Ticket, Please!

Mitt Romney continues to seek a Republican running mate for the U.S. presidential election in November. A tricky choice, as candidates abound.

Faced with the Democratic ticket of Barack Obama-Joe Biden, who will be the traveling companion (or rout) for Mitt Romney? If there is a current topic of concern for the Republican candidate for the U.S. presidential election in November, it’s the choice of his running mate. It’s imperative to prevent a recurrence of the 2008 fiasco, when John McCain, to everyone’s surprise, chose the disastrous Sarah Palin (at the expense of the previously considered Romney), perhaps the worst choice ever made by a presidential candidate.

Mitt Romney, who never leaves anything to chance, has assigned this task to Beth Myers, his closest collaborator, who was then intentionally isolated from the rest of the team. At his headquarters in Boston, she relentlessly sorts through the contenders’ résumés with a fine tooth comb, exploring the recesses of their past, analyzing their responses to the very thick questionnaire she sent them. She then moves on to a more political evaluation. Is the aspiring vice president conservative enough for the party base, while not putting off independents? Do they come from an electorally strategic state? Are they at risk of overshadowing Romney, whose charisma is very poor? In several interviews, Romney himself has drawn up a sketch of his ideal running mate. The three essential qualities that he demands of them? Government experience, a statesman of stature (as the vice president replaces the president in his absence), and unquestioned loyalty.

Nothing has yet filtered through from this very secretive selection, though many names are circulating. Among them are Marco Rubio, a young senator from Florida who was born in Cuba,* Tim Pawlenty, a former governor of Minnesota and unsuccessful candidate in the primaries, Paul D. Ryan, a young, ambitious, and ultraconservative representative of Wisconsin, and even Chris Christie, the unpredictable governor of New Jersey. During a show on NBC, Romney had a word for each one of them. Christie? He is “unsinkable.” Ryan? Very “creative.” Rubio? The “embodiment of the American dream.”** However, the latest news is that Rob Portman, the dull Ohio senator, seems to enjoy a privileged position, although choosing Rubio would probably be wiser. Rubio is a rising star among Republicans, the darling of the Tea Party, and elected in a key state, it would be advantageous to attract a portion of Latino voters, who are typically inclined to favor Obama, into the fold of the Grand Old Party.

The date on which Romney will announce his decision is still top secret. It will be no later than August 29, during the Republican Party convention in Tampa, Florida, but might be as early as July, which would allow the Republican duo to cross swords with the Democrats throughout most of the summer.

Problem

If elected, Romney will be faced with another problem. He will have to monitor the actions of his vice president, who, if he has little constitutional prerogatives, can claim true power … by being a nuisance. We saw the impetuous Joe Biden, who is willing to put Obama in a difficult position for the sake of his presidential ambitions, by declaring himself in favor of gay marriage while the head of the executive was careful not to broach the subject. The result: Two days later, the latter was forced to flow in the direction of Biden. A mishap that Romney will try to avoid at all costs.

*Editor’s Note: Rubio was born in Florida to Cuban immigrants.

**Editor’s Note: These quotes, accurately translated, could not be verified.