Like I say, you may be right, however, these Romney positions don't sound very centrist to me:
As one of Huntsman's biggest fans on the forum, this would be a ridiculously stupid ticket. Huntsman add's nothing to the ticket politically and would be a horrible strategic pick for Mitt.
It would be. Two centrist Mormons. Bad news in the GOP.
I think the Mormon issue is going to be less of an issue than people think, and I've heard far FAR more made about it from liberals and moderates than I have from anyone on the right. I also don't think Huntsman's very centrist at all to be quite honest, but again perception in this case is more important than reality.
Perception is everything in politics.
Romney's Mormon faith is only going to be an issue with two groups. One is the extreme left who will attack him for anything because he's a Republican. The other is the hard-core religious right who think that Mormonism is a "cult" and don't think that the President should ever be any religion other than Evangelical Christian.
And if you want to quote positions that don't sound centrist, trust me, I can find a **** ton for Huntsman. I've been doing that for weeks now in this forum. Huntsman is SOLIDLY fiscally and governmentally conservative, traditionalist when it comes to national defense, and moderate right on Social issues. He's against raising taxes on the rich, in favor of consumer market driven health care reform, for deregulation of business, for tax breaks for businesses, for reducing government spending, is prolife, is for securing the borders, and I could go on.
Its not about what is reality, its...sadly...about perception. The perception of both Romney and Huntsman is that they're "moderates" who are not "hard right".
Romney's biggest issue isn't attracting the independent vote, its attracting the base. Its the same issue McCain had. You're correct in that you can't win a national election without attracting independents. What you choose to ignore however is its also not possible to win a national election without securing your base...and Romney has a significant issue doing that. A pick of Huntsman, based on how he's presented by the Media and the Republican establishment, would not help him with the base but would further alienate the base. Whatever good he might do with independents would be countered by the further damage it'd do to his actual base.
You make good points. I'm just having trouble understanding why Huntsman is still hanging around if not to be a VP pick to bolster the more conservative candidates chances in a general election. Since it appears Romney will be the GOP pick I just put the two together.
Why do you think Huntsman is still hanging around as an active candidate, when it is obvious he will never win the GOP primary?
Two reasons I think
1) I don't think its obvious he will never with the GOP primary. I think there's a very small chance, but there IS a path for him to win it. Every person challenging Romney as the next front runner has flared up and then fizzled out or is apt to fizzle out, and there's little reason to think that may not happen. That says a few things. One, the field is kind of weak. Two, people are REALLY unhappy about Romney. Its an unlikely path for him. However there's still a chance that Cain fizzles out, Perry continues to fizzle out, and Bachmann already has fizzled out. That leaves Paul, who I think will have a hard time really gaining substantial steam, Newt who has a ton of baggage, and Santorum whose Bachmann without the few positives. I think Huntsman has as good of a shot as Paul or Newt to be the next "hot guy" if Cain ends up fizzling. With a few months till the first primary, and Huntsman focusing heavily on New Hampshire I believe, there's at least an outside shot that he mimics McCain in 2008 and can pull it off. Small, but its there.
2) 2016. One of his issues is simply recognition right now. He could be trying to stay in this for a while to get his name out there more, to associate it more in the present with running for the Republican presidential ticket than Obama's ambassador to China, and generally enhance his Q rating. All of that to help bolster a potential 2016 run should the Republican candidate lose the 2012 election.
Romney will be the nominee, thus ensuring 4 more years of Democratic Party control of the White House. I would suggest that there may be a couple of Right-Wing Third Party candidates who will take significant number of votes away from Romney. I also predict that MANY Conservatives will stay home the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of 2012. Obama wins the election AT LEAST 56%-40% with 4% choosing other candidates. I also predict it will be one of the least attended Presidential elections in modern US History. Lastly, Obama sees this as a Mandate from The People and turns HARD LEFT, seeking to implement numerous Leftist policies in the First 100 Days. Especially if the Republicans lose control of the House, which I see as a possibility.
Since Perry didn't live up to the hype, I think this will be the ticket Obama will run against in 2012 ~
I still say Huntsman could be the beneficiary of this massive car-crash at the front leaving him the only unscathed car in the running. That and with the way the GOP faithful keep yo-yo'ing their choices making new candidates rocket to the front in no time flat.
the massive car crash has occured......cain's harrassment issue, perry's apparently drugged up behavior, and romney's ties to a massive ponzi scheme. the gop field is certainly stellar, ain't it? what a joke. the gop has a golden opportunity here, and they can't get behind a good candidate.
so, it looks like the frontrunners in the gop field all have problems. who do you think could be the dark horse? huntsman is the least unattractive imo. if you are a conservative, seriously, aren't you despairing at the current crop of bungling bores begging you for your vote?
don't think obama will be easy to beat, because you guys really have no viable candidates. romney polls the same ALL OF THE TIME....20-23%. never changes. perry and cain continue to embarrass themselves. bachmann is done, santorum is done. that leaves gingrich (fat chance) and huntsman.
gop, what do you think? who is your choice?
Romney and Rubio would be good, but I imagine if Rubio wouldn't step out for the President run he wouldn't for VP. Same goes for Ryan. That said, perhaps the fact that it will be closer to the end of their term by the time they'd have to accept the VP spot rather than at the start of Primary season changes things a bit.
Romney / Rubio would be an excellent ticket in terms of electability.
I don't think the republicans want to win or maybe think that losing is the best way to win, the economy is in such a mess that being the party in the white house means the finger of responsiblity points directly at the white house.
I mean think about it Senator McCain had a chance until they selected Palin as the VP and now look at the republican nominees, each one that is receiving large contributions or support is falling by the way side. The republicans clearly do not want to take back the white house in 2012
Horse manure......... How do you explain the big uptick in McCain's poll numbers after he picked Palin ???
Do you people have memories this short or are you just uninformed???