Sabato puts McDonnell in “second tier” of VP hopefuls
In the latest edition of his “Crystal Ball,” University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato sizes up the roster of potential running mates for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Looks like no one can accuse Virginia’s most famous political pundit of home cooking.
Sabato, the director of UVA’s Center for Politics, does not put Gov. Bob McDonnell — often mentioned as a VP contender — in the top tier of potential Romney running mates. He ranks Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as first-tier candidates.
McDonnell is in the second tier with notables such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
“He is clearly available for the job and would accept in a nanosecond if offered,” Sabato says of McDonnell in his video report.
In his written analysis available here, Sabato identifies McDonnell’s strengths as being “willing and very available,” being from a swing state, being polished and no threat to overshadow the guy at the top of the ticket. His weaknesses? “Transvaginal ultrasound” ; “White bread sandwich + mayo” ; “Ties to Pat Robertson.”
Sabato said the conservative who would bring the most excitement to a Romney ticket is not constitutionally eligible for the job. That would be Tim Tebow, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who recently was shipped to the New York Jets.
– Michael Sluss
April 12, 2012 - 12:51 PM
Please Take Him!
I’ve always wondered why Sabato is considered an expert. I’m sure he’s got the pedigree and the UVA cred, but it often seems like his analysis is a bit strange. When I read the headline to this article, I decided to make my own first and second tiers and I believe mine are clearly more accurate than Larry’s:
1st Tier – Rubio, Bush, Christie, Ryan
2nd Tier – McDonnell, Jindall, Portman
3rd Tier – Huckabee
Although we agree about Rubio and McDonnell’s places, we disagree about the rest. I guarantee Romney would take Rubio, Jeb Bush or christie in a heartbeat, but none of them would accept. Therefore, Ryan (at the bottom of the first tier) and McDonnell (at the top of the 2nd tier) are the most realistic choices. And I agree with Dave above, please take McDonnell.
2.”I’ve always wondered why Sabato is considered an expert.”
Could not agree more!
Christie won’t take a VP slot. He is itching to run in 2016.
Bush is too tainted by his last name.
Ryan and Romney would make an awkward pair.
Huckabee would lose a ton of fans if he teamed with Romney.
McDonnell has just enough Establishment butt kissing in him to make a perfect match with Romney. Sorry, but it is true. He has really let down liberty-minded conservatives with his constant entertaining and appeasing of some of the most ludicrous and crazy legislation to ever come out of our General Assembly. Plus, he makes me cringe every time I see him campaign stump and play the game with some of the biggest republican spenders in Congress, complete with a speech about how that person wants to “reign in government spending”. The whole game is a sham.