Democratic group prepping for Romney 'Veep Mistake'
(CNN) – Mitt Romney may be playing his vice presidential pick close to the vest, but a Democratic group is gambling on five potential running mates who they've already labeled "deeply flawed."
The liberal super PAC American Bridge has a website in place to spell out the faults of Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan – five men considered likely names on Romney's list of potential running mates.
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"During the 2012 GOP presidential primary, the Republican base tried as hard as they could to nominate anyone-but-Romney," the group writes on the website. "Just as Mitt was the best they could muster for the party's standard bearer, their choices to fill the rest of the ticket aren't much better. Four years after Sarah Palin, Republicans are once again poised to put forward a deeply flawed candidate as their vice presidential nominee."
The potential vice presidential candidates are presented as playing cards. When you click on a card, a wealth of opposition research pops up, with a summary of why the group opposes that candidate.
Of Rubio, American Bridge writes: "Once Rubio is revealed to be neither the Tea Party champion or draw for Hispanic voters that Romney is counting on, what's left is an inexperienced freshman Senator who brings little to the ticket."
The assessment of Portman, the former budget director for President George W. Bush, isn't much better: "The selection of Rob Portman would be further proof that a Romney administration would just be a more extreme conservative revival of George W. Bush's policies."
Romney and his campaign have been tight lipped on their choice for running mate. Romney has only offered that he will announce his pick before the third day of the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
Obama's campaign jokingly said Wednesday that they were rooting for two names not on American Bridge's list of potential running mates.
"We all think Newt Gingrich or Michele Bachmann would be an excellent choice for Mitt Romney to choose," Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said aboard Air Force One as the president traveled to a campaign stop in Colorado.
Psaki continued, "No, obviously, the campaign is - we are closely watching. We don't know any more than you do about the day and who it will be."
No matter which name Romney chooses, Psaki said, the Democrats would be prepared "to tell you why that person may be a bad choice for middle-class families."
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The VP choices are probably worried about their careers being ruined by associating with Mitt Romney.
No matter who Mitt Romney picks the other side will find fault in his choice. With this race already being so tight they will attempt anything.
GOPer all all jokers. They love Bush and Bush screwed up Obama's presidency. Obama was going to be the best president ever but Bush handed him such a mess that nobody could fix it.
This is laughable.
On Rubio: "what's left is an inexperienced freshman Senator who brings little to the ticket..."
Like the man yall put into the Oval Office?
Paul Ryan or Marco Rubio would be the best pick for veep. lol
Oh reallllly?????? Attack each other, but not switch each other's brains.
Condoleezza Rice or Senator Kelly Ayotte needs to be in the deck of clown cards.
The WORST thing for Minnesota and for America!
I would love to see Bachmann as his VP.
All Repugnants are pretty flawed. Some, like Huntsman, are less so, but they can't have 2 Mormons running. (Actually, they can't have 1 Mormon running, but they haven't faced that fact yet.) They should go all-in and find a nice moderate woman (preferably Hispanic) from some out-of-the-way place in Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Pennsylvania, or the like. However, they will be scared off by the horror story that is Sarah Palin. They will get the reluctant support of tea baggers anyway, and what they need is more women, Hispanics, and moderates.
I suspect the Bain Brain Campaign will not have the imagination to come up with someone other than a "safe" choice. Look for a white male on the fringe as their VP choice. That suits me fine!