Three of the most intriguing extracts from Reid Wilson's great look at the Veepstakes today.
1. Nugget on John Thune's prospects (emphasis added).
At the height of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's rise to the top of the GOP field, Romney rolled out an endorsement from South Dakota Sen. John Thune, a conservative well-known to Iowa Republicans.
Thune advisers say privately that the nod proved critical to Romney's caucus victory (then again, following an eight-vote win in Iowa, anyone who endorsed Romney gets to claim credit for his victory). Thune has also staked out bona fides on foreign policy; as a member of Senate Republican leadership, he spearheaded the GOP's position on the START Treaty earlier this year.
Thune was already considered a potential top-tier candidate for president in '16 or '20. This would only help.
And in case you were wondering what the two would look like as a ticket, here's some vid of them from a 2010 joint fundraising appearance.
2. Gem on Bob McDonnell's prospects.
McDonnell is receiving occasional briefings to better acquaint himself with issues he doesn't ordinarily deal with, a top adviser said.
3. My favorite part -- on what a Veep has to bring (emphasis added).
They must master of a wide range of policy positions, in order to prepare for the harsh glare of the national spotlight (“We’re not going to have a Rick Perry situation,” said one adviser to a potential vice presidential short-lister)
That would seem to favor more experienced names like Thune or Rob Portman over sexier but younger prospects like Marco Rubio and Susana Martinez.
Not that Rubio or Martinez are anything like Perry, but they're very new and might undermine Romney's competence narrative.
