Newt Gingrich and a VP

The Romney VP thread went well so thought I'd try it again with Newt. Again, similar to the Romney thread, we're assuming Newt wins the nomination here. This time however its a two part question that goes out to both sides

Part one - Personal: Who could Newt Gingrich bring on as a VP that would make you either get fully on board with his nomination (if you already support him) or would make you at least give a further serious consideration of voting for Newt (if you're currently on the fence or against)?

Part two - General: What VP candidates do you think Newt could bring on that would seriously and realistically help his chances to win in the general, and why do you think that? What benefit would the individual have to a ticket and what would their purpose be?

What I'd ask to be avoided, once again, would be people just coming in saying Gingrich shouldn't be or won't be the nominee. This thread is going off the notion that he is, and responding with that idea in mind. And I'd ask that we avoid people coming in going something like "DICK CHENEY!" or "SARAH PALIN!" because they think it would hurt the ticket or because they'd be "worried if they won". This is a serious thread about which candidates would help his standing 1st with yourself and 2nd in general...not which ticket would make you laugh or would be easiest to defeat.

Zyphlin said:

The Romney VP thread went well so thought I'd try it again with Newt. Again, similar to the Romney thread, we're assuming Newt wins the nomination here. This time however its a two part question that goes out to both sides

Part one - Personal: Who could Newt Gingrich bring on as a VP that would make you either get fully on board with his nomination (if you already support him) or would make you at least give a further serious consideration of voting for Newt (if you're currently on the fence or against)?

Part two - General: What VP candidates do you think Newt could bring on that would seriously and realistically help his chances to win in the general, and why do you think that? What benefit would the individual have to a ticket and what would their purpose be?

What I'd ask to be avoided, once again, would be people just coming in saying Gingrich shouldn't be or won't be the nominee. This thread is going off the notion that he is, and responding with that idea in mind. And I'd ask that we avoid people coming in going something like "DICK CHENEY!" or "SARAH PALIN!" because they think it would hurt the ticket or because they'd be "worried if they won". This is a serious thread about which candidates would help his standing 1st with yourself and 2nd in general...not which ticket would make you laugh or would be easiest to defeat.

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Well, I know Gingrich has said that Sarah Palin would be a great VP pick, so it's not like it's impossible that he would pick her, though I find it highly unlikely.

I would think Christie would be a good pick but he has pretty much alienated himself from Gingrich. I'd say the best is Rubio, for the Florida votes.

I wouldn't vote for him regardless though so take my opinion for what it's worth I guess.

roughdraft274 said:

Well, I know Gingrich has said that Sarah Palin would be a great VP pick, so it's not like it's impossible that he would pick her, though I find it highly unlikely.

I would think Christie would be a good pick but he has pretty much alienated himself from Gingrich. I'd say the best is Rubio, for the Florida votes.

I wouldn't vote for him regardless though so take my opinion for what it's worth I guess.

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Could be a terrible mistake for Rubio to accept if offered. It means that for the next 4 years the media would be trying to gun him down.

Zyphlin said:

The Romney VP thread went well so thought I'd try it again with Newt. Again, similar to the Romney thread, we're assuming Newt wins the nomination here. This time however its a two part question that goes out to both sides

Part one - Personal: Who could Newt Gingrich bring on as a VP that would make you either get fully on board with his nomination (if you already support him) or would make you at least give a further serious consideration of voting for Newt (if you're currently on the fence or against)?

Part two - General: What VP candidates do you think Newt could bring on that would seriously and realistically help his chances to win in the general, and why do you think that? What benefit would the individual have to a ticket and what would their purpose be?

What I'd ask to be avoided, once again, would be people just coming in saying Gingrich shouldn't be or won't be the nominee. This thread is going off the notion that he is, and responding with that idea in mind. And I'd ask that we avoid people coming in going something like "DICK CHENEY!" or "SARAH PALIN!" because they think it would hurt the ticket or because they'd be "worried if they won". This is a serious thread about which candidates would help his standing 1st with yourself and 2nd in general...not which ticket would make you laugh or would be easiest to defeat.

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Sarah Cheney!





Sorry....

No vice presidential pick of Gingrich's would entice me to vote for Gingrich.I will vote for a 3rd party candidate,If my state screws 3rd party candidates then I will simply refrain from voting for president just like I did the last presidential election. That said if Gingrich picked Romney as his VP or if Romney won the primary and picked Gingrich as his VP I would vote for Obama just for the republicans having the audacity to nominate those two.

joko104 said:

Could be a terrible mistake for Rubio to accept if offered. It means that for the next 4 years the media would be trying to gun him down.

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1. He only has something to fear if he has skeletons in his closet.

2. Name recognition is sometimes more important than squeaky clean credentials. There's good proof in that just based on the idea that we are actually discussing a Newt Gingrich presidency.

Huntsman would do a lot for the ticket. Help him with independents and "values" voters-- how often do those two coincide?-- and it would set him up for a successful run in 2016 or 2020. I don't plan on voting for Gingrich if he takes the nomination, but choosing Huntsman for VP would convince me.

Gingrich is one-term at best. I think it's best the GOP acknowledge that.

On the other side, Bachmann would probably do more for him-- shore up his base, get him the support of the Tea Party and everyone who prefers "outsiders". Wouldn't win my vote, but it would probably win him the election. Bachmann would also be my #1 recommendation for Romney because he needs to win over the same support base.

Zyphlin said:

The Romney VP thread went well so thought I'd try it again with Newt. Again, similar to the Romney thread, we're assuming Newt wins the nomination here. This time however its a two part question that goes out to both sides

Part one - Personal: Who could Newt Gingrich bring on as a VP that would make you either get fully on board with his nomination (if you already support him) or would make you at least give a further serious consideration of voting for Newt (if you're currently on the fence or against)?

Part two - General: What VP candidates do you think Newt could bring on that would seriously and realistically help his chances to win in the general, and why do you think that? What benefit would the individual have to a ticket and what would their purpose be?

What I'd ask to be avoided, once again, would be people just coming in saying Gingrich shouldn't be or won't be the nominee. This thread is going off the notion that he is, and responding with that idea in mind. And I'd ask that we avoid people coming in going something like "DICK CHENEY!" or "SARAH PALIN!" because they think it would hurt the ticket or because they'd be "worried if they won". This is a serious thread about which candidates would help his standing 1st with yourself and 2nd in general...not which ticket would make you laugh or would be easiest to defeat.

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The man is despised both inside and outside his own party. And you expect a serious answer? You're asking such an extreme hypothetical, it's difficult to consider anyone serious, a gov or congressman who would take such a risk.

My best answer is that Newt would have to consider second and third tier political players. Also, since the Christian evangelicals have given Santorum their nod, I suspect Newt would look to a Social Con with strong Christian pro-life, anti-gay ties.

Meanwhile, Christie just nominated a openly gay black judge. He's the future of the GOP--if the want to have one.

Pee Wee Herman.

Might as well..........

But, Christie or Rubio would probably be a better choice. Ron Paul might sway enough young people and disgruntled democrats and moderates sick of Washington ****, to tip some scales.

roughdraft274 said:

Well, I know Gingrich has said that Sarah Palin would be a great VP pick, so it's not like it's impossible that he would pick her, though I find it highly unlikely.

I would think Christie would be a good pick but he has pretty much alienated himself from Gingrich. I'd say the best is Rubio, for the Florida votes.

I wouldn't vote for him regardless though so take my opinion for what it's worth I guess.

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Rubio = PIPA. Making him a boat anchor. Co-sponsor.

his crowd chants Santorum for vp.

Well, that would guarantee that I wouldn't vote for him. I would vote Obama to vote against anyone that picked Santorum for their second-in-command.

Jon Kyl? Gives him someone from the West, and respected in the party.

Rubio does nothing for him geographically. McDonald's would love the Gingrich/Christie bus tour, but our highways are already crumbling in some places :mrgreen:

rocket88 said:

Rubio does nothing for him geographically. McDonald's would love the Gingrich/Christie bus tour, but our highways are already crumbling in some places :mrgreen:

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Christie bears watching, but Gingrich picking him for VP would be suicide-- it would make him look weak.

A ticket with Rubio on it will never get my vote.

Viktyr Korimir said:

Christie bears watching, but Gingrich picking him for VP would be suicide-- it would make him look weak.

A ticket with Rubio on it will never get my vote.

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I also think Gingrich can't pick Christie as his VP, especially after Christie's recent comments. A western VP would probably be best, but I don't think Kyl fits very well. Perhaps Governor Martinez of New Mexico would be a good choice. Though she is rather light on experience, she is extremely popular in her state and could help swing the West.

Didn't Christie call Newt an embarrassment?

Anagram said:

Perhaps Governor Martinez of New Mexico would be a good choice. Though she is rather light on experience, she is extremely popular in her state and could help swing the West.

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Western State, female, Hispanic, socially conservative with a strong law enforcement and security background? Yes, please. She'd be an asset on anyone's ticket. Hell, she's almost good enough to make me vote for Representative Paul.

jasonxe said:

Didn't Christie call Newt an embarrassment?

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Yes. Even if he would serve as Speaker Gingrich's second, picking him would make Gingrich look weak in front of the electorate; Gingrich doesn't have the gravitas to pull off choosing someone who has personally attacked him.

For me personally, I'd like a Huntsman VP nod. I had a already stated I thought a Huntsman / Newt ticket would do rather well. I think the reverse would do worse, as I think the main candidate being the more moderate tone person and the VP being the attack dog is the better set up, but it could still be interesting. You can't really question Huntsman's family man credentials, he's a clean candidate, can't question him in regards to stepping into Newt's place, and his "moderate tone" and presentation could appeal to independents.

Now in general, I think the most politically advantageous for Newt would be Nikki Haley out of South Carolina. Gives him a Tea Party rock solid conservative for those that are wavering about how "true conservative" Newt is. Places a woman on the ticket which may help ease some of the "women's voters" issues he could possibly face. Gives him a minority candidate on the ticket in a few ways as well with regards to her gender, ethnicity, and her relationship to religion (parents are Sikh). Gives him someone on the ticket with Executive experience and another good southern outside type that may help siphon off some of the (misguided imho) believe of him being very much an "establishment" type (I think he's too much of a wildcard to rightly be called an "establishment" guy).

I think Newt / Haley would do well. And I actually think this was a ticket that was first brought up to me by one of our more liberal people on the board...I think hay market...as a potentially problematic ticket.

Newt's strength going into this election is a strong, principled, ideological fight putting conservative at the forefront...and because of that going with a Conservative VP instead of a person viewed as a "moderate" may actually help his strategy out better. It appears his goal will less be to run to the "middle" as it will be to attempt to convince the middle why Conservatism is the better way to lean than Liberalism.

jasonxe said:

his crowd chants Santorum for vp.

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How'd they know that Gingrich has an anal fetish :lamo

Rubio is still the strategically sensible choice, but you know what?

I have been pessimistic up to now about the electorate's willingness to turn Obama away in November, but now I'm starting to think it's inevitable. He seems to be in trouble in Florida, so maybe the GOP won't even need Rubio on the ticket. Rahm Emmanuel is even saying BO can't run on his record.

BO's supporters have nothing really to point to other than those crazy Republicans. Not a good sign for them. Any one the the 4 will touch him up pretty good in the campaign, and the number two guy will have, what, one debate against Joe Biden. All he or she will have to do is look less goofy.

Gingrich may well look outside the mainstream, or even outside the party, for a running mate. What's Sam Nunn doing these days?

Maybe Mike Huckabee? He is a strong conservative with a solid record, has experience in as a governor and a proven ability to forge bipartisan compromises. He has already been vetted so it is unlikely he will add to Newt's pile of skeletons. Personally, I don't believe that even a VP with the appeal of Hillary Clinton could get Newt elected as POTUS.

Frolicking Dinosaurs said:

Maybe Mike Huckabee? He is a strong conservative with a solid record, has experience in as a governor and a proven ability to forge bipartisan compromises. He has already been vetted so it is unlikely he will add to Newt's pile of skeletons. Personally, I don't believe that even a VP with the appeal of Hillary Clinton could get Newt elected as POTUS.

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Huckabee doesn't really seem to give much to a Gingrich ticket. He's also a southerner and doesn't come from a swing state or a swing region. However, he does have an unnatural likeability surrounding him. Even times when I completely disagree with what he's talking about, (mostly social issues), I come away liking him. That could be a bigger asset for the ticket than region or experience.

Huckabee would do more for Romney than he would for Gingrich. But I'm honestly not sure I can see him taking the job-- why would he?

Viktyr Korimir said:

Huckabee would do more for Romney than he would for Gingrich. But I'm honestly not sure I can see him taking the job-- why would he?

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I thought the same but didn't say it. I can't see him taking a call from Newt, let alone serving him.

What about Pawlenty or Jindal?