylvania.

My choices are: 1 Rubio 2 Paul Ryan 3 Portman 4 Santorum-and these selections are made without reference to my ideological preferences which would become far more relevant to this process as and when Romney has a comfortable lead above 50% and would certainly change if numbers showed Romney in trouble in Virginia, for example.

[AuH2ORepublican]

What you read was a Quinnipiac registered-voter poll of OH that showed Obama carrying the state even if Portman was Romney’s runningmate. I think that Portman’s influence in carrying OH would become apparent as he campaigned around the state (it wouldn’t be an automatic thing), and, in any event, if Romney can’t carry OH with Portman, he sure as hell won’t with Rubio, and writing off OH is absolutely out of the question if Romney wants to reach 270.

I like Rubio, Ryan and Santorum, and with a different presidential candidate, I would perhaps prefer them as the VP nominee (heck, I backed Santorum for president from before Iowa until he dropped out). But I think that Romney needs to pick a Protestant (Rubio, Ryan and Santorum are Catholic), and he really needs to win OH, so I think it’s got to be Portman.

[LS]

No, no, no on Rubio. I love the guy but we need every CONSERVATIVE we can get in the senate. Ryan, better, but do you really want to consign such a talented guy to a meaningless office? Go with Jan Brewer-—popular, not really that conservative (replace her as gov with someone who is), and a woman.