This report from Mitt Romney's star-studded, GOP retreat in Utah will revive Condi for Veep chatter.
Many of those same attendees said the star speaker of the weekend was former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who received and a standing ovation.
.... Husband-and-wife donors from Los Angeles who did not want to be identified said Rice's message was one of "America needing to take charge".... They both described her address as an "impassioned plea" for the country to "stand up and take charge."
Donor Kent Lucken, an international banker in Boston who moved back to his home state of Iowa for six weeks before the caucuses to help Romney, said "she rocked it."
By "revive", I don't mean "make more realistic".
Condi is pro-choice and however many independent women she might nab for Romney, she'd lose three social conservatives who wouldn't turn out.
Picking her would ensure a divisive, intraparty bloodbath, a chaotic convention, a damaging veer from Romney's message on the economy, and a route in states like Ohio, where Romney needs high turnout from social conservatives.
As I wrote last month:
First, Romney has spent the last six years trying to convince social conservatives that he's really, truly, actually, and honestly pro-life. Why would he destroy all of that by picking Condi? And make no mistake about it, all of that would be destroyed within ten minutes of announcing the pick.
And think about this. If John McCain opted out of picking the pro-choice Joe Lieberman because it would inspire full-scale revolt with the base, do you really think Romney would dare?
Mitt is a nominee who’s played it safe at every point in his political career, and McCain was one of the most daring/reckless nominees in history. Again, why would the safe guy hire Les Miles to coach his team?
Second, Romney wants to talk about the economy; not social issues.
If he picked the first pro-choice Republican VP in history, what do you think people would be talking about this fall? Condi’s views on abortion would dominate every news cycle and, in some violation of the universe’s laws and sleep, create a 26/8 news cycle.
Barack Obama’s team would die laughing from its good fortune.
Picking Condi would ensure the election wasn’t about the economy or Obama’s record, and Romney could actually lose ground with independents. After all, the main reason people support him is because of his economic message. If that's diluted by social controversy, why back the unlikable guy?
Condi would help reelect Barack Obama. That’s not what vice-presidents from the other party are supposed to do.
Barack Obama’s team would die laughing from its good fortune.
Picking Condi would ensure the election wasn’t about the economy or Obama’s record, and Romney could actually lose ground with independents. After all, the main reason people support him is because of his economic message. If that's diluted by social controversy, why back the unlikable guy?
