Daniels-Rice ’12?
By Ken Falkenstein | Friday, May 13th, 2011 | PoliticsOn Tuesday, I wrote that for all of Bob McDonnell’s many strengths, he lacks the one thing that the Republican presidential nominee specifically will need in a running mate – foreign policy and national defense credentials. Many people weighed in and disagreed, and Jason Miyares even wrote a guest column in rebuttal.
With Mike Huckabee likely to announce that he is not running for President, there are only three viable candidates currently running or likely to run: Mitch Daniels, Tim Pawlenty, and Mitt Romney (who is working hard to destroy his viability). None of them have any meaningful national security or foreign policy experience, and each of them will need a running mate who brings those credentials to the ticket.
In my column on Tuesday, I suggested two people who might make the short list:
So, who will be the VP pick? Obviously it is way too early to know, but a couple of names that cross my mind as possibilities include General David Petraeus and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Talk
ing informally with a group of college students yesterday, Mitch Daniels was asked who he would want as a running mate. His answer: Condoleezza Rice.
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About the author
Ken Falkenstein has been a staffer in the United States Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates. He has managed political campaigns. He was a military intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army in West Germany during the Cold War. He is currently the Vice President of the Down Syndrome Association of Hampton Roads and practices as a civil litigation attorney with the law firm of Poole Mahoney PC in Virginia Beach. His concern for his kids' future is what most informs his writing.
Comments
6 Responses to "Daniels-Rice ’12?"
Ken you are forgetting Newt. He has
The unique ability to convey complex
Issues in understandable terms.
Texas vs Detroit for example.
Reapeal of the death tax most Americans
Don’t want to visit the undertaker and
The IRS the same week. He’s the only
Candidate who really knew Reagan.
McDonnell or Palin would make a great
Running mate and the other Chief of
Staff.
It is my opinion that a Daniels – Rice ticket might be the most powerful ticket that Republicans could come up with. Would it be enough to win my vote? Possibly, although unlikely. To win the nomination, Daniels would probably have to run to far to the right in the primary; but I still think such a pairing would appeal to many moderates.
Newt? He’d never get my vote and comes with too much baggage to even appeal to many conservatives.
Palin? While she has a large, enthusiastic, conservative base, she also has an extremely large unfavorable rating. Had maverick McCain not made such a goofy pick for a running mate he almost certainly would have done better in the election and had he been able to build up some momentum, perhaps even won.
Petraeus Rice would be unbeatable
Talk about a “power couple”! I have to agree with Little David: a Daniels-Rice ticket would be very appealing for a lot of Americans. Combining “Mitch the Knife” with a central figure in George W. Bush’s stellar national security team would definitely give the GOP a credible ticket, well-prepared to discuss fiscal and foreign policy/national security issues with anyone.
I think I could get excited about a Mitch Daniels campaign. Especially with Rice as VP. I wonder if he would consider Ron Paul as Treasurer? Palin as Secretary of the Interior? You could unite the GOP with something like that.
+1 Britt. Condi Rice batted a .400 in the state dept.. Her running with Mitch opens the door wider for a larger contingent. National security mastery is the one thing Obama does not have and Rice can clock him on the mistakes he made attacking her record.
Get the popcorn ready.
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